Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Federal Fusions and shoulders?

I've gotten the same from the 55 grain Hornady sp. Deer scapulas aren't tough and I've punched through them with damn near everything down to and including a 38 grain Remington power lokt HP from a 5mm rimfire magnum.

Took 1 bull moose with a 338fed at 100yds, shoulder shot, found under hide on far side it was a perfect mushroom. Trying it out in 30-30 this year on deer, 170g,r think it should work just fine.

I've only had 2 not exit. One broadside through both shoulders on a big axis- found in the offside shoulder near the hide. The other was a hard quarter and it went a long ways inside but I wasn't digging around for it. I think the Fusions are great. To me they seem to hold together better than some of the cup and cores. They also expend quicker and wider then the tougher bonded bullets. They seem like a good in-between. If you put one through both shoulders close, you will have a very dead deer and probably two very bloodshot shoulders.

I've had mixed results with the federal fusions

.308- 165 grains-had 3 put a deer down pretty fast, 2 a buck and mature doe with minimal "shock and awe" damage and a youger doe that had half it's guts hanging out a 3" exit hole and no heart/ lungs left. Very ineffective on hogs, 3 killed, 2 without exits, and barely any blood at the entry, if they didn''t take out the CNT from back neck/front shoulder area those pigs would probably still be rooting today.

.338 federal 200 grains- put 4 of these bullets into hogs last year, one pass through on the vitals with goood results, the other 3 were underwhelming as far as penetration goes. One I put 2 into and never recovered it...

I also ended up with lots of lead in my hamburger this year... partiallly driving my swap to copper solids for this season.

The stuff shoots great in my rifles, the price is right, and it is very avaibale in my area, but for the rare occasions I get into the field, I'd rather pay a little more and have better terminal results.

I’ve never used the fusions myself, but brothers and friends have. Several killed with .243 and 280 fusions. Pretty sure they all exited. I think it’s a fantastic bullet for a very decent price. I’m gonna try some through my 6.5 CM. Seems they shot very well in 243 & 280.

Yes, yes it will.

CIIR, but i believe the Fusions are a bonded bullet. I shot 2 doe broadside through the lungs at 125 yards and got pencil hole in and pencil hole out. 165 grainers in a .308. Both deer were eventually found with very little blood trail. Broke some ribs, but i guess not enough resistance to expand. Next deer will get a shoulder shot. I was skeptical about a shoulder shot, but y'all make me feel a little better about it. Thanks all.

Will

i like the hell out of them in my 7wsm. shoot less than half inch, and moving right heck along at 3275

I've killed several deer with a .308 with 180 grain fusions, all high shoulder shots. Most punched straight through with little bloodshot meat. I only caught one on hard angled shot.

My son has killed more than 10 deer with a .243 win and 95 grain fusions, only recovered a 2 or 3 of them, the others all pass throughs. The 95 grainers do seem to cause more bloodshot meat than the heavier and slower 180's from my .308. On rib shots with the .243 the deer run a little like most do when lung or heart shot. The ones he has hit shoulders with go down right there.

There are several threads on the forum that talk about fusions and/or .243 bullets in particular.

Here are a few, some are my own posts showing my son's skills and I'm sure there are more to be found.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt.../re-federal-fusion-captured#Post12210090

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11292193/1

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...w-years-eve-out-with-a-bang#Post10831458

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...4291/2014-alabama-youth-hunt#Post9614291

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...on-ammo-alabama-youth-season#Post8266425

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ma-youth-deer-season-is-over#Post7071125


Bob.
Roll Tide.

I've taken a couple elk, one small bull and a monster cow. Approx 75 yards, cow was angling towards me and punched through one shoulder and out the other. The bull was a high shoulder shot and it went through (7mm-08 140g).

Never tried the fusions. I have 4 boxes of trophy tipped bullets. I need to load a few. The original bear claws were a hell of a bullet.

Has anyone tried the new trophy tipped bullets. I bought 140’s in 7mm to try.

I stay away from shoulders because there's meat there I want to eat.

I heard that they're going to sell Fusions for handloading, but haven't seen any yet. Worth a "shot" if they do.

I have killed deer with both 150 and 165 grn from a 308 and IMO the Fusion is dam near the perfect deer bullet, cheap, available, accurate and dependable from all angles. Not much down side as I see it.