308 Winchester Federal Fusion Ballistics Gel Ammo Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- 308 Winchester Federal Fusion 150, 165 and 180 grain ammo ballistics gel test using a Ruger American with 22 inch barrel.
Range gear: masonoutdoors.com
Leather gear: www.masonleather.com
All shots are fired from a distance of 100 yards to encompass the majority of common real world hunting scenarios.
I will be shooting into 10% ballistics gel from www.clearballistics.com that has been calibrated to meet the FBI ballistics testing protocol.
While ballistics gel isn’t an exact proxy for big game, small game, predators or defensive situations, it does provide a repeatable medium through which to test various bullets and ammunitions against each other.
With each type of ammo tested I collect data on bullet penetration depth, bullet weight retention, bullet expansion, muzzle velocity and impact velocity.
For reference, bullet expansion is measured at the widest expanded point using a calibrated Frankford Arsenal Digital Caliper.
Bullet weight is measured using a calibrated Frankford Arsenal Digital Scale after having removed as much ballistics gel as possible from the expanded bullets.
Muzzle velocity is measured using a Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph. Impact velocity is a mathematical estimate.
My goal with these ballistics gel tests is to provide hunters like you and I with the most objective information possible to help us make the best choice for our particular hunting situation.
The results of these tests are my own and I cannot guarantee the same or similar performance on your part. The views and opinions expressed in this video are solely my own.
All videos are filmed in a safe and controlled environment on a private range with all applicable safety precautions by a trained professional. - บันเทิง
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can I send you some ammo to test to a p.o. box or something?
Federal fusion bullets are just amazing. And they look damn good expanded as well.
Absolutely
Federal Fusion just seems to be about the best hunting ammo in the USA at this time. Thanks for the testing.
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Agreed 100%
Love these bullets. Used them the last 3 deer seasons. Out of 4 deer, 3 folded on the spot. 1 managed to rare up and fall over backwards. So not quite dropped in tracks, but close.
Outstanding
Gold dots are a great choice in lead bullets...and Federal knows how to propel them.
So are the fusions gold dot bullet ?
@@brianguillot3403 I am almost certain they are.
@@brianguillot3403yes just different coating
@@brianguillot3403 yes , if not it’s a copy of the gold dot . The .223s compared to each other were the exact same all but 11fps and identical wound track, expansion and weight retention.
This is why I prefer Federal.
It certainly delivers what you expect, unlike some others
@@masonoutdoors_masonleather I r been a fan of the 165 for the past few years.
@@mr.mr.3301facts
I commend you sir on a very comprehensive and informative test. Much better than I’ve seen on any channel. Keep up the great work.
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@@masonoutdoors_masonleatherHe’s right.
This is about as comprehensive as any man can ask for.
Well done. 👍
Thanks so much! I use the 150gr & 165gr in my mod70 feather weight 20"barrel. Nice to know I chose a good load. Great job Lee!
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Nice upgrade with the chrono! Way more accurate than the prochrono, now we get to see actual velocities vs declared
This one is much easier to use, comparing data, the ProChrono still gave true averages, it did have it’s limitations though.
Your breadown of the numbers was superb and covered everything. The information was presented clearly and simple to understand in the time provided, much better than the other channels, and I watch a lot of them.
Excellent review, the best ballistic performance breakdown I've ever seen on any channel. Keep up the good work!
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I haven't had a 308 for many years now, and I just recently bought one.
So I will have to try this ammo myself.
I've been using the Federal Fusion 150gr in my 30-30 for years, and it has been exceptionally accurate and very effective on whitetail deer.
The rifle I use is a 26" barreled 1894 rifle built in 1917, with a tang peep sight (original Marbles).
61 year old eyes really appreciate the peep sight.
My best group was .72 inches for 3 shots with two touching.
My average is about 1.25 at 100 yards.
This was using a Caldwell lead sled.
And the flip-up fine peep.
I should also add that I tried the 180gr also, and my best group was 2.25" and 3" was normal.
I'm not sure why the difference, but I stuck with the 150gr afterward.
Fusion is great budget friendly ammo . Accurate and gets the job done . That ammo would handle moose and elk no problem out of the 308
Fusion is my go-to factory choice for Kansas white tail 👍🏻
Great stuff
That Federal Fusion loads are my factory loads of choice. Great bullets.
They’re the most consistent by far of any bullet line I’ve evaluated thus far
I use the Fusion in both rifles and handguns. If they make a questionable load, I haven't met it.
