The copper bullet are they up to the quick kill.

[Bowman]

Hey guys found this article. Very controversial. What do you think.
Have you had good or bad results
During hunting.
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Homogenous+copper+bullets+can+be+inhumane.html

 

[TRICER]

I have killed a fair share of animals with copper bullets. Haven’t lost an animal yet and most were DRT. Even when I hunt out of state I use copper, Barnes get it done.

 

[Kellendv]

They work great in my experience. I think the general consensus on this topic is that they initially had issues with expansion but design has since changed to address that issue and they now expand reliably. I have complete trust in the Barnes monolithic projectiles as well.

 

[KoozeDeer]

I have killed a couple deer with the Barnes TSX, they blew up like a Berger. One deer it ruined both front shoulders. I have yet to find a non copper bullet that can shoot the groups most other lead bullets will. I’m sure others may have better experience, and I’m not ruling out copper bullets. But in my opinion they are the last bullet I want to take hunting. Note: I have also tryed cutting edge with no success on rifles that are proven under 1/2 Moa.

 

[MrBamboo]

Lead free "copper" bullets have greater accuracy over most lead bullets, however they do not mushroom as much as the lead bullets do. I have seen copper go completely thru seen and elk and not kill the animal. This was because the bullets were traveling too fast and did not hit any bone or solid tissue, or it was going to slow to mushroom. Or they blew into pieced when hitting a rib and never entered the animal. When shooting these you should shoot to hit the heart and take out a shoulder, similar to bow hunters but have another ready if it begins to run off.

 

[TRICER]

Here are the 4 that I have recovered. In no way do Barnes bullets explode, I don’t event think it is possible for a solid copper bullet to explode. The most I have experienced is a single pedal falling off. Two were in hogs, one in an Audad, and one came out of a bull. The last bullet didn’t expand as much because it was a 450gd shot but that animal did not move an inch it dropped in its tracks

 

[MrBamboo]

Nice pics showing that the bullet retained almost all of its weight, while not mushrooming that much. With shooting many different makes of copper bullets, I came across this article that suggests copper bullets have the highest probability st start fires over any other bullet. I wonder what will come next from our legislators in Sac.

https://wildfiretoday.com/2013/12/05/researchers-study-ignition-of-wildfires-by-rifle-bullets/

 

[Bowman]

Ok guys I want say something.
It may or may not applicable.

A little back ground of my credentials. Not blowing smoke or
Tooting my horn. Here.
I am an Engineer, heat treat specialist,
Metallurgical specialist, strong machining and fabrication experience. Coating and plating
Experience.

Ok got passed that. Any one who has heat treated or plated parts
Will know as well or more.

Let's talk about when there is metal to metal contact.
Lead as we all know has a high coefficient of friction . Which has less friction. And it is dead soft.
Very low abrasive properties.

Low carbon steel are poop for wear. Low alloy steels are better
But still wear out.
Tool steel has good wear resistance but is a tougher to work
With and expensive. Ya follow me so far.
Engineering Chrome is harder
Than case harden steels.
That is why it is used in barrels.
It will last. A case harden barrel
Will last but not as long.

Engineering Chrome is used to repair bearing surfaces, because it's hard. And has good wear resistance. Problem with chrome
It does not like to plate in corners. Or in bores. It will be uneven.
Just how it is.

Copper alloys can be very abrasive. And it's harder than lead. It will have a reasonable coefficient of friction. But not as good. It used as bearings because
It also has reasonable wear.
That why it is used. Brass is better.

Back to wear. Expect more and faster wear on those barrels
Better start getting those chrome lined barrels.
My 2 cents.

 

[KoozeDeer]

Barnes bullet

 

[KoozeDeer]

Here are the 4 that I have recovered. In no way do Barnes bullets explode, I don’t event think it is possible for a solid copper bullet to explode. The most I have experienced is a single pedal falling off. Two were in hogs, one in an Audad, and one came out of a bull. The last bullet didn’t expand as much because it was a 450gd shot but that animal did not move an inch it dropped in its tracks

View attachment 37633View attachment 37634View attachment 37635View attachment 37636

Barnes

 

[DanSanDiego]

Good detail on benefits of copper in larger grained bullets. Any insights into 243s?
I’ve seen that copper for 243 will max out at 85grains vs. 100grains for lead. I’m not informed yet (I’ll get that info this year) but I’m concerned that the transition from lead to copper will make 243s not suitable for deer.
But if that is the case I’ve already got a nephew (in North Carolina where lead is legal) picked out to give my 243. I foresee a 270 in my future.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Everyone needs to stop being afraid of copper it's been around for over twenty five years and it works. The big ammo companies would not be using it if it didn't test out, it's as good or better than premium lead (Nosler) I use both and wouldn't hesitate to use either in any situation depending on which one shot better groups and what is legal no matter the caliber.

 

[Bowman]

There is no wrong answer on these post. It's getting feed back
On those who have used copper.
Good or bad.

 

[DanSanDiego]

It looks like I’ve got two good options for non-toxic 243. If either of these group well for my Savage Axis then I’m all set for D16 in 2019.
Both are 90grain non-lead.

 

[TonyS]

Not to put too fine a point on it but do we get a choice?

 

[Bowman]

Yes go out of state. It's not against
The law. Just like anything boycott.
Stop buying tags, money talks.
Start suing the state. Only then
Can we change it. Don't roll over
Like a whale.

 

[Bowman]

Good detail on benefits of copper in larger grained bullets. Any insights into 243s?
I’ve seen that copper for 243 will max out at 85grains vs. 100grains for lead. I’m not informed yet (I’ll get that info this year) but I’m concerned that the transition from lead to copper will make 243s not suitable for deer.
But if that is the case I’ve already got a nephew (in North Carolina where lead is legal) picked out to give my 243. I foresee a 270 in my future.

Time will tell, uncharted history.
One good attribute it has high velocity. But less kinetic energy.
As rule I don't like guessing .
I like to run test and document
The test results. No secret.
simple rule I have always done.
its an important rule thou.
this good feed back from hunters
actually out the field.
my gut tells me a 270, 30-06 or 308 marginal I think are going
to be required. But with out factual data it's best guess.
i would say more testing is required.
but seriously it's just like bow hunting. Shot placement is key.
heart shot, or shoulders to take
it down quick. Common sense
right.
in my experience has taught me
what I think is gonna happen, and
what the test results are are and can be what I did not expect.
but yet with good procedures
and well documented (key)
test results don't lie.
that has been my success.
making unbuildable parts
and assemblies.

 

[MrBamboo]

I have been shooting "Lead Free" copper bullets for about 12 years when I purchased some and reloaded one of my rifles for them to see how they worked at the range. The issue I had with these "Early" Solid Copper slug is I could not get the velocities from them like you could do with lead. Also, after shooting just a few, when I cleaned the rifle all my patches came out green. This was because of copper fowling, where I never got that using copper jacketed lead bullets.

Many years ago I found this, printed it out and put it on the wall above my reloading table. In it there are several "Lead Free" bullets., and you can see how all the bullets perform at different velocities.

 

[Bowman]

For all the posters
Please advise what ammo was used. 308, 270, 30-06 so on
Factory or reload
Thank you

 

[HATCHET1]

Not a fan....my 1.5 cents
.