Earlier this year, at SHOT Show 2017, Federal Premium rolled out its new Edge TLR line. Designed to deliver optimal long-range performance, it's now finding its way on to shelves. Here are five things you need to know.
1. It features an exclusive polymer tip.
When you’re shooting steel at long range, it doesn’t much matter if your bullet expands. When you’re trying to ethically kill an animal, it’s a different story—and it’s a problem that companies have been trying to solve. What Federal has done is incorporate its new hollow-core Slipstream polymer tip, which is designed to initiate expansion at long range. Federal says the bullet has demonstrated expansion at 900 yards and beyond. The company also says that the polymer tip material provides the industry's highest heat resistance. I'm excited to put that claim to the test when I use Edge TLR for a pronghorn hunt I have scheduled for later this year.
2. It’s designed to deliver all-range performance.
Federal’s engineers didn’t want to compromise on a closer range shots—so the bullet’s copper shank and bonded lead core are designed to retain weight for consistent penetration.
3. It’s designed to reduce drag as much as possible.
The Edge TLR bullets sport a boat-tail, what the company calls AccuChannel grooving and the aforementioned Slipstream tip to minimize drag as much as possible and improves the bullet’s long-range ballistics.
4. It stands out.
Maybe the folks up in Anoka wanted the Edge TLR bullets to really pop. I don’t know. But the entire line features a distinguished black nickel bullet and case. You shouldn’t confuse it for your other Federal Premium products.
5. It’s available in .30-caliber offerings, for now.
You’ll be able to find Edge TLR ammunition in .308 Win., .30-06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag. and .300 WSM. Though your favorite cartridge might not yet be available, the five existing offerings are more than enough to knock down any North American big game, at least. The line will, in all likelihood, be expanding by SHOT Show 2018, at the latest.
