Author Topic: Federal Fusions (Read 3974 times)

oleman · « **on:** May 21, 2009, 10:31:25 AM »

I recently tried some 95 gr. Federal Fusions in my .243. They print very well in my rifle. Has anyone used this round on whitetail deer? If so how did they preform. My ranges are 100 yds. or less -- mostly less.

thanks
Oleman
Baker, La.

Tunaman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2009, 01:24:55 PM »

A buddy of mine shoots 140 gr Fusion in his 7/08 and loves them. I helped him clean a couple of does this year. Both were hit through the shoulder at just over 100 yards. They both went through and through. From what he told me, neither deer went more than 15 yards from where they were shot. I was a bit surprised that they passed through, as they seem a bit soft to me, but the facts are the facts.

charles p · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2009, 02:31:41 PM »

Took a large MT whitetail with one. Never took a step. Still got a box with 19 left.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2009, 03:43:32 PM »

My son took his Mule deer buck with the fusion 243 last fall. One shot and he stumbled a few yards and went down. A little high for the heart, but really messed up both lungs, very good performance for a 243, about like what I would expect from one of my 7mm-08's. DP

oleman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2009, 09:36:33 AM »

Thanks for the info guys. I love my .243. I have had bad experence with some bullets and hoped the Fusion had a record of complete pass throughs. Thanks again

Oleman
Baker, La.

the great orator · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2009, 10:56:35 AM »

Two shots, two dead deer. First one was hit a little high and back, (gut shot), went about 50 yards and piled up. No blood trail, just a good job of tracking kicked up leaves and a good grid search. Second one was through the neck, so it never moved.

Significant damage through the neck, I'd be more than confident if it were a shot to the vitals. Both were complete pass throughs. No jacketing or anything through the wound channel.

I'd use them. (Oh yeah, in .243)

kudzu · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2009, 03:42:58 AM »

The fusions have been very accurate in evry rifle I've seen them shot thru. I shoot them out of my encore pro hunter in both the 25-06 and 280 barrels. Both are under 2'' at 300 yards.

Now for the original question. How do they perform on WT deer. Very,very well. I LIKES EM

Over the past 2 seasons I have taken 12-15 WT deer with these bullets (both cal.) Every deer has dropped in it's tracks ,except 2. One from my 25-06 ran about 20 yrds before pillin up. (double lung, passthru, very heavy blood trail). The other was a double. The first deer fell in the corn pile and the second ran about 40 yrds. with a moderate blood trail. The bullet passed thru the first deer(of course) and the bullet was recovered on the off side of the second deer. It broke into the hide but didn't quite make it out.

I have been as impressed with the fusions as any other bullet for WT. Fed hit a homer with these.
NOW IF THEY WILL JUST OFFER THEM FOR RELOADING.

S.S. · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2009, 03:39:20 AM »

Is the fusion a different bullet design or a lower power/ less recoil cartridge in general.
I was under the impression that the latter was true. It was touted as for young shooters or the recoil shy?

Cheesehead · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2009, 05:08:40 AM »

Are these available a component bullets?

Cheese

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:42:17 AM »

Guys,

I've read about the Fusion bullets and they sound real good. I bought some factory loads and shot them in my old Winchester 88 .308 and the were dead nutz accurate. 1" or less at 100 yds. every time. Interested in hearing more in some different calibers. I'm a deer hunter so it don't take a real expensive bullet to do the job. Even the expensive bullets don't work very well with a "Texas Heart Shot!"

BT

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:38:51 PM »

S.S. it's a different bullet construction. Loaded to the same pressure as other cartridges. The jacket is "plated" on with an electro-chemical process very simular to the Speer Gold-Dots. DP

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2009, 03:25:22 AM »

Guys,

Shot more .308's this weekend in a new (old) Savage 99. First time I shot it. Shot Monarch 150's first. All over the paper. Fusion 150's. 3 shots in the bull at 100 yds. 2 touching. 3/4". I quit shooting for the day. I'm sold.

BT

statelinerut · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2009, 03:03:52 PM »

I have used the Fusions since they came out and that is all that I use now. Have taken over 30 deer with the 95gr out of my 243 and they are awesome. Every deer shot has either fell where they stood or fell within 30 yards or so.

Got this ol boy last year and he ran 30 yards and piled up.

nomosendero · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2009, 04:15:17 PM »

SLR, 30 Deer is a dang good testimony for sure.

The 165 groups better in my 700VS than any factory load I tried, in fact it took sev. diff. match prepped loads before I found a couple that would outdoo the Fusion in groups.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:11:58 AM »

Quote from: Blowtorch53 on July 10, 2009, 06:42:17 AM

Guys,

I've read about the Fusion bullets and they sound real good. I bought some factory loads and shot them in my old Winchester 88 .308 and the were dead nutz accurate. 1" or less at 100 yds. every time. Interested in hearing more in some different calibers. I'm a deer hunter so it don't take a real expensive bullet to do the job. Even the expensive bullets don't work very well with a "Texas Heart Shot!"

