The use of a bonded bullet is Federal’s secret to accomplishing this expansion both up close as well as at distance. The alternative approach of using a thin jacket varmint style bullet often sacrifices close range performance.
With rifles, chrono, rounds and ballistics gel in hand we took a ride to the range to do some accuracy testing as well as put the claims on the box to the test. Zeroing both rifles at 100-yards and working out to 500 yards we were able to get an initial accuracy estimate. At 100-yards we got groups as small as 0.65” from the Savage 111. We alternated rifles at varying distances and turned in a 1.37” group at 300 yards with the Remington 770, and a yet another sub-MOA group at 500 yards with the Savage 111, measuring just 4.85”. The round shot exceptionally flat. With an average muzzle velocity of 2714 FPS confirmed from our Shooting Crony Gamma Master chronograph (www.shootingchrony.com) out of the 22-inch barrel of our Savage 111, we only had 5 MOA of drop at 300 yards and 10.75 MOA at 500. Both adjustments were very close to what was advertised on the box. Sitting atop a masonite table we placed 36 inches of clear, 10% ballistic gelatin (www.clearballistics.com) 300 yards downrange, took a deep breath and placed a brilliantly accurate shot. The round explosively transferred its energy just as advertised. The concussive shock shattered the table in the process. Expansion started at just 2.5” of penetration. After 35.5” of penetration the bullet came to a halt, almost completely penetrating both blocks. With sub MOA accuracy at 500 yards and more than 35 inches of penetration at 300 yards, their claim of accurate and deadly to 1,000 yards is certainly plausible.
For more information check out www.FederalPremium.com and make sure you have some of these in your hunting bag.