It's stunning from a lever action in 44 Magnum
Nice presentation
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Fusion is my favorite do - it - all round
Great stuff
I went back and watched your Fusion 150 grain test using your 30-06 and was surprised the average fps was less than 2 fps difference! They're within 50fps with the normal 150,165 and 180 grain factory bullets from just about any 30-06 you've tested, deer wouldn't even know the difference basically..They loaded these pretty darn good...Hope they group good for me..I bought 3 boxes to try a few months ago...Heading out soon to test them out. Thanks for the video we've been waiting for.
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Fantastic performance and a great video. These keeping getting better and better. Well done sir. 🎉
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I have had similar results from hundreds of Federal Fusion rounds. Very consistent, excellent accuracy, ballistics and terminal performance.
Outstanding
Your channel has been fantastic for comparing loads and pondering terminal performance. With your findings, I’d been leaning towards fusion .308, and wondered about the three loadings. Thanks for all the work you’re putting in!
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My T3 300 wsm loves the 165 grain load, if i do my part a dime will cover up a 3 shot 100 yard group. They've worked well for plenty of whitetails and a few elk
Outstanding
That Fusion stuff is no joke!!
Good video.
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Thanks for the "Impact Velocity." I was thinking that was the Kinetic was, thanks for clearing that up. That's still getting hit with over a ton of energy which is phenomenal. Great video, and thanks for doing the research!
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Great work Mason. It's Federal Fusion. IMHO for value and quality nothing beats it. In my guns it's the best there is. On animals - well you know...
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That's as good as it gets for normal hunting ammo, provided your particular rifle likes them. I don't even have a .308 hunting rifle and I'm tempted to order a case anyway.
Absolutely
Mason, federal blue box isn't my favorite. Not by a long shot. But the fusion seems to consistently perform at a stellar level. I might pick up some for my .270 win and see how it groups. And I really like including 100 yd velocities. Great addition to a great review.
They are releasing a tipped version of these very soon
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I've been using 130gr fusions in my.270 for almost two decades. Consistently good accuracy and a very tough bullet. It just so happens that my son's 30.06 and my dad's 300wsm each like fusions over several other types of factory ammo. They might not be great for your rifle, but IMO well worth trying. Have fun.
I have been watching your videos for quite a while now and I really enjoy them and look forward to the new ones being released. This one is perhaps my favorite though. I like the side by side comparisons across the same line of bullet. Very informative and well done. Keep up the good work. I have even referred your channel to some other people to watch on a shooting chat forum where I belong. Thanks!!!
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Federal Fusion was the first bullet designed for Whitetail deer. Have proved to be accurate. You have proved them to be a perfect whitetail bullet. Fast expanding and high weight retention. Way better than ELD X. LOVE your content.
They are loaded with speer gold dot bullets is my understanding. I think they are both under the same corporate umbrella now.
@diggernash1 thanks for the info. I did not know that. It does make sense looking at the bullet performance.
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My son took a front shot on a large doe standing at 270yds. The 150gr federal fusion dropped her in her tracks. We found the bullet under the hide just in front of the rear leg. The bullet expanded completely all the way back to the base, looked exactly like the test bullets in this video.
Thank you. Keep em coming. Cant wait for the tipped Fusions to come out.
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I use the 150 grain fusion.
Outstanding
Thanks for the video! Best all-around caliber, and best all-around ammo. Love the Federal Fusion in all my rifles. This is my go to ammo for hunting and defense. My PA-10 with 20 inch barrel loves the Fusion .308 150 Grain MSR (i don't think this variant is still made by Federal). I bought 500 rounds a while ago, so I'm good to go!
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A guy from the local range used a 308 with 180 grain bullets (not sure what brand) to take a bunch of non-dangerous game in Africa. He said the heavy 180's bullets performed very well on some tough game. His rifle is a CZ.
This is funny because I was just looking through your videos to try and find a video on this ammo, and a week later here it is!
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Fantastic review! Thanks for posting!
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Thank you for doing the .308win!!!! Federal fusion is amazing all across calibers!!
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I’ve always wanted to see gel tests at distance. You are awesome!
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Great show.
Thanks
Michael Herrell
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Great review as always, very informative!!!👍
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Great start for the .308 comparisons. Love factory Federal if I don’t reload. Love the idea with the new metric and thanks for sharing Mason.
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Great systematic testing, well executed, and the testing rationale and results are well explained, well done!
