up till now, i have ignored all copper bullet threads..needing some help.

[sancho]

ok, over the holidays, my brother was kind enough to bring me one of my rifles..M70 in 30.06. figured with the lead ban, it would be cheaper than any of my weatherbys. i will still mostly hunt with archery equipment, but i dont want to decline any more rifle hunt invites. i am now armed! haha.

i hunted exclusively with nosler partitions...165, and 185. what is your copper recommendation? love to try some at the range, get dialed in, and wait for the invites. would like to stay with the 165 grain bullets.

thanks in advance.

 

[MtnCruzr]

Barnes is your friend.

 

[ltdann]

Boy did you open a can of worms!

With respect to the previous poster, I disagree.

My advice is to you is try what is most accurate in the rifle. Your choices are Barnes, Hornady GMX and Nosler E-tip.

I've shot over $450 worth of Barnes and couldn't get it to group better than 4 inches, in my rifle. I got my accuracy back with the Noslers. No experience with the GMX.

Regardless what you choose, its been my experience that the lead free ammo is not as forgiving of a less than perfect shot. Shot placement is critical.

Jeez, I wish I could hunt with Nosler partions again.

 

[EPT]

I have used Barnes the last two years.
I have had to shoot each deer more than once.
Barnes bullets loaded by Federal work best in my rifle, my rifle made the choice as far as accuracy.
My recommendation is to hit bone if you can, there are issues with expansion.
Hitting bone will help the bullet expand, other wise you'll have a clean run through.

 

[.243]

Rolling your own or using factory ammo? Have had great luck with Barnes 168 TSX out of my 06 and .308. Also the 130's hit like a hammer out of the 30 cals. If your using factory ammo I would suggest getting a few boxes of other bullets to try as well. What ever your gun likes I would shoot.

I have had nothing but spectacular accuracy and performance with Barnes bullets in .243 as well as the .30's.

 

[Joetech34]

My 30-06 shots the barnes great, however my 300 weatherby doesnt like the barnes but shoots great with the Noslers.

Joe

 

[w8_liftr]

I began using barnes voluntarily before the lead ban. Yes, it did take some reloading time, but I found a combination that works well. I handload for all my hunting weapons. Handloading brings my estimated cost per round to about a buck per rifle shot. Powder type and charge and COAL will impact accuracy. Changing primers changed my zero by over 6 inches.

I have killed 6 pigs using my loads. All one shot kills, complete pass throughs with minimal meat loss on 5 out of 6 animals.


My slug gun is a different story. it's having a hard time.

 

[ltdann]

My slug gun is a different story. it's having a hard time.

Concur. I've tried the XP3's, the barnes/federal combo, the only thing left is the remingtion copper solids. I'll try those this year. My 11-87 hates the xp3's, marginal with the barnes.

 

[jryoung]

I shoot Barnes 160gr. out of my Rem 700 7mag and have fantastic results. Groups of less than an inch at 100yds. I just bought a Rem 700 30-06 (22" barrel) and when I was breaking it in I was shooting Winchester lead free (not sure of the particular bullet) and it was terrible. This is my first new gun so not sure if it is a barrel break in issue or not, but the next two boxes will be Barnes 168grn for it.

 

[sancho]

My advice is to you is try what is most accurate in the rifle. Your choices are Barnes, Hornady GMX and Nosler E-tip.

THANKS, i honestly didnt even know what my choices were...this helps alot. i will start with the E-tips.

i want to buy factory ammo.. i get 1" groups with partitions loaded by weatherby.

 

[ltdann]

THANKS, i honestly didnt even know what my choices were...this helps alot. i will start with the E-tips.

i want to buy factory ammo.. i get 1" groups with partitions loaded by weatherby.

Those were the bullets, there's lots of factory ammo loaded with those bullets and they are listed on CA DFG approved lead free list which can be found here: DFG - Hunting - Certified Nonlead Ammunition Information

I seem to have the best accuracy with the winchester 150 grn 30-06 (nosler e-tip). Your mileage may vary!

 

[weekender21]

Barnes TSX, or you could man up and take your bow on those rifle hunt invites! :hog chewing: :archer green:

 

[jdp080563]

the Hornady GMX in 30-06 i have seen loaded are 150 grain. the ones I have seen shot are very accurate out of the three rifles I saw them shot out of.two of the three people have killed hogs with them and love the performance of the bullets.

 

[559hog]

Use the E-Tips, shot a hog with it last month, dropped in it's tracks.

 

[Redneck75]

I'm shooting the Federal 180 Grain. It's got the Barnes TSX in it. I've had real good luck with it out of my A-Bolt -06.

 

[bobby7321]

if your rolling your own, barnes hands down. Never had a problem, been using them way before you had to.

 

[Jean]

We use 165gr Barnes TSX with Reloder 19 as the powder of choice. That combination works well in his Winchester model 70 30'06 and my little Weatherby 30'06.

Good luck and good huntin',

Jean

 

[larrysogla]

I have always used Barnes all copper bullets since 1998 in my 30-06, 300 WM and 338 WM. Try to hit the shoulder bone and there will be sufficient expansion and termination of the hogs................even the big ones.
'Nuff said
larrysogla

 

[MountainManMike]

Barnes TSX.

 

[Brian.243]

The Barnes 200 grain shot very well in my 300 weatherby five shots 150 yds under 1.5 inches. I shoot the 165 grain boat tails out of my Winchester 88 in 308 and it will do five shots in under 2 inches at 150 yds. I also shoot varmint grenades in my .243 and also shoot Barnes in my 41 mag and am happy with accuracy and performance on game from coyotes to elk.