Federal, the world’s largest ammunition company, has a long history of loading its own bullets and bullets from other manufacturers into an extensive, ever-expanding lineup of ammo. Federal’s in-house designs have included some tough, reliable expanding bullets for hunting big game. Extremely accurate match-style bullets for long-range target shooting have also long been part of Federal’s portfolio. But combining both of those qualities into a single bullet has been more complicated. However, Federal’s team believes the new Terminal Ascent bullet successfully combines both attributes.
Federal took all the lessons learned during the past few decades building its own proprietary bullets and poured all that knowledge and experience into creating its “best hunting bullet to date.”
Federal took all the lessons learned during the past few decades building its own proprietary bullets and poured all that knowledge and experience into creating its “best hunting bullet to date.” Federal credits using some of its existing, time-tested bullet designs to inspire the development of this new hunting bullet. Proven designs such as Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Trophy Bonded Tip, and Edge TLR all helped pave the way to create Terminal Ascent.
The new Terminal Ascent blends the features of top match-style bullet designs with high-tech bonding technology and components with the goal of delivering any-range accuracy and reliable expansion … even at low velocities. It’s designed to provide high weight retention, deep penetration, and lethal terminal performance, both up close and at extreme distances.
Innovative Design Elements
Terminal Ascent features several key elements that make up its overall design.
First is the solid-shanked and bonded bullet construction. A bonded bullet has a lead core bonded to the copper jacket around that core. A solid shank means the bullet has a thick, solid copper base at the bottom of the bullet to support the lead core. Terminal Ascent’s solid copper shank and bonded lead core retain weight for deep penetration and energy dump, reportedly delivering extremely effective wound channels and terminal performance. A large hollow cavity in the bullet nose, along with exterior jacket skiving, further aid expansion and penetration. Serrations allow petals to peel back on contact at velocities as low as 1,400 fps—speeds typically seen 1,200 yards downrange in the 200-grain 30-caliber loads.
Second is the AccuChannel grooving. Like many of the most versatile bullets, Terminal Ascent features grooving along the shank to improve accuracy across a range of rifles, while decreasing barrel wear and fouling. However, unlike conventional grooving, the intention of the AccuChannel’s unique shape is to accomplish these goals with only a minimal increase in drag. No other bullet has this grooving technology.
The Slipstream Tip’s hollow core sets it apart from all other polymer tips on the market—but it’s also unique in its high resistance to the elevated temperatures a bullet experiences during flight.
Third is the Slipstream heat-resistant polymer tip. The Slipstream Tip features patent-pending hollow-core technology. A small cavity runs the length of the shank all the way up to just below the point itself. That point breaks free upon impact, allowing fluid to enter the hollow core, where it generates pressure and easy expansion, even at low velocities. The Slipstream Tip’s hollow core sets it apart from all other polymer tips on the market—but it’s also unique in its high resistance to the elevated temperatures a bullet experiences during flight.
In addition to the AccuChannel and Slipstream Tip, Federal engineers incorporated other important features to boost ballistic coefficient (BC), delivering flat trajectories and less wind drift.
Finally, Terminal Ascent also features high-end nickel plating that is corrosion-resistant, to give the cartridge an outstanding appearance with smooth operation. This finishing makes Terminal Ascent look like a fine piece of jewelry. And the use of clean-burning propellant and an ultra-reliable, sealed primer—as well as its neon electric-blue polymer tip—produces a sleek-looking, high-performance cartridge.
The Lineup of Loads
Terminal Ascent bullets will be loaded in a new line of ammunition, initially launching in 11 cartridge options. This list includes: 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain, 6.5 PRC 130-grain, 270 Win. 136-grain, 270 WSM 136-grain, 280 Ackley Improved 155-grain, 28 Nosler 155-grain, 7mm Rem. Magnum 155-grain, 308 Win. 175-grain, 30-06 Spring. 175-grain, 300 Win. Mag. 200-grain, and 300 Win. Short Mag. 200-grain. All are sold in 20-count boxes.
Federal also offers its Premium Terminal Ascent as components for handloaders. These bullets are available 130-grain .264, 136-grain .277, 155-grain .284. 175-grain .308, and 200-grain .308. All are packaged in 50-count boxes.
Federal already touts Terminal Ascent as being its “best hunting bullet ever made in the 98-year-old history of the company.”
Team HuntStand Testing New Bullet
The HuntStand crew will be among the first to test and report real-world results from Terminal Ascent. Josh Dahlke, content director for HuntStand Media, is traveling to Mexico in early January with representatives from Mossberg to hunt Coues deer as part of an upcoming rifle launch. He will be loading Terminal Ascent from Federal’s Custom Shop in the new Mossberg Rifle. We will be sharing results from the hunt, including a follow-up report on Terminal Ascent, in late January.
