Federal Terminal Ascent Bullets - Anyone used em?

Sevoflurane249

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Jan 25, 2023
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31
Hi, I have been using the Terminal Ascent in 270 WSM for two years. I live in Spain, we have a hunting season during the winter that consists of driven hunts and the rest of the year we stalk. I have shot 200 bullets with great success, mostly red deer (males and females), european wild boar, mouflon and fallow deer. No problem in the collections.
Stalking I have shot two or three boxes, in the big red deer in the north of Spain (over 425 pounds) I have had one shot kills mostly falling on the spot and others I have had to double the shot to avoid the animal to get into the bush. For the rest of the animals, all under that weight, they are fulminant with red deer, mouflons, spanish ibex, roe deer, chamois, wild boar, etc.
Regarding the Accubond, Partition, or Norma's Tip Strike, perhaps I like the TA better, both in a Kimber and in a Tikka, although it is true that I don't usually make hunting shots above 550 yards.
That's great feedback. Good to hear. I handloaded several hundred a few weekends ago.
 

Jmgates09

FNG
Joined
Apr 25, 2023
Messages
36
Killed bull in my profile pic with a factory 175 TA in .308. Shot was steep down angle at around 80 yards. Hit high side of near lung and exited low on far side lung. Dropped him to his front knees on the shot, and then he stood back up, turned around, and walked 50 yards before flopping over for good. Very good blood trail with the shot angle. I don't have any necropsy pics, but from memory entry was caliber sized and exit was roughly the size of a quarter.

I was shooting 2-2.5" groups at 200 yards with the TA and around 3" with the 180 TBBC.
I wish I could find some 175 TA or 180 TBT TO load for 300 wsm would love sum velocity over the 200TA
 

nubbin

FNG
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
20
Location
NW Arkansas
I just started using the 175gr in my savage 110 30-06. At 200 yards i can get a 1.5” group out of them if I’m on my A game. Shot a mule deer in Montana first day of rifle this year right at 200 yards. Dime size entry and a quarter size exit. Bullet hit the top part of the heart, deer made it a couple bounds before dropping. When i gutted it the heart was laying in the bottom of his chest cavity and the area on the lungs the bullet passed were damaged pretty good. Perfect meat savor shot, it still amazes me that a deer can travel 20 yards with his heart disconnected completely. Wish i would have taken a picture of the heart but never considered it.
 
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Last week, my son shot a Mule Deer 342 yards with 30-06 175 grain TA, DRT.
4/4 so far. Very happy with the performance.
 

ME180

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Joined
Dec 22, 2023
Messages
13
I killed a cow elk at 410 yards with a hand loaded 175gr TLR in a 300WM going 3000fps. It groups at .75 MOA. 1 shot kill, dropped it in its tracks and rolled down the hill.
The factory 300WM 200gr. TA group around a 1-1.25 MOA in my Tikka 1-11” 300WM.
 
Joined
Mar 16, 2023
Messages
18
I have load ladders sitting waiting for me in 175gr for 30-06 and 155gr 7x57. I live in Alaska and want to have good penetration in both for moose and black bear. I'm hoping the advertised low speed expansion will help push the 7x57 max range out to 400.
 

z987k

WKR
Joined
Sep 9, 2020
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1,466
Location
AK
I haven't seen federal bullets in forever. I'd love to find some of the 200gr 338 trophy bonded tips.
 
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I haven't seen federal bullets in forever. I'd love to find some of the 200gr 338 trophy bonded tips.
It's been rough. I'd much prefer to p/u some component bullets for reloading but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
 

CoMulies

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Jan 4, 2024
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Loved the TA’s numbers on paper but they grouped like garbage out of my .270 win. Consistently 2 - 3” groups at 100.
 
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Yep, was pretty dissapointing. Barnes LRX, Hornady American Whitetail, and Nosler ABLR all right at an inch and the Terminal Ascents were spraying
That's sucks. So far I've shot 175 grain Edge TLR in my 30-06 and 300 WM and 175 grain TA in my 30-06. Groups are all less than 1" but not 1/2 MOA stellar.

I'm picking up my 6.5 PRC today so hopefully it groups well o/w I will have to: WTS 6.5 PRC TA. LOL
 
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
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Kalispell
So far been really happy with them in my 7 PRCs
CA Ridgeline in 22" with Hyperion K:

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