This might be a bit off topic but I did not know where else to ask.


What are your hunting experiences with Federal Fusion ammo?

A friend sold his 270 and gave me a couple of boxes of Fusion with the 150 grain bullet. I had never shot this Federal ammo and, to say the least, I am very pleased with the five shot groups I am getting.

My hunting shots could range from 30 yards to a little over 300 yards. Has your practical experience shown this bullet will perform over that wide range of distance? My worry would be blowing up with no penetration on the short shots and no mushrooming at the longer distances.

I have been using 150 grain Nosler Partition in those distances with no problems of any kind. Fusion is much cheaper is why I would consider a change.

I don't think you have to worry about lack of expansion. It's soft lead with copper plating. It may pancake and not exit at close rang but it will do a lot of damage and it won't come apart.

I used a 115 Fusion from a 6.8 SPC. Muzzle velocity was 2450 fps and shot was 50 yards. Deer was slightly quartering away. Bullet placement was hear/hung tight behind the shoulder. One of the fastest kills I've had. Bang/flop and deer kicked once. Wrecked the vitals, no exit. My guess is the bullet expanded wide. Never found it but wasn't really looking because it was hot.

Of course this was a bullet designed for 6.8 SPC speeds so the jacket was probably thinner.

I would have no worries about using a bonded 150 grain bullet on any deer sized game.

Here is one from a 338 federal shot in to water jugs at 20 yards. Muzzle velocity was 2700 fps. You can see how they expand in to 5 long pedals close to shank. This one penetrated 6 jugs and weighed 160 grains, 80% weight retention.

Fusion on the right. Sierra Game King on the left showed no expansion at 338 federal velocities.

My neighbor and his kid hunt with the 130 grain Fusion and they have had very good luck with it. They have killed a truck load of meat and mostly with 1 shot.

A couple of years ago I was cutting up one of their elk and found a Fusion bullet and it looked like it had been used in an advertisement except that it had killed the bull. Good performance.

Regards, Keith

No worries, the 150 fusion are as good as it gets on deer. I have watched my hunting partner kill maybe 25 deer with them from a 270 win

I guess I will be unpopular.

I got a new 270. Bought some 150 grain Fusion loaded ammo. I killed 2 bucks with the 270 on a trip to TX shortly after I got it. I was underwhelmed by the Fusion performance . When I got home, I put them on the shelf. They will be there for a long time. That has been at least 5 years ago.

The Fusion is billed as Federal's "whitetail bullet". My wife and I have used the 150 or 165 gr. version in 30-06 to put down several whitetails. A Nosler it's not, but if it shoots well in your rifle, it should do just fine for whitetail class medium game. Oh, and it is relatively cheap and then you get get Federal brass for reloading.

As long as you do your part with shot placement, the bullet will do its part with delivering a dead deer.
I have never seen a .270 bullet that was intended for deer sized game fail. I have listened to people gripe about bullet failure when they examine recovered bullet from inside of the deer. I contend that if they were able to recover the bullet from inside of the deer it did not fail.
I have heard others complain about bullet failure when the true culprit was poor shot placement.

Use your free fusion ammunition without worry.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I guess I will be unpopular.

I got a new 270. Bought some 150 grain Fusion loaded ammo. I killed 2 bucks with the 270 on a trip to TX shortly after I got it. I was underwhelmed by the Fusion performance . When I got home, I put them on the shelf. They will be there for a long time. That has been at least 5 years ago.

Poor accuracy? Inadequate expansion? Excessive expansion? Deer dead right there, but no "good blood trail"? What was it you found "underwhelming". I've never used Fusions and am just curious.

The first deer I shot at perhaps 20 yards. I could see the bullet hit. It was hit well. The deer ran off about 50 yards. Although it penetrated all the way through , there was not a drop of blood. Similar thing with my second buck.

I physically saw a member of our party shoot a cull. It was a good hit. There was a single small drop of blood. The deer died within 50 yards but it could not be blood trailed . We found it later by the birds. It went into insanely thick cover.

The ammo was brand new on the market. Perhaps it is better now. I know I am done with it.

"It was a good hit."

"It was hit well."

WHERE were they hit, and from what angle?

The first was broadside right behind the shoulder exiting behind the opposite shoulder. Pretty much a perfect shot.

The second was not quite broadside. It entered slightly back of the left shoulder and exited right behind the far shoulder. Also pretty much a perfect shot.

The 3rd deer mentioned was a frontal shot. The bullet could be heard hitting the chest . We could see the physical reaction. The deer f'ed off into seriously thick stuff and was found later. It did not go far. I do not recall if it exited or where. Sorry. Old age.

I hate a bullet that doesn't leave a blood trail. This was enough for me.