Short Barrel Breakthroughs

The handgun crowd is a passionate group of hunters. It’s the challenge. Unless you’re shooting the rare pistol chambered in a rifle cartridge, the handgun game is inherently a short-range one. But that doesn’t mean ammunition choice is less important than usual. In fact, it’s quite the contrary—with limited range and energy at their disposal, handgun rounds rely even more on a bullet design that’s built for the task. And from brown bear in Alaska to medium-sized game in the lower 48, Federal has you covered.

Swift A-Frame

Federal Premium’s Swift A-Frame is a tried-and-true load. The expansion-arresting A-Frame design promises high weight retention and controlled expansion regardless of how far you are from your target. All Swift A-Frames feature a corrosion-resistant nickel-plated case and a bonded front half that expands consistently across a broad velocity range.

For medium-size game like deer, the Swift A-Frame 357 Magnum is an ideal choice. This bullet tips the scales at 180 grains and boasts a muzzle velocity of 1,130 fps. For larger game like elk and moose, we recommend the 454 Casull and 460 S&W. Both sport a bullet weight of 300 grains and hit with a serious wallop. Those looking to tackle dangerous game like grizzly may want to consider the 500 S&W 325-grain.

Barnes Expander

Like the A-Frame, Federal Premium Barnes Expander comes in an array of calibers and can be used for medium and large game. Featuring all-copper construction, it promises nearly 100 percent weight retention, ample expansion and the type of accuracy you can pin your big-game hopes to. There’s a reason handgun hunters around the country choose this bullet.

An ideal choice that heeds both the medium and big-game call is the Barnes Expander Handgun 41 Rem Magnum. This 180-grain bullet boasts a muzzle velocity of 1,340 fps and hits with 569 pounds of energy at a distance of 50 yards.

If only heavy-boned game is on the menu, the 225-grain 44 Rem Magnum is an ideal choice. Just meat and potatoes, this round hits with 658 pounds of energy at a distance of 50 yards.

Solid Core

Sometimes it’s not about putting food on the table—it’s about not becoming food yourself. That was the inspiration for Federal’s newest handgun hunting offering, Solid Core. Its flat-nose bullet is formed from extremely hard, high-antimony lead to hold together while blowing through bone and penetrating deep. Applications like this used to be the domain of hard-cast bullets that used features like wax rings and gas checks. But Solid Core achieves the same performance benefits with a Syntech polymer jacket that reduces friction and leading.

It’s an ideal choice to carry in bear country or anywhere with tough, dangerous animals. However, it’s also a great option for hunting medium game.

Trophy Bonded Bear Claw

Designed for use on medium-sized game, this innovative round showcases superior ballistics, allowing your 10mm Auto to do what it was designed to do, which is hit the hair you’re aiming at. The Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet ensures high weight retention and deep penetration and is ideal for black bears, hogs, deer and other game. The 180-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at a sizzling 1,275 fps and at a distance of 100 yards has a drop of just 7.2 inches, making it a great choice for those looking to expand their effective range.

Being the 10mm is a semi-automatic pistol and the shooter can quickly send rounds downrange, this bullet is also an ideal choice for those trekking through grizzly country.

Fusion

Don’t let the price tag fool you; Fusion Handgun rounds were designed to perform. The molecularly-fused bullet provides handgun hunters with the durability, accuracy and terminal performance they demand. The jacket is perfectly uniform, and the skived, pre-programmed nose provides consistent expansion.

Fusion Handgun is offered in seven different calibers, and each is specifically designed for use on medium-sized game.