Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Federal Trophy Bonded Tip

I did a search on this and got tired of looking at irrelevant posts........................

Any use these on game? Ideally, I'm looking at the 165 gr at 308 velocities on elk size critters out to 400 yards or so. Federal website says they expand down to 1600 ft/sec but would really like to see what they look like at those vels. They might be a little over-kill on deer at 308 vels but I'm also curious how they work in that application as well. From my google-fu, it appears they hold up well to higher velocities even at close range. With their mono-esque construction, I'd expect that.

Thanks.

I’ve used a bunch of the original best claws made by Jack Carter. They were as good as the Partition in my opinion. The new bear claws ( trophy bonddd tip) is better. They will kill anything you encounter while hunting.

I have a bunch of 270, 7mm, and 308’s I need to load and try. I wish they made a 6.5 -140 grain.

I really wish they made the .338 200gn available to handloaders. My informal tests indicate it is a really tough bullet, yet opens reasonably wide. I can’t bring myself to use factory ammo when hunting thus no on game performance experience.

I shoot the Federal 200 gr TBT out of my 338 Federal. I killed a decent sized buck last fall with one thru the last rib and out the opposite shoulder - dropped on the spot. Decent sized exit wound but didn't lose much meat. Also shot a cow elk this fall at about 250 yards thru the lungs - she turned and walked about 35 yards towards me and dropped. Small sample size but I agree with prm. They seem like a pretty tough bullet that can still be used on smaller animals. If I was strictly hunting deer with them I'd lean towards a lighter bullet if one was available.

I used factory loaded 165 Federal Trophy Bonded Tips in a 308 last year on a DIY elk hunt in New Mexico. Flattened a 6x6 with one shot at 139 yards through both shoulders, in one side and out the other. Rifle shoots 5 bullets into an inch at 200 yards. Measured velocity was 2740 FPS out of a 21" Bartlein.

Subscribed to this one. They have always had my interest. The Edge TLR look like the LR version of the TBT?

I’ve used the 160 grn. trophy bonded in my 280 rem for elk for the last 4 yrs. with great results. Very good accuracy and terminal performance with kills being made out to 400 yds. My pet load is RL 22 with an avg. vel of 2850fps. I’ve recovered 2 bullets from 5 kills with textbook mushroom and upwards of 85-90% wt retention. Great penetration and most dropped in there tracks....it’s my go to bullet for elk in that rifle! I’ve also shot the 140 trophy bonded out of the same rifle and point of impact was very close to being the same as the 160. A very good bullet, use with confidence even if heavy bone is hit.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Took this buck with my 270 Win and a 130 Tipper TBBC started at 3150. Deer was about 140 yards. I thought I was going to find the bullet but my old man caped it before I could get there. I suspect it was balled up in the hide. Broke far side leg and the deer ran 50 yards or so. Decent blood for only having an entrance hole.

Last year we took a good sized Wyoming cow at 250 with the 140 version started at 2900. High shoulder and spine put it down pretty neatly. Blew right on through.

I like them so far. They have been easy to get to shoot, in jugs they expand wide and hold up real well and seem pretty sleek.

I

I’ve got some 200’s I’d like to try in my RUM. If they work like the 130’s in the 270 they should be some kinda hard on animals.

Heres a group I shot yesterday out of my pre 64 M70 in 280 Remington at 100 yards... Almost shot the same group at 200 yards but I pulled 1 out for 1-1/2 " for 5 shots.

I still have a couple thousand 22-62 grain bear claws. The FBI tested bear claws years ago. It was the only bullet that would hold up reliably through auto glass. They were testing .22’s and 308’s. Those were 100%
Copper. They are made out of a touch tougher copper alloy now, so they are even better at holding together.

Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I knew guys on here had the info! I think some 0.284 and 0.308 need to head my way via the brown truck. I really want my 308 to like the 165. I love that gun and have killed a few animals with it since I've owned it. Thanks again.

Midway has 308-165’s and 270-140’s

I spent several weeks this summer developing a load for my Bergara 270 and finally settled on a 140gr Sierra game king which is MOA out to 300 yds only to try the Federal trophy bonded tip in 130 gr later and shoots 1/2" groups at 100 yds. This stuff is so accurate no need to reload.

