Any love for the federal terminal ascent?

[375Fox]

I really like watching the bullet tests on this channel. He has several videos with terminal assent.

 

[csmiffy]

I would like to give them a try.
The punch through of mono with a bit more reliable expansion.
BUT absolutely unobtanium here in NZ for years. Bugger all about and not all the calibres especially for the rifles I'd try them in. Only a couple of loaded options too

 

[CBeck]

I really like watching the bullet tests on this channel. He has several videos with terminal assent.

Yes sir. That’s good info…thanks for sharing the video. I figured it being a successor to the trophy bonded line. It should be a good round.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I really like watching the bullet tests on this channel. He has several videos with terminal assent.

Not to nitpick but it should be noted that the Clear Ballistic Gel isn’t the same as True Ballistic Gel.

True ballistic gel won’t be clear, it’ll be yellowish. The clear gel is super popular for YouTubers and can be bought cheap so it works great for videos. It’s also easier and less time consuming to make than true FBI calibrated Ballistic Gel, which has a fairly specific protocol to make. The clear gel is advertised as such, but it’s not actually calibrated to FBI Testing Protocols and normally yields higher than average penetration depths, as well as larger bullet upsets, with higher mass retention.

The video you posted shows a great representation of Terminal Ascent but it should be noted that they’re using clear gel. You’ll sometime see clear gel used in marketing videos and displays.

Here’s a video that sort of touches on the differences between the two. Where you really see the difference is when one starts to shoot through the other barriers and mediums the FBI tests against for their rating.

I still stand by my statement that Terminal Ascent is currently my favorite hunting bullet on the market today where a solid isn’t required.

 

[Art Lambart II]

My 13 year old son used 200 TA in his 300WM to great effect in the Easter Cape last July. His shots ranged from 90 yards on the warthog to 351 yards for the Kudu. As for accuracy the attached target was a cold bore shot and two additional shots at 100 yards. My may never use another rifle or load in his life until he starts hunting DG.

 

[375Fox]

Not to nitpick but it should be noted that the Clear Ballistic Gel isn’t the same as True Ballistic Gel.

True ballistic gel won’t be clear, it’ll be yellowish. The clear gel is super popular for YouTubers and can be bought cheap so it works great for videos. It’s also easier and less time consuming to make than true FBI calibrated Ballistic Gel, which has a fairly specific protocol to make. The clear gel is advertised as such, but it’s not actually calibrated to FBI Testing Protocols and normally yields higher than average penetration depths, as well as larger bullet upsets, with higher mass retention.

The video you posted shows a great representation of Terminal Ascent but it should be noted that they’re using clear gel. You’ll sometime see clear gel used in marketing videos and displays.

Here’s a video that sort of touches on the differences between the two. Where you really see the difference is when one starts to shoot through the other barriers and mediums the FBI tests against for their rating.

I still stand by my statement that Terminal Ascent is currently my favorite hunting bullet on the market today where a solid isn’t required.

I was unaware the difference but I watch the majority of his videos as the come out. As long as the tests are consistent it gives me a good idea how bullets will perform relative to each other. I find the videos really informative.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I was unaware the difference but I watch the majority of his videos as the come out. As long as the tests are consistent it gives me a good idea how bullets will perform relative to each other. I find the videos really informative.

Yah it’s definitely a good baseline, especially if you know the rough parameters of what the differences are. If they’re comparing different bullets with the same gel and other variables at least the data set is flawed the same to give you some sense of an idea.

I think the example they show in the clip is Ballistic Gel gets 15” of penetration and the clear gel gets 19” using the same gun/load/conditions.

 

[Shootist43]

In addition to the animals shown in the post by my oldest son (Art Lambart II) his 13 year old son shot these animals as well using Federal's Terminal Assent. Now he is reluctant to use a different rifle or ammo even after acknowledging it's a bit over-kill for the Whitetails we normally hunt.

 

[Tbitty]

Any of you guys in the US looking for the unobtanium Terminal Ascent bullets for hand-loading, I just saw a few options listed as in stock on website of Scheels. Not sure if they ship outside the US. About $62-63 per 50

175gr & 200 gr in .308 cal
130gr .264
136 gr .277

 

[Daggaboy375]

Just ordered some .308- 175's from Powder Valley yesterday. It was $85 to my door for 50 count.

They had 6.5's also.

Three shots 200 yds factory loaded 30-06 from R8.


DB

 

[CBeck]

Just ordered some .308- 175's from Powder Valley yesterday. It was $85 to my door for 50 count.

They had 6.5's also.View attachment 673478

Three shots 200 yds factory loaded 30-06 from R8.


DB

Buds has loaded for $40/box. Pretty close to what you can load them for I’d imagine. Good target!

 

[jimbo1972]

Wow! Has that been common on entrance wounds with your TA in 300WM?

I haven't experience that in non-magnum calibers of the TA I have been shooting.

I have had a couple hides cut open on heavy quartering away smaller animals. But That didn't surprise me as I have seen that before with other ammo as well.

Yes this is pretty common. I have seen it the 300wm and 7 rem mag on plains game and 7 prc with deer. I would guess 1/4 of the. 100% of the time TA makes impressive entry and exit. Here's another entry wound on a Blesbok

 

[jimbo1972]

TA is the most accurate ammo I have shot through my 6.5prc.

That said, I was not impressed with the terminal ballistics on 4 deer I shot with it. Small entrance and small exit. If you prefer a very stout bullet that penetrates then TA is your huckleberry. I just prefer more trauma from my bullets.

Wow. That's not my experience. Here is entrance would on Impala and two Blesbok. Everything I have shot has been brutal damage.

 

[jimbo1972]

Can’t say any of my animals have had hair blown off on an entrance wound like that, even with my 300WM but that’s interesting to see and hear. Did it just happen on the Impala or did it happen on other animals too

The Impala was the most impressive but it is pretty common on the same kind of animals.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I have had some great results with other Federal Premium ammo products and had heard good things about Terminal Accent. I tried it at the range with both my 308 and my 30-06 and it simply did not shoot to my accuracy stds. The 308 is ammo picky and shoots Federal Fusion the best and I used it instead with stellar results. The 30-06 shots most factory 180g loads to sub 1/2" or about but did not like the Terminal Accent product at all. Shot to maybe 1.5" at 100y. That is OK for deer hunting but when almost any other loads was shooting 1/2", I tossed it aside. Every rifle is different and your mileage may vary.

Having seen the results on animals, I might still try it in a few other rifles. Certainly impressive terminal results. For what it is worth, an outfitter in Texas recently told me that the old Trophy Bonded Bearclaw ammo was the best for terminal performance on large game he has ever seen. Including the known to be tough Nilgai on his ranch.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The Impala was the most impressive but it is pretty common on the same kind of animals.

This is just my curiosity but I wonder if it has something to do with their hair/fur structure of those African animals or the distance. Has it only been on African Antelope or have you seen the same on US animals?

I shot an Oryx with the same 300WM load you used in New Mexico last year and didn’t see that at all. Guess I’m going to have to shoot a couple Impala or something with it in the future to see if I can replicate it. Any idea the rough distance you were shooting from?

 

[Hififile324]

I use the Federal Terminal Ascent in my .300WM. I've taken 8 animals, 8 shots. The Gemsbok in my Avatar was 313 yards, uphill. I find the Terminal Ascent very accurate in all of my '06 and .300 rifles. They feed smoot as silk, I get excellent and consistent accuracy from lot to lot. I doubt I could make handloads any better.

I bought a case each of the .300 and '06, and that is what I reach for when I go hunting.