Federal TLR and Trophy Bonded Tip

Wanting to get others' opinions on Federal's Trophy Bonded Tip bullets. I see they recently decided to start selling them as components for reloading.

The design seems intriguing to me, lead front core and solid copper shank would seem to provide sufficient weight retention at short range while expanding at further ranges than full solid copper bullets. Does the bonded lead not open as easily as cup-core?

As someone who's currently only hunting out to 500 yds or so, these seem at first glance to be another viable option. Minus the likely inaccurate BC's reported by Federal, am I looking past anything else? Along the same vein, their new TLR line appears to be a slightly tweaked TBT.

You've pretty much nailed it--limited data because they haven't been available as component bullets, inflated BCs, and a tweaked design for the TLR. I was excited when I saw the TLR come out, and I hope they do some 7mm stuff in a 160-168gr configuration. I also see that they're touting a stronger tip than even the new ELD-X bullets. I think for 500yds and under, it is a great round. You just need to verify BC.

FWIW-I put some of the 165gr TBT through a 300WM and they shot very well. Nothing past 100 yards, but in a pinch that would be my factory go to box.

I would hope they are a little softer than the Barnes and would give a little more down range expansion.

Well I decided I'm going give these bullets a try this fall. Ordered some 160's to use in a .280 Rem that I'll be taking to CO for elk in October. I made up some loads last night for checking pressure & velocity on three different powders and am going to the range after work today. Will update as load development progresses.

Preliminary velocity results are promising, this 26" barrel sure helps the slow burning powders do their magic. Shot all with Magnetospeed attached so I will have to wait until the next range trip for accuracy results.

A compressed case full of 60 grains H1000 gave 2820 fps with no pressure signs. Drop tube required when seated at 3.330 OAL.

I also tried H4831 which struggled to match velocity. The heaviest charge of 54 grains only got to 2630. Since these bullets only have half a lead core, they're longer overall than traditional bullets and when seated to an OAL of 3.330 this load was compressed even after using a drop tube.

The big surprise was Reloder 22. There was a small card included in the bullet box with load data from Federal. One of the two listed was RL22, start load of 55 gr @ 2712 fps ending with max load of 57 gr @ 2808 fps. They stated their test firearm as a 24" Ruger M77 MkII. I followed their data, loading from 55 to 57 in half grain increments. I about fell off the bench when the Magnetospeed read 2947 fps from the 55 gr load! Their load data is definitely hotter than many other books with 160/162 class bullets, but I also mush have a very fast lot of RL22 powder. Pressure signs at 55 looked good but by 55.5 the primer was starting to flatten. I only made it to the 56 gr load before very flat primers, faint ejector swipe and a slightly heavy bolt. Velocity there read 2967 fps. I ended up pulling the rest of the higher charges and I think I'll be checking 55 grains and below for accuracy. Interestingly, the 162 ELD-X shoots 3/4" groups at this same 55 gr charge weight, but at only just over 2800 fps. I'll be tickled pink if the TBT ends up 3/4" groups at 2900 fps! Would be some seriously bad elk medicine

Got back to the range tonight finally. Had loaded up for testing groups at 55, 54.7 and 54.4 grains of RL 22.

The far right group I adjusted the scope to make sure they stayed on paper. These are all loaded at book length, 3.330" and I haven't measured yet distance to the lands. So far this bullet seems to be pretty easy going, groups are 1.1", 0.9" and 0.6". I'm pretty happy with that considering these are the first attempts at groups with this bullet and the heavy reticle in the 2-10 Burris that's on top of this rifle is certainly no target reticle even at 100 yds.

Next step is to load up a larger batch probably in the 54.4 gr area to get some temp sensitivity data as well as try to come up with a drop-verified BC.

