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

Guns Of Shanghai F
Guns Of Shanghai F

The Guns of Shanghai 1937: A Prelude to WWII's Brutal Urban Combat

Often overlooked by Western military historians, the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 was an early sign of the brutal urban combat that would characterize much of World War II. An incredible array of arms was used in the fighting.

New For 2026: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-10X 24 mm FFP LPVO Riflescope

Previously offered in 1-6X and 1-8X variants, new for 2026, Vortex is introducing the Strike Eagle 1-10X 24 mm FFP riflescope.

Gun of the Week: Ruger RXM

On the surface, the RXM appears to be similar to the Glock G19-inspired selection of striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols on the market, but a closer look reveals that there's much more to this modular design.

Rifleman Q&A: How Frequently Should You Clean?

AN NRA member and his brother have identical rifles. One brother cleans every time he shoots. The other cleans every 100 rounds. Which barrel will last longer?

The Armed Citizen® March 20, 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.

NRA Launches New Official App

The National Rifle Association proudly unveiled its new official NRA App today, marking a significant milestone in enhancing member engagement and delivering convenient access to essential NRA resources on the go.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.