Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only federal fusion 416 remington 400gn

Just shot a box at the range. was just siting in my iron sites so not really testing for accuracy. I did however line up two 30" containers of water and shot it from about 25 yards. It split the first container into pieces and put a hole through the front side of the 2nd container. So it will penetrate at least 30" of water at close range. The bullet weighed 290gn out of 400gn for 73% retention. However it peeled back the copper front and shed the lead front to about 2/3 back on the shank with the front copper stringing behind the back edge of the bullet shank. the diameter was less than the diameter of most .375 caliber bullets.
All in all, I think it would make a good NA bullet or plains game bullet, but would stay away from the DG with this.

Thanks for the report. I'd say you are probably right about game suitability. Sounds like they would make a good load for non-dangerous game and a cheaper practice alternative than the premium stuff. How much did a box of them cost?

Heres a front and back view of the 416 400gn federal fusion in between a .375 270gn TSX and .375 300gn Patition.


The last photo is a side view of the fusion next to an unfired 370gn North Fork. the heals of the both bullets are lined up so you can see how far back the fusion pealed back

I think I got them for around $78 a box of 20 They're the next cheapest after hornady. I will only reload from here on out but I really wanted to get a feel for factory rounds and see how these fusion bullets stand up to water since you can't buy the bullets for reloading. and I needed brass.

From your tests, it would appear that the Fusion would be a good bullet for cats. I had an A-Frame in .416 Rigby zip right through a lion that resulted in a, shall we say, exciting follow-up. The necropsy revealed the A-Frame, an excellent cape buff bullet in the same caliber, simply failed to expand. The following year, I used a Partition on another cat hunt and it worked perfectly.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a Fusion on cats (for the first shot, but wouldn't use on on buff. Thanks for your info and teats.

I didn't think about cats. I think your right about that.

Gohip,

Did you do any accuracy testing with those? Was curious on how well they shoot. I believe they are the cheapest factory offerings, other than maybe the Hornady's. I'm assuming it's federal brass. I'd be curious how well that brand holds up to reloading.

My only other experience with the fusion's is with some 260 grain 50 cal muzzleloading bullets, and they shot very well.

I didn't test for accuracy as I was just trying to get a feel for the rifle and get some brass. From what I can tell, I think the federal brass will work fine for reloading. I already shot the 2nd load out of the brass. I'm trying to hold off some on shooting this rifle until I actually get the scope mounted.

With other calibers, I've generally had decent accuracy with federal.