Are Federal Fusion Bullets Good For Elk?

Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman.

When it comes to rifle hunting for elk, bullet selection is extremely important. You will need a durable bullet that can accurately hit an elk and penetrate its thick skin, bones, and organs. Elk are very tough animals, so it is vital that the bullet be tough as well.

Federal fusion bullets are a good choice for elk hunting. These bullets are designed to be very strong and deliver a big shock when they hit their target. Their unique style allows them to expand quickly and reliably. For big animals like elk, federal fusion bullets are one of the best options.

It is extremely important to have a quality bullet when rifle elk hunting, no matter the distance you will be shooting.

Continue reading to learn more about Federal fusion bullets and their role in elk hunting.

In this post, we'll cover:

Features of Federal Fusion Bullets

Fusion bullets get their name from the design Federal uses to create them. The outer copper jacket is electro-chemically fused to the internal lead core. This ensures there is virtually no chance of them separating during the shot.

Once the bullet impacts the target, it can properly expand and do the most damage possible.

These bullets also come with other features to make them accurate and tough. A skived tip exposes the core and helps the bullet to expand on impact rapidly. The boat tail on the other end of the bullet helps with reliable accuracy and better groups downrange.

The core of the bullet is very balanced and lightweight, allowing them to expand rapidly upon impact. The bullet jacket is so well fused to the core that you will never have to worry about any separation prematurely.

It is also well balanced and distributed evenly around the core, providing better accuracy, expansion, and penetration when shooting.

What Makes Federal Fusion Bullets Great for Elk?

Although the Federal fusion bullets were originally designed for deer hunting, they can successfully be used on elk as well. Because of the bonded jacket and core, these bullets are very good at delivering big impacts on their targets and can be durable.

If you use a large enough caliber for elk hunting and practice proper shot placement, then a Federal fusion bullet can make an excellent option for shooting an elk. Because of their design, these bullets are very accurate.

This makes them great for elk hunting, where shots may have to be taken from extremely long ranges.

Federal fusion bullets are also widely available in many great elk hunting calibers. This brand can usually be found on the shelves of almost all gun shops and other stores where ammunition is sold, allowing you to purchase and use them easily.

What Calibers Can You Find Federal Fusion Bullets For?

Federal fusion bullets are available for a wide range of different calibers. While most of these calibers are better suited for deer hunting, there are plenty that make great elk calibers as well. All of the available calibers include the 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington, 243 Winchester, 25-06 Remington, 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser, 260 Remington, 270 Winchester, 270 Winchester Short Mag, 6.5 Creedmoor, 280 Remington, 7mm Winchester Short Mag, 7mm Remington Mag, 30-30 Winchester, 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Mag, 300 Winchester Short Mag, 338 Federal, 338 Winchester Mag, 35 Whelen, 45-70 Government, and 450 Bushmaster.

As you can see, the list is quite extensive. While not all of these options are great elk calibers, a few, such as the 300 Winchester Mag, 7mm Remington Mag, and 338 Winchester Mag (amongst others), can make excellent elk hunting calibers, and you can readily find Federal fusion bullets for them.

Choosing a Bullet for Elk Hunting

A bull elk is one of the largest and most difficult animals. These tough animals have very large bones, dense muscle mass, and thick skin. This means you need to use not only a large enough caliber but also a quality bullet that can penetrate all of this.

You must remember strength and speed when thinking of what makes a good elk hunting bullet. The strength will come from the overall design and how well it will perform once it hits an animal.

The speed is important as this will affect overall accuracy and performance once a target is pierced. Some bullets require more speed to expand properly, while others require less speed.

Federal fusion bullets get the best of both worlds. Not only are they fast and accurate, but they are strong and durable.

They will also perform at both high and low velocities. The design ensures proper expansion even at lower velocities of long-range shots but will also stay intact and function when shooting at short ranges where velocities are very high.

Where Can You Use Federal Fusion Bullets

Every state and area is different and will have different regulations on what type of ammunition you can use to hunt with. The only state that does not allow the use of Federal fusion bullets currently is California due to its lead core.

Other states such as Wisconsin, Maine, and New York are also working on regulations to limit the use of bullets that include lead material in their construction.

Final Thoughts

Although Federal fusion bullets weren’t originally designed for elk hunting, all of their features and performance have granted them a spot on the list of great elk hunting bullets.

From their unique design and excellent durability, the Federal fusion bullets will quickly take down an elk as long as you accurately place it in the kill zone!

Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.

Sources

Was this article helpful?

YesNo