That wouldn’t break my heart. Great shooting.

That is good shooting. Those bullets are silver. Will they kill a werewolf if need be???

Thank you for the compliment...Rifle was bought for the action and stock. Made a mistake shooting it.... Pre 64 M70 with a Sako barrel and an MPI ? fiberglass stock. Don't know what to do with it now.

I’ve been using the Edge TLR which looks to be a more aerodynamic trophy bonded tip. I’ve now taken a mulie and an elk, I posted two recovered bullets from my elk in another TLR specific thread.

Have not hunted with them but have gotten nice groups from a number of different rifles with them.

Brown truck is on it's way with 30 cal, 165 gr and 7mm, 160 gr.

Nice. Pretty easy shooting Bullets. I seat them .050 off and start working up. Usually doesn’t take much.

I’d hunt the tar outta that rifle!

I would to - which is why the 7mm/160 are inbound. Hoping my Kimber 280 AI digs them.

I really like the concept of that bullet. Best of all worlds - mono, bonded, aerodynamic, opens at lower vels but holds together. When they first appeared as component bullets, I wanted to try them but wanted to see if they would stick around. Apparently they will.

Price is very good as well.

Thats a hell of a nice buck. Guessing its a good one for that area.... Friend of mine lives in Northern VA and after I showed him the pic he agreed that's big for his area... What was the rifle you used.... Built a M70 with a Brux Barrel in 270, doesn't shoot the Federal load for sh*t... Wish it did, it would have been my primary rifle for sure.

Like a dumbass I sold a pre 64 featherweight in 270 that shot the factory federal TBT into tiny knots at 200 yards. Sure wish I had it back.

It’s a P64 Featherweight... plain as the day it was made.

Oh, and that buck came from Northern NY, but Virginia does put out some good bucks now and again.

I was shooting the Federal factory 308 165s, P308TT4 High Energy. Factory stated velocity was 2880fps, they chronoed 2840 out of my Ruger M77 Hawkeye 22" barrel. But sadly they are discontinued.



Shoot well in my Ruger. Only a sample of one @ 153 yards, no tracking needed.

I have a .270 WSM that really prefers the Trophy Bonded and Trophy Bonded Tip. Shoots them sub moa and also kills quickly. 100% pass through and usually leaves a quarter to golf ball size exit. Animals rarely move after receiving this round, typically DRT.

I have a 270 WSM too, I have a bunch of 130’s. I’m eager to try them in it.

I have a 270 WSM too, I have a bunch of 130’s. I’m eager to try them in it.

I just took delivery on the 7mm 160. Anxious to try them on paper with my 7mm Rem Mag. if the weather ever gets better up here in the "Frozen Tundra".

Loaded my good bud's ammo for his recent African PG hunt, 160 NAB's over 67.5 gr. RL-26 for his 7RM Sendero. Great performance at the range and in the field.

He's an Accubond fan, we didn't get a chance to try the Fed TBT, although I do have 7mm 140's and 160's to try. Will check them out at a later time.

DF

Currently using 180gr in my .300WM. Caught two of them under offside hide of a moose at a little over 200 yds. Haven't weighed them to confirm retained weight, but text book mushroom. Easily punched through small blacktail ribs, just behind the shoulder at about 60 yds. Pencil in, 50 cent size hole out.

I had hoped to use them on an Afognak Island elk this past fall, but alas, no elk were harmed in the making of my "camping" trip!

I’m going to load some up soon, try them when it warms up.

A couple of years ago I used the 270-130’s on about 50 plains game. 30-35 were wildebeest, oryx, zebra, and kudu. They worked well but the 130 TTSX bullets opened to a wider frontal area. I prefer the Barnes. The Federal’s lost the front part of the petals. I couldn’t see any benefit of the bonded lead core.
PM me and I will send those I still have.

I shoot the 165 in an 06 and can't complain 1 bear lots of hogs and deer. good choice.

That group inspires me... i need to see what my M700 280 will do, i have a factory box of 20 waiting for the range...

