Federal Fusion vs Winchester BST

[Auburn1992]

Well, deer season (gun) is coming here shortly down in Tennessee. I have to chosen to use my Ruger 7mm-08 as my main deer rifle this season.

At this moment, I have one full box of Winchester Ballistic Silvertip (140 gr) and one box of ~15 rounds of Federal Fusion (140gr) ammunition. The problem is which one will perform better on deer?

I have my gun sighted in at 50 yards (max range I will be shooting), with the Federal Fusion ammo.

I am opting to go with the BST, but am weary of using it do to sighting in with the Fusion cartridges. Will it change my zero if I switch to BST, or will it remain the same due to the same bulet weight?

Thanks,

AU

 

[pbrktrt]

i've found the Fusion to be quite accurate in my 270. it was designed to kill deer & i don't doubt it's ability. it just looks like crap when you see it for the first time. you probably would be fine with either one but if you are sighted in & on with the Fusion that would be my choice.

 

[hank327]

The deer won't be able to tell the difference in either one. The Winchester ammo will almost certainly shoot to a different point of impact than the Federal so don't go hunting with it without re-sighting your rifle. If I were you, I would just hunt with the Federal as your rifle is already zeroed for it.

 

[firesafety3]

I would also suggest sighting in your rifle for the Winchester BST if you plan on shooting it. Although, I can't imagine it being off by more than 2" MAX at 50 yards.

The Fusion and BST are the only cartridges I have shot out of my .308, and I've gotten good performance out of both. But there is no doubt that the BST groups better at longer ranges. I shoot the BST in 168 grain and I can get 1 1/2" group at 200 yards (the ballsitic coefficient is much better with the tip). I will take a 300 yard shot on a deer or hog without any reservation.

I did shoot a doe at 70 yards last year with the Fusion (165 grain) and the bullet did not exit, which surprised me (essentially no blood trail) but the doe only went 30 yards so the bullet did it's job.

Do a little research on the ballsitics of the 7mm-08 140 grain Ballistic Slivertip and I think you'll find that at around 2800 fps, zeroed at 40 yards, will be 2" high at 100 and back to zero at 220 yards. That's why the 7mm-08 is such a great round. Zero it at 40 and if you're ever invited on hunt that presents a 200 shot...you've got it.

If you want my opinion, go back and sight in the BST (you won't need to adjust much at all) and stick with it. It's a devestating round.

Don't forget to post pics when you do drop 'em.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The zero will change. Use what you have it sighted in for unless you hit the range and re-set the zero with the new ammo.

Anyone know if Remington "Whitetail" ammo is the same as the Express ammo, as I suspect?

 

[Olympus]

I shoot Win Supreme Ballistic Silvertips in my .25-06. I've found that the BSTs are better for whitetail. They will give you a better mushroom than the Fusions. If I'm thinking about the right thing, I believe Fusions are a bonded bullet which is primarily designed for thicker skinned game. It doesn't mushroom as much as the BST so that it can penetrate better. For whitetails, either one will do the job just fine. But I choose BSTs because I like knowing that it's going to expand a little more than a Fusion creating a better wound channel. Faster kill and hopefully a better blood trail.

It's your call. But as for the sighting in question. ALWAYS sight in with the ammo that you plan on using in the field. You'll find there is a variation is almost all ammo. Guns have a tendancy to prefer one ammo over another as far as accuracy. It's just a good habit to get into.

 

[35Rem]

I was not impressed with the BST performance in a 308. Made a big mess and fragmented.
Granted, this was almost 10 years ago, and it's possible that they are better. The ones I shot then where never used on game again.
Also, at 50 yards max, this is too close for the BST IN MY OPINION. It is better suited for a little more range. The Fusion, which you say is zeroed, should be just fine.

 

[BigBuckMaster]

if you want true penetration, use a .470 NE with a 550 gr SuperPenetrator slug. i have shot through two foot trees with that.

both Fuson and BST will do fine. i would also sight my rifle in at at least 100 yds. my .270 (one of my few deer guns; i prefer bigger game) is sighted in at 500 yds. good luck.

 

[MAGGUNNER]

federal fusion

has anyone done any reserch on fusion ammo i hear good and bad about them.I have had good luck with fusion 300 win. mag,in july of 2008 i went to south africa and hunted 6 animales all were one shot kills with fusion 300 win. mag. ammo,shots ranged from 90 yards to 300 yards every one went right down but one impala ran 40 yards.I shot a very large BLUE WILDABEAST,2 IMPALA,WARTHOG,BLESSBUCK,NAYALA all were one shot kills.I didnt get any of the slugs back to see how they expanded or broke apart but they worked great.