Editor’s Choice: Federal Premium Terminal Ascent

by
posted on April 20, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
tascent.jpg

Federal Premium is having its cake and eating it too with the new Terminal Ascent projectile, which offers a high ballistic coefficient and deep penetration.

Starting off with the Trophy Bonded Tip, the company’s engineers devised a bullet that will expand from point blank range all the way down to 1350 f.p.s. This is a bonded bullet; the jacket and shank are of copper and the core is lead. Skiving, which is different for each bullet in the line, controls expansion, which is initiated by what Federal calls its Slipstream Tip.

On impact, the tip pushes into the cavity at the bullet’s nose. And the polymer used for the tip doesn’t soften until 434° F, meaning it’s very stable in flight. There are also AccuChannel grooves that reduce fouling and wear, but they have been re-designed to reduce drag and result in a 5 percent increase in ballistic coefficient.

The bullets have secant ogives and small meplats, meaning that these heavy-for-caliber bullets have excellent BCs. There are 11 factory loadings to start, including: 130-gr. 6.5 mm Creedmoor, 130-gr. 6.5 mm PRC, 136-gr. .270 Win., 136-gr. .270 WSM, 155-gr. .280 Ackley Improved, 155-gr. 28 Nosler, 155-gr. 7 mm Rem. Mag., 175-gr. .308 Win., 175-gr. .30-’06 Sprg., 200-gr. .300 Win. Mag. and 200-gr. .300 WSM.

I’ve already hunted with the 6.5 mm Creedmoor, and it works as advertised. Component bullets are already available for handloaders. For more information on these new hunting rounds, visit
federalpremium.com.

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.