Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 6.5 Creedmoor 130 gr: Unrivaled Performance for Discerning Hunters

For hunters who demand uncompromising performance, precision, and terminal effectiveness, the Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 6.5 Creedmoor 130 gr ammunition stands as a pinnacle of modern bullet design. Engineered to deliver devastating results on a wide range of game, from deer to elk, this ammunition redefines expectations for long-range hunting and ethical shot placement. If you're asking questions like "What's the best ammunition for ethical big game hunting at extended ranges?" or "How can I ensure consistent expansion and deep penetration with my 6.5 Creedmoor?", the Terminal Ascent is your answer.

This isn't just another hunting bullet; it's a meticulously crafted system designed to solve the age-old challenges of bullet performance across varying distances and target resistances. Whether you're making a close-range shot in dense timber or a challenging long-distance shot across an open field, Federal's innovative technologies ensure reliability, accuracy, and devastating terminal effects.

Engineering Excellence: Decoding Terminal Ascent Technology

The superior performance of Federal Premium Terminal Ascent bullets stems from a fusion of cutting-edge design principles and meticulous manufacturing. Each component works in harmony to provide an unparalleled hunting experience.

The Revolutionary Slipstream Polymer Tip

A cornerstone of the Terminal Ascent's design is its patented Slipstream polymer tip. Unlike traditional polymer tips, the Slipstream is engineered to initiate expansion at velocities remarkably low – up to 200 feet per second lower than comparable designs.

• Problem Solved: Many conventional bullets require high impact velocities to expand reliably. This becomes an issue at extended ranges where bullet speed has significantly diminished. The Slipstream tip ensures consistent, reliable expansion even when encountering game at distances where other bullets might simply punch through without optimal energy transfer.
• How it Works: The tip's unique geometry and material allow it to deform and initiate the expansion process rapidly upon impact, regardless of the reduced velocity. This means hunters can confidently take shots at longer ranges, knowing the bullet will perform as intended.
• Aerodynamic Advantage: Beyond terminal performance, the Slipstream tip also contributes to the bullet's exceptional ballistic coefficient (BC). Its sleek, pointed profile slices through the air with minimal resistance, maintaining velocity and resisting wind drift—critical factors for long-range accuracy.

Bonded Construction: Unyielding Penetration and Weight Retention

Beneath the innovative tip, the Terminal Ascent bullet features a bonded lead core to a copper jacket. This is a crucial element for ensuring deep penetration and reliable weight retention, particularly when encountering tough hide, bone, or muscle.

• Problem Solved: Unbonded bullets can suffer from core-jacket separation upon impact, leading to fragmentation, shallow penetration, and reduced energy transfer to the vitals. This can result in wounded game and difficult tracking.
• How it Works: The bonding process molecularly fuses the lead core to the copper jacket. This strong bond prevents the bullet from fragmenting excessively, even after high-velocity impacts or striking bone. Instead, the bullet mushrooms into a large, consistent wound channel, transferring maximum energy to the target while retaining a high percentage of its original weight for deep penetration.
• User Outcome: Hunters gain confidence that the bullet will drive deep into the animal's vitals, ensuring an ethical and swift kill, minimizing tracking distance, and maximizing the chance of recovering their prized game.

AccuChannel Groove Technology: Precision Perfected

Accuracy is paramount in hunting, and Federal addresses this with its proprietary AccuChannel groove technology. These precisely engineered grooves along the bullet's shank serve multiple vital functions.

• Problem Solved: Traditional bullet cannelures or grooves can sometimes detract from accuracy by disrupting the bullet's smooth profile or causing inconsistencies during flight. Excessive friction with the barrel can also lead to copper fouling, reducing long-term accuracy.
• How it Works: The AccuChannel grooves are designed to reduce bearing surface area against the barrel, thereby minimizing friction and copper fouling. This not only maintains the barrel's cleanliness for longer periods but also contributes to superior inherent accuracy. The precise placement and depth of these grooves ensure optimal bullet stability as it leaves the muzzle, leading to tighter groups downrange.
• User Outcome: Hunters benefit from enhanced precision, allowing for more confident shot placement even at challenging distances. Reduced fouling also means less cleaning and more consistent performance over prolonged shooting sessions.

Optimal Ballistic Profile: Dominating Long Ranges

The overall design of the Federal Premium Terminal Ascent bullet features a long, sleek profile coupled with a boat-tail base. This aerodynamic shape, combined with the Slipstream tip and AccuChannel grooves, results in an extremely high ballistic coefficient (BC).

• Ballistic Coefficient (BC): This numerical value represents a bullet's ability to overcome air resistance during flight. A higher BC indicates better aerodynamic efficiency. For the 130 gr 6.5 Creedmoor Terminal Ascent, the G1 Ballistic Coefficient is approximately .532, and the G7 BC is around .269. These are excellent values for a hunting bullet.
• Problem Solved: Bullets with poor BCs shed velocity quickly, are more susceptible to wind drift, and lose energy rapidly, making long-range shots difficult and less effective.
• How it Works: The high BC allows the Terminal Ascent bullet to retain more velocity and energy downrange, while also significantly reducing wind deflection. This translates directly to flatter trajectories and less bullet drop at extended distances, simplifying range estimation and aiming solutions.
• User Outcome: Long-range hunters experience superior precision and devastating terminal performance even at significant distances, expanding their effective hunting range and increasing their chances of success.