Jack Carter designed a really great bullet, the newer versions should be even better. I think the latest have some of the best BC's of any controlled expansion bullet, the LRX and Hammer bullets may exceed them but not by much and usually the TBT's will be ahead. Think of them as a tipped Partition only they don't fragment as much. Weight retention is typically 90+%.

Think I will have to try them in my 700 280 also lol

Got my moose year before last with a 7mm Mag using 160gr Trophy Bonded tipped with H1000 powder at 71 gr at 3057 FPS.

Double lunged it and bullet keep on going. Range was 240 yards. Vanguard S2 rifle, in Canada. Very accurate load.

I ran some compressed air lines in Jack’s shop many years ago. He was a nice guy, loved to talk hunting.

Another + plus vote for the Trophy Bonded Tip.

I used the Federal factory rounds with great success in my Ruger M77 in .280. At least three elk were taken prior to that rifle going to one of my best friends who still uses the same load.

Having to use non-lead now forces me to other bullets, but if I go out-of-state the Trophy Bonded Tip or Nosler Accubonds are the two I have the most confidence with.

Listen to this. It's all you need to know.

It seems the 270-130 grain and 7mm-140 grain are difficult to find again.

Thank you, I have 10 boxes of the 270-130’s and have some on back order with Midway. I found a couple of boxes of 7mm-140’s on GunBroker for 24.00. I’ll order a few boxes from federal. You cant have too many.

160 TBT from a 280AI went through a large cow elk broadside at 180 yards, trapped in the offside hide, broke several bones, ended up with 70% original weight.
They have been accurate out to 600 yards.

If you say they are good, i believe it. I know you put your bullets to the test. I recently saw these, when my boss brought a box in to show me. Pardon my ignorance though, are these an all copper bullet? They had grooves cut into them like the barnes ttsx/tsx.

Me too. Pretty damn nice shooting.

I have some .270 130’s if anyone wants them. Send PM.

Trust me, if you're just deer hunting with that .270, stick with those Sierra Game Kings. Out to 300 yards those Game Kings open up better and kill faster than about anything except maybe a Nosler Ballistic Tip or the Combined Technologies version of the Balliistic TIp, which is another fine bullet for deer. Game Kings are my favorite go to white tail bullet. No tip or other addtions necessary, just plain jane SGK or Ballistic Tip or CT Ballistic Tips. Now if you're going after bigger game yeah I might look into a fancier bullet design. But for deer inside 300 yards you won't beat a Sierra Game King or BT bullet for deer size animals . In fact, I don't use anything heavier than the 130 Grain. You don't need a premium bullet for white tail deer. A 130 grain Game King will penetrate just right and expand perfectly on deer. I also use them on hogs with stellar results. Now for Elk and bigger, I won't chance them. Some people use them on elk size critters but there's better bullets to be had on animals that big. But for deer it's not only adequate, it's better in my opinion.

I ran across a bunch of .224 bear claws. They are 62 grain, be great pig bullets.

My brother shot a record book black bear here in Arizona with the 308 and trophy bonded tip. it is huge.

Need some loading help with these bullets. I'm shooting the 30 cal 180 grain TBT in a 24 inch Sako 30-06. Very accurate with 56 grains H4350 in Lapua cases with CCI 250 primers. Just over 2800fps on my Chrony. I now see this seems to be above Federal's listed max load. They do not specify the pressure of their data. Does this bullet tend to raise pressures above a conventional one? What's anybody else finding? Thanks.

Generally speaking, mono-metal bullets like the Barnes TSX and the Trophy bonded Tip do not raise pressures versus a conventional cup-and-core bullet of the same weight. They should not be seated close to the lands, however.

If you are getting good accuracy and no signs of excessive pressure your load should be good.

I agree with Jb. The max pressure for the 30-06 is fairly anemic. I've always thought 2800 with a 180 and 24" barrel is safe. I've run alot of 2800 velocity 180 gr 30-06 loads without issue.

Thanks for the info. No signs of any increased pressure, but I'm understanding that this is not always reliable. The load is max in my Hodgdon manual with pressure still fairly mild in their barrel. I just didn't know if this particular bullet was different. It sure shoots well in this rifle. Well under 1 inch for 3 shots in my hands. Probably would even do better for a bona fide sharpshooter!