BT

In 2008 I had an 80-yard opportunity at a mule deer buck that was quartering away. Just as the trigger broke the buck stepped forward and turned. The bullet hit low in th eright ham and was recovered from up against the sternum. The buck went straight down so fast I thought it had stepped over a ledge.

The bullet was a North Fork 7mm 140g running 3214fps (chrono avg.) at the muzzle. Weight retention was good, as was expansion, and I certainly can't fault the way ithe bullet worked. Never had another shot like this so its a sample of one.

doeroller · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2009, 05:58:09 PM »

I sight in alot of rifles every year just before rifle season. I have a lead sled and bench in my back yard. I can shoot to 300yd safely. The most accurate and consistent factory ammo hands down is the Federal Fusion load. I am confident in saying that if the gun will not shoot the Fusion. You had better let the gunsmith check your gun and or scope. I mean in every caliber and I have shot the 243 thru 300 Mag and all shot as well or better than high priced designer ammo.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2009, 10:17:01 PM »

I have not used them, but have heard good things. Bought a box in .223, and the first 5 grouped right at 1 1/4 inch out of my usually accurate Bushmaster AR-15. Great minute of deer accuracy. I am going to try one when I fill my doe tags this year. I have used Barnes solids and Nosler Partition slugs in the .223 in the past with very good results, so we will see..

Larry

saltydog · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2009, 04:24:18 AM »

Quote from: Bigeasy on October 21, 2009, 10:17:01 PM

I have not used them, but have heard good things. Bought a box in .223, and the first 5 grouped right at 1 1/4 inch out of my usually accurate Bushmaster AR-15. Great minute of deer accuracy. I am going to try one when I fill my doe tags this year. I have used Barnes solids and Nosler Partition slugs in the .223 in the past with very good results, so we will see..

Larry

I think you are makeing a step down from you Nosler or Barnes - however that said the Fusions will work fine on deer size game.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2009, 07:17:44 AM »

Now I read where the Fusions are made for Federal by Speer. Speer will be phasing out the Hotcors and replaceing them with the same bullets. Not sure what they, Speer, will call them. The Fusions are the name Federal will use, Speer will call them something else. Now we will be able to buy them for reloading.

DP

Cheesehead · « **Reply #19 on:** November 01, 2009, 09:33:29 AM »

If they are cheaper then Corelokts, I will try them.

Cheese

searlock · « **Reply #20 on:** November 01, 2009, 10:12:22 AM »

speer calls them unicore. i have been using them for years in my 357 mag as gold dot hollow points, they also make them as a soft point. excellent bullet,after impact superb core jacket fusion, normally retain 95% weight after impact. designed to meet standards for the FBI.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #21 on:** November 01, 2009, 11:24:51 AM »

I would like to see a 150 grain .308 and a 130 grain .277 Fusion component bullet.

Cheese

mjbgalt · « **Reply #22 on:** November 01, 2009, 12:03:28 PM »

i have said this before....but....

as a handloader, and a decent one (i can usually get 1/2 to 3/4 moa out of any of my rifles with load work) i am baffled by how large a percentage of the time the fusions are deadly accurate in a vast array of guns.

to pick ONE handload out and try it is a crapshoot and maybe 15% of time it will be "Accurate enough" but to select one and get tiny groups? never.

so what does federal know that we don't??

moorepower · « **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2009, 11:02:39 AM »

I have tried them in two rifles, a .308 in a Stevens 200 and a 7mm mag in a 700. My results were not quite as good, but quite acceptable for hunting, 1 1/2-2" groups of three. With the cheap Federal blue box the Stevens does 1/2" and the 7mm mag shoots the Hornady heavy mag into 1-1 1/2" groups.

doeroller · « **Reply #24 on:** November 26, 2009, 05:06:44 PM »

My thinking is that these bullets are not designated to be super premium but mass produced controlled expansion bullets. In leiu of the price of factory ammo, I think it is safe to assume this fact. I can't wait for these bullets to become component available. I have no negative comments or have heard no negative comments about Fusion bullets.

moorepower · « **Reply #25 on:** December 03, 2009, 01:11:25 PM »

I agree, if I could roll my own, most likely the accuracy would equal or near equal in my guns.

Brithunter · « **Reply #26 on:** December 07, 2009, 12:40:56 AM »

Hmmm I will enquire as to the availabily of Federal Fusion ammunition in 25-06. If ....................... if we can find some and the price is not out of reach I would like to try them through my rifle

but I am not holding my breathe on this one as my local shop does not list it so..............................

lucky guy · « **Reply #27 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:19:09 PM »

Quote from: S.S. on June 23, 2009, 03:39:20 AM

Is the fusion a different bullet design or a lower power/ less recoil cartridge in general.
I was under the impression that the latter was true. It was touted as for young shooters or the recoil shy?

I don't think so either. The 338 wm fusion is 225gr at 2800fps, pretty solid load.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #28 on:** December 31, 2009, 10:31:10 AM »

I don't remember which show it was on, but the other nite I watched a show about Federal getting back into the reloader bidness. According to the guy from Federal, Fusion bullets were gonna be released after the first of the year along with bulk brass.

HWD

nomosendero · « **Reply #29 on:** December 31, 2009, 01:12:16 PM »

Good news, HWD!!