👍
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I strongly agree with your conclusions. Living as I do in the Northwest, clearly these are excellent loads for blacktails and mule deer, but for big-bodied Roosevelt elk? They expand too much, as you noted. The Barnes and Swift A-Frame bullets are more popular for that purpose. The A-Frames have lately become crazy-expensive, though.
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Impressive work. Very informative review!
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Excellent video. Thank you for clear and concise information!
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Another great video, awesome ammunition off the shelf. Thanks for sharing,
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Good comparison of the federal ammo for 308. Thx
Best ammo on the market.
The 165 seems to be perfect for the 308
Maybe so
Nice job. I enjoy your work.
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Best video yet.
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Crazy to think about the 243 fusion you tested had 18” average of penetration… the same as the 150grain 308s!
It’s definitely interesting to see how things perform now that I’ve got a good size data set
Great video once again
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Love the paint job on the rifle
Thanks! It’s fun making these Rvger Americans look better haha
I’d love to see you do an accuracy test/comparison between the three! Awesome content as always brother 👍🏻
I will at some point, Glad to be of service and thanks for your support!
YAY MY FAVORITE SOFT POINT!!!
The performance of these was shockingly similar. Like you said, pick the one your rifle likes best. I’d like to see a direct comparison between these results and a test of the same bullets but loaded in 30-06.
Love this type of test. I would love to see Barnes TTSX in 30-06 with 150, 165, and 180 gr.
Keep up the good work
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I have used fusion many years on bucks ,,it stomps a big buck like a bolt of lightning
Outstanding
Mason you are the man. I need to send you some .270 Win 140 grain Superformance to review. I'm just not sure about it.
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! For various reasons I don’t accept anything from outside parties, but I do have a lot of 270 on hand including Superformance, I’ll get to it 👍🏼
Love your videos and the 308 win
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Perfect. You are the dude. 👍
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Great review👍🏼
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Great info. My son has dropped several nice whitetail bucks with them. They are hog stoppers, too. The 165's shoot half inch or better for me.
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3 for 1 friday special. Nice. Excellent Video thank you sir!!!
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Nice Garmin Xero! Love Mine. Going to hit you up for some leather for my 30-30.
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Now you're talking! I'd love to see Hornady 150g SST, I've never had a deer take a single step after being shot with that!
It’s coming
Federal makes great ammo.
Absolutely
Include impact ft/lb at 100yd as well as the velocity at 100yd, thanks, great video!
Obviously you would have to choose accuracy over everything else here. Especially on deer class game at the typical deer killing ranges. I like the muzzle velocity range of all three for deer class game. I'm not a big fan of blistering fast hyper expanding bullets and fragmenting bullets for edible game anyway. These hold together, expand well, and do plenty of damage at fairly moderated speeds it appears.
Absolutely
Good stuff 👍🏼
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Great job,
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Love it! About to buy myself a nice 308 bolt gun. What about 357 lever though?
Good ol Gold Dot/Deep Curls. Wished Speer still sold them, federal marks them up like crazy
One thing maybe to add to the new data is ft/lbs at the target because that’s what really matters. Great job, keep it up!
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I love that you’re doing .308 now! Great video!
Are you planning to do the Winchester Deer Season XP 150? I had an… interesting experience with it last year, so I would like to see how it does for you.
I’m doing everything 👍🏼
So true
Try some of the aac stuff like the sabre black tip and their otm ones for less than 20 dollars a box it's hard to beat it ot at least performs decently
Epic deer load shot plenty with it ❤didnt go 20...big 200 lb bucks
Outstanding
I couldnt agree with you more.
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Excellent video as always, I’m intrigued. What formula do you use to calculate the impact velocities at different distance? I’ve always wanted to know how to do that.????
Loved this!! You’ve made me fusion fan out of all of your videos! Which one shot best out of yours? I’ve shot the 165s out of my Ruger and got 1.25 inch groups. It shots Hornady American whitetail 150s at about .5-.75 inch but I would prefer the fusions to hunt with. I want to try the 150s in the fusion next. How did yours do on them?
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! I don’t accuracy test when filming these, they were all plenty good for anything I’d hunt with them.
Hey Mason, I just wanted to say, you are the man. But Charlie Daniels is the man just a little bit more.
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! Hey, he did beat the devil in a fiddle dual so I have to give it to him!
Very interesting to watch the bullets performance but I wouldn't never hunt with a 308 after we had one in the family and used in NW Oregon where large Roosevelt Elk live and Hugh canyons we hunt,
The 308 just can't muster up the power for Pacific NW hunting.
