Copper bullets

[HydeParkHunter]

I made the switch to copper bullets several years ago for my 7mmRM, I used to be a devoted nosler partition guy. I've been very pleased with the accuracy and effectiveness on game. Though I grumble a little bit about the price (I shoot factory loads).

Has anybody switched to copper and regretted it, or have had a pattern of bad experiences? Curious.

 

[Northpark]

Nope. Made the switch to copper a year or two ago and have been very happy. I handload so I mostly shoot hammer bullets. Although my AR loves and I mean LOVES 70gr Barnes tsx.

Last January I went to Texas for a couple weeks. Shot a free range Aoudad, a javalina and then a ranch Oryx, and red sheep ewe. Not one critter made it more than 10’. That was with my .300wm with a 199gr Hammer Hunter at 3025 FPS.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

I shoot mono's on occasion if the circumstance dictates is but don't believe they are the be all, end all.....

I've had them perform exactly like they are supposed to but have also had them fail at least 3 times... 1 elk and 2 deer. All 3 pencil holed and exit was indistinguishable from the entrance. Velocity should have been well within acceptable.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Ive switched to monos for some guns but not for everything, for my 308 and 6.5 I’m pretty much 100% copper but for my 06, 375 and a few others I’m still using Nosler partitions and accubonds with no plans of changing.

 

[NoWiser]

I use copper for 100% of my hunting and have for the last 8 years. I’ve never experienced a failure. They have outperformed every traditional lead bullet I’ve ever tried.

 

[Packin_packout]

Used them for one season had a cow at 300 using Barnes ttsx from a 30-06. She took two rounds in the boiler room and just kind of stood there like nothing happened. I immediately switched over to a mag of 180 accubonds and she folded up on the first round. Was very clear that the ttsx penciled through on breaking her down. The two ttsx impacts were about three inches apart.

Figured I would use the rest hunting in Texas shooting does. 100 yds right behind the shoulder the doe jumped and ran off with no blood trail practically. Just a few drops here and there. Found her and it was the exact same story no real internal damage. Normally using partition or accubond they don't make it more than 10 steps ever. I think that's the only time I haven't seen the deer drop when hunting in Texas with a 30-06.

It sucks because that load from Barnes was extremely accurate. I have relegated those for target practice at this point. Consistently sub 1 moa out of a factory tikka.

I get that happening with a Texas doe they are tiny and don't provide a lot of resistance to force expansion. Was really surprised on the elk. I just haven't gone back to try them again. I suspect they will perform better on a shoulder shot but I try to avoid damaging meat.

 

[Tmac]

Barnes LRX & TTSX have worked perfectly for me. But I have two caveats. One, it needs to be tipped if under about 35 caliber. Two, go a weight lighter and keep impact velocities about 10% above the advertised minimum. The LRX is excellent imo. TTSX is very good. Have not shot the other manfu’s tipped versions. Primarily use them in non-magnum cartridges in 25, 277 and 284 calibers, with the exception of two bull Moose that fell to 30 caliber 180 gr. TTSX’s.

 

[Snyder54]

I switched to copper bullets a little over a year ago and have taken elk, deer, and antelope, mostly with Barnes LRX. The bullets performed great in all cases with all shots at 300 yards and in out of a 300 WM.

I'm developing some loads now with cutting edge for longer ranges as the accuracy and expansion should be a little better with a frag style mono past 500 yards. I still use lead at times depending on the situation but have had great results with copper.

 

[MThuntr]

Made the switch for my hunting loads. First Etips and now Hammer Bullets. I prefer Hammer over as they expand at a lower velocity which is nice for small cartridges.

I see good things about Cutting Edge and Badlands Precision also but have no personal experiences

The bad experiences that I hear are likely related to older bullet designs or price.

 

[OXN939]

I made the switch to copper bullets several years ago for my 7mmRM, I used to be a devoted nosler partition guy. I've been very pleased with the accuracy and effectiveness on game. Though I grumble a little bit about the price (I shoot factory loads).

Has anybody switched to copper and regretted it, or have had a pattern of bad experiences? Curious.

Lots of great info here. I switched to copper about 4 years ago, will never go back. I eat almost exclusively game, so not having to worry about lead in my groceries was big. Also, better for the environment. Also, more terminally consistent. Also, nice to be able to use a lighter caliber than what I'd feel comfortable shooting with lead projectiles. Example- doing a backpack hunt this year where weight is at a premium. Taking my little Howa Alpine in .243 shooting Hornady GMXs, which weighs under 7 lbs loaded. Would be a little light for some species with cup-and-cores, but good to go with monos. Plenty of speed for good expansion, minimal recoil even in a light rifle, not much meat damage, great lethality... not much more you can ask for

 

[MuleyFever]

One, it needs to be tipped if under about 35 caliber.

Why?

