What non lead bullet really works?

[leftyhunter]

I just read Wymjohonsons account of how his copper bullet just passed through a hog instead of expanding. I put in for a 1st deer tag for me and my son at FHL. Assuming we get the tag and are lucky enough to have a shot at a pig or deer what non lead bullet will work. I have two Savage 110's in .243 and .270 although if my son draws an elk tag I will trade in his.243 for something stronger like a.338.

thanks;
Leftyhunter

 

[Common Sense]

Bullet placement is key. Shoot the bullet your barrel likes best; not the best bullet.

 

[Tinknocker101]

Copper bullets do punch holes. I recently killed and elk with 1 shot with my .270 130 gr. (FEDERAL PREMIUM VITAL-SHOK) Shot was just behind the front shoulder and went right through. The guides/experts I have spoke with like a front shoulder shot so the bullet will expand. However, I totally agree with CS that “Bullet placement is key.”

 

[hatchet1]

no comment:skeered:

 

[easymoney]

Much controversy about this very topic. The correct answer depends on whom you talk to, manufacturers all claim incredible success, hunters have mixed opinions.

Bullet placement is key. Shoot the bullet your barrel likes best; not the best bullet.
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Mr sense has the real answer, shoot, shoot, then shoot some more to find out exactly what is the best bullet for your particular weapon...
My mod 70 300 win mag likes 180 grn etips...

 

[SDHNTR]

the best copper bullet is the one that breaks both shoulders.

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

Lefty, I shoot a 130gr TSX out of my .270 and have been pleased with it's performance. I've taken 2 deer and 2 pigs with the TSX and haven't had any issue's with it (1 deer and 1 pig at FHL). A buddy got a big bull elk this past season at FHL and shot it with an MRX out of a .300 WSM and had a one shot kill.

Not sure why other people are having issue's with non lead, but for me, and friends, they've been more than holding their own. If you have any questions regarding FHL just shoot me an email.

 

[myfriendis410]

Lefty, I shoot a 130gr TSX out of my .270 and have been pleased with it's performance. I've taken 2 deer and 2 pigs with the TSX and haven't had any issue's with it (1 deer and 1 pig at FHL). A buddy got a big bull elk this past season at FHL and shot it with an MRX out of a .300 WSM and had a one shot kill.

Not sure why other people are having issue's with non lead, but for me, and friends, they've been more than holding their own. If you have any questions regarding FHL just shoot me an email.

I'm one of those friends and the guy that loaded the ammo he's talking about. As I said in another post, we've shot dozens of hogs with Barnes and have no complaints. That said, we did have to shoot a hog the other night more than once to put it down, but when we skinned him out, the bullet had done it's job but the pig just didn't know he was dead.

Like any bullet, there are pros and cons. It is almost impossible to be objective about one bullet 'cause the medium we are using is so different from shot to shot. The only thing we can use is a very broad sample of general performance.

We're stuck with copper, guys; get used to it.

 

[bobby7321]

i stand behind barnes all the way. we've taken dozens of animals over the years them and never had to track an animal yet further than 20 yards.
maybe we just bought the good batches or maybe its how we load them.

no idea why people are having so much problems with them, its the same bullets... maybe the factory loads suck?
either way they have their results, and I have mine.

anyways here's 3 shots with triple shocks and MRXs. pigs fell over, deer went about 10 yards (without taking out shoulder or major bone)

YouTube - Papa's Buck 8-16-07

Pig Hunting - Bryson Hesperia Resort - March 2009 on Vimeo

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

Great video on the pigs Bobby!

 

[bigboarstopper]

The 2 I have rifled with copper have both been neck shots. I dont trust the copper from others reports. So a neck shot has worked fine for me. Wether it expands or not, I could care less.

 

[leftyhunter]

Thanks guys! I was hoping that there was a non lead non-copper rifle bullet out there but I guess not. I know handloading has its advantages but I was wondering if a commercial mfgr sells the THX bullet? I will try different brands to see what patterns best. Calijeep thanks for the offer if i draw a tag I will use my 2nd deer tag has an AO tag and try to scout out FHL maybe even getting real lucky. i will let you know if I get drawn.

Thanks Again;
Leftyhunter

 

[richracer1]

I shoot predominately Nosler E-Tips, and they have worked for me so far. I have shot one animal with a Barnes (no E-Tips for that cal at that time) and it did it's job as well.

FYI, the E-Tip and the Hornady GMX are guilding metal bullets, meaning they are made using the same metal/alloy that Nosler/Hornady use as a jacket for their leaded bullets.

 

[w8_liftr]

I found that commercially loaded TSX doesn't work well in my rifle (4 inch group). Once I started hand loading, I was able to tune to load to produce 1 inch or less at 100. My best load will put 3 holes under a dime.

I adjusted the COAL and tried multiple powders and charge weights. Changing the primer will even adjust POI.

 

[leftyhunter]

Worse case senario I might have to borrow a handloader for a case of fine brew.

Leftyhunter

 

[Speckmisser]

I have been using the Barnes now for three years, and have yet to lose an animal, or even have to track one that was shot with these bullets. I shoot neck or high shoulder the majority of the time, and get boom-flop kills. The one double-lung shot I've made with these bullets resulted in a 75 yard death run (followed by a 200 yard roll down into a hell hole). They're good bullets, but they do have limitations... particularly when it comes to leaving a blood trail, because the don't usually make a great big hole on either side.

I've switched my 30-06 and .270 to the Etips. I do think they expand a little better on soft tissue, which should provide a little better terminal performance on marginal hits. It still goes right through, and doesn't make a huge hole unless you get some bone, but I like them better. If I were to recommend a non-lead bullet, the ETip is the one I'd suggest... but they're only available in .30 and .277 caliber right now.

Haven't got first-hand experience with the Hornady GMX yet, but I expect it to perform very much like the ETip, since they're made of the same material.

 

[myfriendis410]

If I were to recommend a non-lead bullet, the ETip is the one I'd suggest... but they're only available in .30 and .277 caliber right now.

You can get them in .284 and 6 mm too. One of my hunting buddies used a 150 gr. E-tip in his 7mm r.m. I loaded to shoot TWO hogs with one shot, just because he could: shot one in the head after lining up two of them and the bullet double lunged the one behind it and shot clean through THAT one. Both dropped in their tracks.

 

[Speckmisser]

Oh yeah... forgot about 6mm. Didn't know they were available in .284.

Just wish I could get them in 8mm, although I'm pretty happy with the Barnes performance in my .325. It hammers 'em (as it should).

 

[myfriendis410]

Oh yeah... forgot about 6mm. Didn't know they were available in .284.

Just wish I could get them in 8mm, although I'm pretty happy with the Barnes performance in my .325. It hammers 'em (as it should).

Having shot a boatload of hogs with .30 and 7mm Barnes, I have to say that using your .325 short mag would be the perfect caliber for hogs; enough hole, enough enegy, enough expansion for even the biggest pigs (Too bad it's a dying cartridge). Don't get me wrong; the calibers I use work well, just that a .338 caliber in my opinion would give me that little bit more confidence shooting the big boys.

 

[Speckmisser]

I can say that the .325 flattens them with authority. No questions asked. A .338 would be awesome too. I use mine mostly because I like shooting it so much, though... it's honestly more gun than necessary. My .30-06 has been plenty for everything from 60lbs to 300.

Yeah, it's probably a goner as far as the market is concerned. But as long as I have brass and 8mm bullets, I'll keep shooting it. Can't wait to take it CO this fall!

And yes, even in CO, I'll be shooting Barnes bullets.