Never shot the tipped Trophy Bonded bullets, but have shot game and brown bear with the original Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and they were very deadly on game. One of my favorite bullets for brown bear at less than 300 yds.
If the tipped bullets terminal performance is similar to the original Bear Claws, then with the tips and their higher BC value, they should provide excellent terminal performance out to 600 yds.
Beyond that, a higher BC bullet might be better.
I still commonly carry Bear Claws in the magazines of my bolt rifles for bear & camp defense rounds. 160gr in 7mm, 200gr in .308, and 225 in 338. I'm about out of the 225s, and am transferring into 275gr Swift A-Frames in my 338s for bear defense rounds.
I hope they begin offering additional Tipped Trophy Bonded bullets in .308 and .338. I'd order some for bear loads.

I'm anxious to see what your validated BCs turn out to be. Also want to see them offer the new ETLR in .284, hopefully in a 155-162 grain range. Should be just like the trophy bonded tip, but increased BC.

I'm using 180gr TBT in my 300WM and the terminal performance is excellent. Even at short distances with (very) high velocities TBTs' are holding perfectly together and don't start fragmenting. Accuracy is also very good, but since they are very hard and tough bullets I wouldn't use them at LR distances. I'd like to note that both Northfork - and Rhino Bullets are manufacturing exactly the same type of bullets as Federal does with its TBT. Both cheaper, which isn't a bad thing.

Looking at both North Fork and Rhino bullets' sites, I don't see anything like the TBT. The only similarity is the bonding and solid rear shank. Otherwise completely different bullet profiles; no boat tail and no tip. Not to say they aren't bad, mind you, as I've heard nothing but good things about North Fork in particular, but to say they're "exactly the same type" is a stretch. Are you using factory ammo TBT in your 300win or reloading the component bullets? Curious as to the consistency of the factory ammo.

the444shooter said:

Looking at both North Fork and Rhino bullets' sites, I don't see anything like the TBT. The only similarity is the bonding and solid rear shank. Otherwise completely different bullet profiles; no boat tail and no tip. Not to say they aren't bad, mind you, as I've heard nothing but good things about North Fork in particular, but to say they're "exactly the same type" is a stretch. Are you using factory ammo TBT in your 300win or reloading the component bullets? Curious as to the consistency of the factory ammo.

Click to expand...

I use factory ammo, because I haven't seen or heard about TBT - bullets for reloading until now. I'm located in Norway, and we use to get news and modern stuff lately ... It's the ultimate bullet for 300WM in my opinion. You don't get them better by loading yourself. Since I don't shoot at game beyond 300 meters BC isn't that crucial and both Northfork and Rhino bullets will just doing fine for my purposes. Within this range TBT factory is unbeatable due to accuracy and terminal effeciency IMHO.

mechengr said:

Wanting to get others' opinions on Federal's Trophy Bonded Tip bullets. I see they recently decided to start selling them as components for reloading.

The design seems intriguing to me, lead front core and solid copper shank would seem to provide sufficient weight retention at short range while expanding at further ranges than full solid copper bullets. Does the bonded lead not open as easily as cup-core?

As someone who's currently only hunting out to 500 yds or so, these seem at first glance to be another viable option. Minus the likely inaccurate BC's reported by Federal, am I looking past anything else? Along the same vein, their new TLR line appears to be a slightly tweaked TBT.

Click to expand...

Ordering some in 7mm today, my Bergara runs most everything on the money with 69 grains of R26, Fed 215 @ O10 off the lands around 3150 fps. zone with the 150g - 160g. bullets made by most any manufacturer. The TLR are 155g. Looks good on paper and Shooting Times has an excellent article on African field testing at all ranges even out to 900+ with 300 win mag. Wish they made them in .375.


https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/the-federal-edge-terminal-long-range-bullet/330154

I would've liked to find RL26, but had the H1000 available to me. I'm thinking Retumbo or RL26 might be able to push them over 3200 pretty easily in my gun (27" barrel)

If RE22 is working for you, try RE23-- more temp stable for sure

Drop your RE22 load back 1-2 grains and check for what load gets you around the same speed then go from there.

RE23 is a little strange, some cartridges you can go hotter/faster than 22, others it is opposite