Inexpensive copper bullets

[bigolbuck]

Hello all. I just got invited to hunt the Tejon Ranch and I need to buy some copper bullets. Is there any place I can get them for under forty dollars? Any place close to Sacramento, or someplace that can mail them to me??? Thanks for any info!

 

[bigolbuck]

30-06 150 grain bullets preferd

 

[solus]

it might be easier to find them down here locally... When is your trip to Tejon?

 

[1USD]

sportsman's warehouse in Roseville has them for about $45.00 I think. I just bought some not too long ago.. They're Barnes 180gr. Pickins are slim.... gotta get what you can.. You also might try the ammo depot off of Hwy 50 and Hazel.

 

[ltdann]

no. Get used to paying the big bucks. If you find ANY lead-free 30-06 that shoots well for you, buy all you can.

 

[HogWild805]

No chance of finding lead free hunting caliber for under 40 bucks

 

[ChrisAMX]

Not sure if they have them, but you can always check the Gun Shop in Frazier Park. Not sure about prices either but I spent $57.00 at Wal-Mart for 300 win mag

 

[eoats]

Just tried some Remington 168gr 'hog' with a Barnes bullet, that shot OK (3" group at 100yards).
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/hog-hammer/hog-hammer.aspx

Best groups for me in 30-06 has been 180gr Barnes Vortex from my Vanguard with groups less than 2".

3rd choice for me, in my gun, was the Winchester Supreme with the Nosler 180gr bullet.

I've tried some copper bullets in 150gr but they didn't group near as tight as 180gr. The copper seems to like a heavier/longer bullet than lead in my limited tests, with my rifle.

It seems that Bass Pro in Manteca might be on your way south.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/resour...-tx-availability/california-vor-tx-retailers/

 

[Wolfe]

I just got some at Dicks. It was the Hornady GMX right around $48 a box. Good luck.

 

[7Mag_PigHunter]

Hech honestly I get mine reloaded by a good friend of mine and ofcourse I get a good deal from him (for a box of 7mm mag 150 grain Nosler nonlead I pay about 25 bux and they are dead on accurate) but if you can't find a good reloader then might as well go with factory brotha... and under 40 bux... thats pretty tough

 

[solus]

I have found that the 168 gr Barnes ttsx and the nosler 162 e-tips shoot the best in my rifles. I would go one weight smaller than what you normally shoot

 

[bigolbuck]

I normally use 150, never have used Copper though. Why would I want to drop down to a smaller grain bullet?

 

[1USD]

I'm going hunting this weekend, so I've been sighting in my 300 Win Mag and my 30-06. Both rifles I first sighted in with 180 gr. LEAD bullets to get close to zero (because at $40-50 a box who wants to sight in with copper bullets!?) What I found when I put the Barnes bullets in to check the zero was, on each rifle, for whatever reason....(?) the copper bullets shot about 8" higher than the lead counterparts.. No idea why.. Maybe just the load difference? I thought they would be pretty close, but no... So, just FYI. you can't sight in with anything other than your actual hunting load!! (no-brainer I know, but they were new scopes and I wanted to get them on paper before I busted out the expensive stuff...)

 

[1USD]

I normally use 150, never have used Copper though. Why would I want to drop down to a smaller grain bullet?​

I could be wrong but it's my understanding that you lose some of the lead (weight retention), for instance, if it's a hollow point you can lose some of the pedals that form. With copper, it's much harder than lead. Its penetration is far superior than lead (I tested ), copper also retains between 98-100% of its weight so a heavier bullet isn't as necessary. To give you an example, I shot a bullet proof vest (level IIIA) with a 1oz Brenneke deep penetrating special purpose slug (law enforcement round). It would not go through the first side of the vest (mind you, the vest was draped over a car door). I then shot the other side of the vest, which had not been shot yet, with a Remington copper solid. The copper slug went through the first side of the vest, through the car door, through the other side of the vest and through the other car door until it hit the berm. So... Copper is better

 

[solus]

simply put you want to go down a weight because the ballistic coefficient is different and the deminsions of the bullet are different as well. usually copper bullets are longer than lead core bullets. 150gr seems low for a 30-06. Im curious what are you using to hold your rifle while trying to sight it in?

 

[bigolbuck]

I use either sand bags or a shooting rest. Ive always used 150 grain for both deer and pig. All four pigs that I've shot dropped dead. No wonded, no running... Just dropped. One spine shot, two head shots and one double lung heart shot.

 

[bigolbuck]

Thanks for all the input! My hunt at Tejon will be next month. I am looking forward to hunting with my brothers, fun times, and hopefully scoring a big hog! I will probably go with 165 grain bullet. hopefully that will do the trick!

 

[hks95134]

Copper is and always has been a precious metal, like platinum, gold, silver, and nickel.

Get used to it.

Do your practice shooting at the range with lead, and save your copper for the hunt.

1 copper bullet = 1 dead deer.

 

[JONFSH]

A place you can check for copper ammmo close to Fort Tejon is 2ndamendmentsports.com in bakersfield. I drive there from Ventura if I need ammo in a hurry, but deffinetly call ahead.

Their prices are reasonable and always have copper on hand. At least that's what I've found. However, I shoot a .280 remington and it's not a very common round. I've tried Barnes TTSX but I'm high by 5" compared to Hornady. I went back to my Hornady 139 Gr. GMX Copper and I was dead on at 200 yds.

It really depends on which round your gun likes the most. But whatever you do (as been mentioned above) only sight in with what you shoot in the field.

That's my 2 cents...

 

[javithewrench]

Time to melt some pennies, kiddin. I've had good luck at the gunshow or midway for copper rounds. I did see some at walmart not long ago