Performance Metrics That Matter: What the Numbers Mean

The specifications of the Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 6.5 Creedmoor 130 gr reflect its meticulously engineered performance capabilities.

• Muzzle Velocity: 2800 fps (Feet Per Second)

  This is the initial speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel. A high muzzle velocity contributes to a flatter trajectory and faster time-to-target. For the Terminal Ascent, this initial speed ensures that the Slipstream tip is primed for optimal performance, even as velocity naturally decreases downrange.

• Muzzle Energy: 2263 ft lbs (Foot-Pounds of Energy)

  This figure represents the kinetic energy of the bullet at the muzzle. High muzzle energy indicates the potential for significant knockdown power and energy transfer upon impact. While energy decreases with distance, the bonded construction and reliable expansion of the Terminal Ascent ensure that a substantial amount of this energy is efficiently delivered to the target, creating a devastating wound channel.

• Bullet Weight: 130 gr (Grains)

  The 130-grain weight is a sweet spot for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. It provides a superb balance of speed, kinetic energy, and ballistic efficiency. It's heavy enough to provide excellent momentum for deep penetration on big game, yet light enough to be driven at high velocities, contributing to its flat trajectory and exceptional long-range performance. This weight range is often considered ideal for a wide array of medium to large North American game.

Why Choose 6.5 Creedmoor with Terminal Ascent?

The 6.5 Creedmoor has rapidly become one of the most popular cartridges for hunting and long-range shooting, and pairing it with Federal Premium Terminal Ascent ammunition amplifies its inherent strengths.

• Versatility: The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, when loaded with the 130 gr Terminal Ascent, is incredibly versatile. It's an excellent choice for hunting a variety of Big Game species, including:
  • Whitetail Deer
  • Mule Deer
  • Antelope
  • Black Bear
  • Elk (especially with precise shot placement and proper bullet performance)
  • Wild Hogs
• Recoil Management: Compared to larger magnum cartridges, the 6.5 Creedmoor offers a milder recoil impulse, which translates to increased shooter comfort, reduced flinching, and faster follow-up shots. This makes it an ideal cartridge for hunters of all experience levels, including those who are recoil-sensitive.
• Inherent Accuracy: The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge itself is renowned for its inherent accuracy, often performing exceptionally well straight out of the box. When combined with the precision-engineered Terminal Ascent bullet, this cartridge-bullet synergy results in truly outstanding downrange performance.

Real-World Applications and Hunter Questions Answered

Many hunters ponder critical questions when selecting their ammunition. The Federal Premium Terminal Ascent provides compelling answers:

• "What's the best 6.5 Creedmoor round for elk hunting at 300+ yards?"

  The Terminal Ascent's bonded construction, reliable low-velocity expansion, and high ballistic coefficient make it an outstanding choice. It's designed to penetrate deeply and expand effectively even after velocity loss, ensuring vital organ damage on tough game like elk.

• "How can I improve my long-range hunting accuracy and minimize wind drift?"

  The AccuChannel grooves and high BC of the Terminal Ascent minimize air resistance and promote stable flight, resulting in a flatter trajectory and significantly reduced wind deflection. This allows for more precise aiming solutions at extended ranges.

• "I want a bullet that expands reliably, even on close shots, but also penetrates deep."

  The Slipstream tip ensures rapid, consistent expansion even at higher impact velocities (close range), while the bonded core prevents over-expansion and retains weight for maximum penetration. This dual capability is a hallmark of the Terminal Ascent's versatility.

• "Which ammunition offers consistent performance across different game animals?"

  From thin-skinned deer to resilient elk, the Terminal Ascent's robust construction and controlled expansion ensure reliable terminal performance, providing consistent, ethical kills across a broad spectrum of medium to large game.

• "Is this ammunition good for re-loading?"

  The Nickel-Plated Brass casing material is highly sought after by reloaders. Nickel plating provides excellent corrosion resistance, extends case life, and facilitates smooth feeding and extraction from the firearm. These properties make it an excellent choice for those who choose to reload their spent casings.

The Federal Premium Commitment: Trust and Confidence

Federal Premium has long been a name synonymous with innovation and quality in the ammunition industry. The Terminal Ascent is a testament to their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what hunting ammunition can achieve. Every round, including those found at DEGuns, is manufactured with stringent quality controls, ensuring consistency from box to box and shot to shot. This dedication to excellence provides hunters with the ultimate confidence when it matters most – in the field.

Investing in Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 6.5 Creedmoor 130 gr ammunition is an investment in ethical hunting, superior accuracy, and peace of mind. It’s the choice for those who refuse to compromise on performance and demand the very best for their hunts. Whether you are stalking a trophy buck or pursuing an elusive elk, equip your rifle with ammunition that is engineered to rise to the challenge.

Product Specifications Summary

Feature	Detail
Brand	Federal
Series	Terminal Ascent
Model	Premium
Caliber	6.5 Creedmoor
Bullet Type	Terminal Ascent
Bullet Weight	130 gr
Muzzle Velocity	2800 fps
Muzzle Energy	2263 ft lbs
Casing Material	Nickel-Plated Brass
Application	Hunting
Game Type	Big Game
Rounds Per Box	20
Boxes Per Case	10
UPC	604544659443
MPN	P65CRDTA1
SKU	121089