Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Federal Fusion Upset

Had a disappointing experience with the fusion bullet tonight to say the least. Was a 270 130 gr federal fusion ammo bullet that has me scratching my head. 90-100ish pound doe was shot at 75ish yards. Broadside. Upon skinning the deer the entrance side looking like a bomb when off. Hit cleanly behind the shoulder but the front side shoulder got destroyed. Textbook shot. Did not hit bone entering. Exit hole was the size of a quarter or half dollar. Very little damage on the off side. Only the entrance side took the punishment. What happened here? It looked like the complete 180 of what should bh have been the case. Clean hole on entrance. Bigger hole on off side....

Small deer hit with a bullet at 3000fps.

Jew think so? I've shot similar with corelokt and not seen the bomb like destruction. Seems abnormal. Actually was hoping for less destruction with the fusion than the corelokt.. damn sure shot tiny groups

Back up? Don't pick a cartridge shooting well over 3000fps for shots under 100 yds? Be glad your bullet is effective?

I took a similar deer with a 200gr Hornady .348 at about 75 yards. My first thought when I got to her was,

“Looks like I shot her with a .270”

Lotta rifle for little deer, as is an ‘06, and even a .308 with fast-expanding bullets. Keep your shots away from the steaks.

Classic bullet splash.

I’m having a hard time understanding how a half dollar size exit hole equals very little damage on the off side?

Yeah agree with the others, the way to overcome good bullet construction is with speed. 270 with a 130gr bullet at 70 yards is as good of an example as any. Rapid initial expansion on entrance and what was left after that slowed down enough to have a more controlled expansion/exit

Ok I understand what you are saying. Just havent seen those results from this rifle before. Was shocked with the damage.

What bullet might be better geared towards less meat damage?

Barnes TTSX produces consistently excellent terminal performance without tearing up lots of meat.

The comment only applies to the TTSX, not the TSX which produced inconsistent results for me on deer. Avoid the TSX.

You mentioned Core-lokt ammo. Is that no longer available? You could also go to the 150 grain Fusion load in the 270, which will give you more of what you are after, I think, due to the reduced velocity.

I’ve used the 140 Fusion in a 6.5 Creed on elk with great success and feel very confident with them.

The .270, which I’ve used since the late sixties is basically a magnum with the 130’s.
I’ve gotten bullet splash on a couple of occasions and one of the constants was that the deer were wet from rain.
One, a smallish blacktail at very close range was hit behind the shoulder with a 130gr bronze point reload. I completely jellied the shoulders! The entrance site was a huge hole....and yet the buck ran out of sight. The off side rib cage wall was peppered with fragments.

I wouldn’t count out the Fusion offering based on one example.
If your still concerned, you might consider bumping up to the 150’s.....

Yeah agree one option is going heavier and slower for less meat damage

Yeah we haven’t had those results. At least with the 55gr TTSX

I only use Barnes TTSX, or Nosler E-Tips, for deer, out of my .270 WSM, .280, and .257 Wby. No blow-ups, and nowhere the meat damage I have experienced in the past with other bullets.

Will look into trying 150s for next season. Will try to get another comparison with the 130s this season.
What are yall referring to when you say "bullet splash"?

Will also try some ttsx and see how the barnes ammo shoots. Thanks for the feedback

I’m using same bullet in 270. Not sure your speed but getting 3200fps in two of my rifles with R17. Close range tends to make a mess which I expect and place shots based on. Go up in weight or slow it down is about all you can do. I’ve had good results with fusions in 6.5, 270, and 7mm.

You could try 140 or 145’s too.