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

Cartridge Nomenclature
Cartridge Nomenclature

Deciphering (Mostly Nonsensical) Cartridge Nomenclature

If you’re perplexed by the naming practices used by our wildcatting forefathers and cartridge makers but are still curious about what they mean, read on.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 19, 2026

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

"9 mm Optimized, But 10 mm Capable:" Dead Air's New RXD910Ti Suppressor

The new Dead Air RXD910Ti harnesses the technology of the patented Triskelion baffle system to make for a 9 mm-optimized silencer that is also capable for use with 10 mm pistol cartridges and more.

Revisiting A World War II Marine’s Story

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in his speech to 800 assembled generals, admirals and senior enlisted at Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025, quoted Eugene Sledge from his timeless classic With The Old Breed published in 1981.

Review: Leupold Rendezvous Soft Cases

Looking for something better than a cheap nylon bag, but don’t need it armored for air travel? Leupold has you covered.

Preview: Hiperfire Hipertrain

Hiperfire’s Hipertrain is a cast aluminum housing into which the AR-style trigger system, safety selectors and pistol grip of the user’s choice (none of which are included) can be installed to create a trigger demonstrator/dry-fire trainer

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.