 

[backcountry_hunter]

^^^ I'd like to hear that as well.

As an addition to my 1st post, all 3 failures were out of a 300wsm and the furthest was 212 yds, closest (elk) was 116. Non of the 3 contacted bone, all three were clean through both lungs and out. All three animals recoverd. Very little internal damage and blood trail. Absoultely zero expansion that I could see. all TTSX's.... Never tried hammers but would be interested.

I'm certainly not dogging on mono's and realize the dozen or so I've taken with mono's isn't a great sample size. I have several instance where the performed flawlessly and recoverd perfect mushrooms or they left a sufficient exit. But I wouldn't blanket-ly switch over knowing the limitations they appear to have (for me).

 

[16Bore]

They’re bone breakers in my experiences...talk about “shock”.....

 

[ReddingArcher]

I'm forced to shoot them in California and have had mixed feelings about them. I have used them out of state as well as thats what my CDS dial is set for. I have only had 2 animals just fold up, both antelope in Wyoming, one at about 100 yards and the other at 380 facing me. All the other animals I have killed have ran anywhere from 30 feet to about 100 yards with very little blood trails. The one that ran the furthest was one of my best blacktail bucks and I am fairly confident that if I wasnt in a burn and was able to watch him fall I wouldnt have found that buck. The accuracy with them is very good and I guess that since I have found every animal that I havent had a bullet failure I just dont seem to get the bang flops that you tend to get with lead. I think from now on I will use the copper here in California and switch back to lead for out of state hunts.

 

[Tmac]

Why?

Helps insure the bullet expands with a tip to push back into the frontal hollow point area. I have a distrust of any HP design for hunting, its rare, but the small opening can plug or get bent over and failure to expand then can occur. Any design can fail, but that tip helps me feel more comfortable. In larger calibers, the hole is larger and that helps too. My two cents anyway. If I were to use a TSX design I’d want even more velocity at max range vs a tipped design. Both the TTSX and LRX that came later, use a larger hollow area behind the tip, than the hollow area in a TSX, at least the last time I checked.

 

[Tmac]

^^^ I'd like to hear that as well.

As an addition to my 1st post, all 3 failures were out of a 300wsm and the furthest was 212 yds, closest (elk) was 116. Non of the 3 contacted bone, all three were clean through both lungs and out. All three animals recoverd. Very little internal damage and blood trail. Absoultely zero expansion that I could see. all TTSX's.... Never tried hammers but would be interested.

I'm certainly not dogging on mono's and realize the dozen or so I've taken with mono's isn't a great sample size. I have several instance where the performed flawlessly and recoverd perfect mushrooms or they left a sufficient exit. But I wouldn't blanket-ly switch over knowing the limitations they appear to have (for me).

What bullet weight were you using on the 3 problem shots? That may offer some insight.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

In that caliber 180's right @ 3000fps give or take..... both with those three and the successes I've had. I've also had a deer I could fit a closed fist into with quite literally the next chronologically loaded round and almost identical placement.

 

[wildwilderness]

I shoot mono's on occasion if the circumstance dictates is but don't believe they are the be all, end all.....

I've had them perform exactly like they are supposed to but have also had them fail at least 3 times... 1 elk and 2 deer. All 3 pencil holed and exit was indistinguishable from the entrance. Velocity should have been well within acceptable.

Barnes makes different bullets for different applications! for example the .308" 165TTSX is made for magnum velocities and is harder than the 168 TTSX which can be used in standard cartridges. The LRX line is also soft and designed to expand at lower velocity. I have had good luck with the 168 and 300wsm at 3200fps. breaking bone. The 180 is probably too heavy.

With monos velocity is your friend! go lighter and faster if you want bang flops! also aim for bone.

the Hammers have a different design and expand more.

 

[CAhunter]

I'm forced to shoot them in California and have had mixed feelings about them. I have used them out of state as well as thats what my CDS dial is set for. I have only had 2 animals just fold up, both antelope in Wyoming, one at about 100 yards and the other at 380 facing me. All the other animals I have killed have ran anywhere from 30 feet to about 100 yards with very little blood trails. The one that ran the furthest was one of my best blacktail bucks and I am fairly confident that if I wasnt in a burn and was able to watch him fall I wouldnt have found that buck. The accuracy with them is very good and I guess that since I have found every animal that I havent had a bullet failure I just dont seem to get the bang flops that you tend to get with lead. I think from now on I will use the copper here in California and switch back to lead for out of state hunts.

This has been very similar to my experience with them as well. I don’t think I’d use them if I didn’t have to. My kills with copper and those that I have witnessed have all been at moderate ranges as well (under 250 or so). I wish they would open up a bit more.

 

[brsnow]

They have worked great for me. I have young kids, so won’t do lead. Once I started butchering my own game, I was shocked at the amount of lead in the meat.