Product Preview: Fusion 6.5 mm Creedmoor

posted on January 15, 2018
** 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. **
fusion.jpg

get to test a lot of firearms and ammunition here at American Rifleman, and it’s not every day that a product so exceeds my expectations that I spend the following week recounting its success to anyone who will listen. But, that is exactly what happened with the 6.5 mm Creedmoor 140-gr. Fusion load from Federal Premium Ammunition. Before the first shot was fired, my mental equation considered the 6.5 mm Creedmoor cartridge, 0.264"-diameter bullets and Federal’s quality control to be accuracy-boosting positives. On the other hand, the bullets’ soft points and nonuniform meplats, paired with the load’s intended role as a mid-range hunter, softened, somewhat, my expectations. I was understandably amazed, then, when the little soft points turned in a five, five-shot group average of just 0.91" at 100 yds., including one group that measured just 0.46". My test rifle was one of my favorites, a Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter with a 24" threaded barrel. Velocities from my gun were just a touch below advertised values—2672 f.p.s. compared to 2750—though a slightly longer barrel would likely close the gap. The primary feature of the Fusion load is its bullet. Designed specifically for deer hunting, the projectile’s copper jacket is electro-chemically bonded to the lead core, and the nose is skived to facilitate expansion. Reliable expansion and high weight retention are good attributes on their own, add in sub-m.o.a. accuracy and you might find yourself bragging about a new hunting load, too.

Latest

Stuart 45 Pistol Pre War Manuevers Web Main
Stuart 45 Pistol Pre War Manuevers Web Main

Guns Of The U.S. Tankers In World War II

Since the end of World War II, debates have raged about the effectiveness of American armored fighting vehicles in that conflict. Despite all the Monday morning armored quarterbacking, American AFVs were war-winners, driven to victory by some the finest fighting men our nation has ever produced.

MidwayUSA Foundation Awards Over $14 Million In Cash Grants In 2025

In honor of National Shooting Sports Month—held annually in August—along with the growing popularity of the sport with new participants, MidwayUSA Foundation announced it has distributed more than $14.2 million in cash grants to support youth shooting sports in 2025.

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.