I do own an AR 10 in 308 for all blasting fun and never used for hunting.
Keep it up.
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The bullets are Gold Dot one heck of a bullet
Great video. I believe Federal's website says they designed the Fusion specifically for deer. What round would you use for elk out of a .308?
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! For elk, keep watching, I’ve got two great options coming up in my next few videos 👍🏼
Iv used the 150 fusion 308 they performed flawlessly on deer and hogs.
They’re great stuff!
Get you a cheap 22-250 and test the 50gr Barnes Vortx load!
Thanks for the video you did an excellent job on that. Can you tell me what you did to the stock on that gun thank you.
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! I painted it using mesh netting and Krylon Fusion paint.
That Garmin's the cats ass!
Indeed
These look great, did you notice any difference in recoil? I bet it's close but .308 is used as a youth caliber particularly where the said youth might be hunting elk or moose. I know it's going to be close but in Idaho you can hunt supervised at 10 and would likely start with deer/antelope and by 13 or 14 elk are much more likely to be in the picture but every little bit of recoil makes a big difference to a smaller shooter.
I didn’t bother to think about the recoil, none of them were excessive
I was just wondering, did you by any chance do accuracy tests with this ammo? I have the same exact rifle, minus the threaded barrel. I get 1 inch groups with 8 shots using the 150 gr Winchester XP ammo. Another channel stated that ammo got 2923 fps out of their Ruger American. Thank you for being frank and on the up and up on your reviews! I really appreciate them and you for spending the time to inform us. I also have a Weatherby Vanguard 24 inch barreled .270, & .30-06
I will do accuracy videos in the future. Glad to be of service and thanks for your support!
I just recently found out that Ruger American Rifles, no matter the caliber, are rifled 5R. That means there is less friction and less stress on the bullets going through the barrel. It’s possible to get stated factory velocities out of a 22” bbl because of less friction.
If I wasn't a handloading fool, then I would have to use these factory loads. When you get the maximum deviation down to single digits, you have found your load.
Hands down the fusion is the best ammo you can get for whitetail deer in my opinion.
It’s certainly consistent and reliable
IV been waiting for 308 for soooooo long! Thanks .
I wanted to ask one favour is it possible to do a 50 yard test with these? I really want to use fed fusion but it's not available in Australia I find the only bonded I can get (Sako super hammer head 150gr) falls apart as if it's cup n core
Glad to be of service and thanks for your support! The difference in performance between 50 and 100 yards with these would be minimal.
@@masonoutdoors_masonleather thank you ! Do you think being so close it would cause the pill to fall apart?
I have 3 Tikka T3x 308s, a Hunter stainless superlite, a Roughtech Ember stainless, and a customized Lite with a Brux barrel, AG Composite stock. None will shoot any of the Federal Fusion ammo less than an inch. I have 2 near clone 308 builds with Benchmark barrels, Defiance Actions, McMillan stocks, TT triggers, same thing, won't shoot any of the fusions less than an inch. Finally, I have a cheap Rem 700 factory 308. Same thing, won't shoot any of them under an inch. Great bullet, Federal is an excellent company, just wish one of my rifles liked this ammo. Now the Cheap Fed blue box Power Shok - different story, ALL 3/4" or less.
Nice, I'm curious what grain weight shoots the best groups out of your Tikkas. I was thinking of giving this load a try but not sure where to start, either 150, 165 or 180 grain
@@supdru I have 4 different LOT numbers of the 150s, 3 LOT numbers of the 165s, and 2 LOT numbers of the 180s. In the Tikkas, all 4 LOT numbers of the 150 grain shot best and consistently at 1.1 inches. I purchased all of them at various Walmart stores
@@derekmcmurry great, thanks for letting me know. I will give them a try and if they shoot well use them for deer this fall. Cheers
How about accuracy??
I got a .39" 3 shot group out of my AR10 with Proof carbon barrel. .308 150gr Fusion. Ridiculous for factory hunting ammo.
Awesome
I'm curious if the 150gr is the same bullet loaded in the 300aac and how it performs in the smaller casing
I don’t know, I do know that the Fusion 300 Blackout load absolutely sucked, I did that test last year… maybe because it’s the same bullet but going way too slow.
@@masonoutdoors_masonleather I'll have to find that video, thanks
Have you seen the tipped fusion anywhere yet?
MidwayUSA
Just double checked and so far only 7mm rem mag
Yes but it’s there then gone, I have it in my radar.