What non lead bullet really works?

[myfriendis410]

Look at the video those guys did (admittedly non-scientific) where they shot premium bonded core lead and Barnes type bullets into water and recovered the fragments, then X-rayed venison donated and ground up. I'll stick with copper.

 

[richracer1]

Nosler has 200gn E-Tips out for the 338 cal.

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

There IS an alternative

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

There is a non lead non-copper alternative (I shoot triple shocks though and I'm plenty happy with them)...

The Hornady GMX. Technically, it is a brass. It's made from gilding metal (same stuff that's on the outside of jacketed bullets--which is a copper alloy, comprising 95% copper and 5% zinc.

Have not hunted with them but I hear good things--esp. reduced fouling. Available both as a bullet and a loaded factory round...bullets are (I think) from .270 up to ~.338 or so. Last I read the highest power factory load was 300 Win Mag though they might be loading larger calibers by now. Link below is to Hornady's site and the GMX info.


Hornady

 

[boar slayer]

my expirence is seeing hundreds of hogs shot ive been playing the game for 8 years we usualy shoot 300 hogs a year on the ranch i work no offence to anyone but ive seen some crappy shot placement in many photos lots of liver shots if you put a pin through the right spot youve got a dead animal . ive seen hogs take a 300 ultra mag to the rear leg and we cant catch them with a dog after it. shot placement is the key i dont care what you shoot the vitals of a hog are in the same place as a humans just think if you caught a bullet in your armpit from one side through the other your done shoot at the hogs armpit in the lower 1/3 this will do the job with anything that will penatrate wheather the bullet expands or not . another problem is YOU MUST know exactly where the animal was when you shot and the path it took in order to even find a blood trail and many times a perfectly hit animal will go 50 plus yards . one of my hunting buddies is a vascular surgeon and he has told me even without a beating heart it can take over two minutes to die . NOW THE BIG BUT yes some copper bullets dont expand . out of my gun 160's dont but 140's do see pics the bent non expanded were 160's the best combo ive seen is 7mm shooting 140 grain barnes looked like a 1-1/2 core sample was taken these bullets are tough go light

 

[richracer1]

There is a non lead non-copper alternative (I shoot triple shocks though and I'm plenty happy with them)...

The Hornady GMX. Technically, it is a brass. It's made from gilding metal (same stuff that's on the outside of jacketed bullets--which is a copper alloy, comprising 95% copper and 5% zinc.

Have not hunted with them but I hear good things--esp. reduced fouling. Available both as a bullet and a loaded factory round...bullets are (I think) from .270 up to ~.338 or so. Last I read the highest power factory load was 300 Win Mag though they might be loading larger calibers by now. Link below is to Hornady's site and the GMX info.


Hornady

Nosler's E-Tips are a guilding metal as well - same material used to make the jackets on the Accubonds, B-Tips, and Partitions.

As mentioned above, shot placement is still critical.

 

[boar slayer]

i just remembered where i put my old copperplated 44 kill bullets were these are hard cast lead that were copper plated note almost no expansion all six were hog kills 3 of them i could reload and shoot again bullets dont have to expand to kill these are 240 grain loaded with 10.5 grains unique they can blow through a 5 gallon propane tank like butter the barnes 44 bullets only dent the tank with about a 50cent piece size dent

 

[Speckmisser]

Boarslayer,

Just curious... on those non-expanded copper bullets in your first pic. Are those copper solids (monoliths), or are they the TSX (hollow-points)?

I'm generally in agreement on everything you said above, though. Where the bullet goes is the most critical factor, regardless of lead, copper, or a broadhead. Bad placement will result in a chase. Reasonable tracking skills and knowing where the animal was when it was hit will also make a difference in recovering or losing game... especially at long range, where you may not even know if you made a good hit or not.

That doesn't change my recommendation for the ETip or the GMX, though, although the Barnes TSX is a fine bullet too.

 

[boar slayer]

to answer specmissers question those bullets were the barnes xlc 140 grns they are discontinued i had called barnes and talked to them about this and the person i spoke with said thier bullets need to hit liquid to help the expansion i said bs these bullets went trough 1/2'' plywood backed target and recovered from moist dirt any other bullet shot through this target either expands or comes appart

 

[easymoney]

Nosler's E-Tips are a guilding metal as well - same material used to make the jackets on the Accubonds, B-Tips, and Partitions.

This is what I'm shooting out of my 300 winmag (180grn) and so far I'm liking them...

 

[Norcal Hunting Kid]

Calijeephuntr is there a fair amount of deer at FHL? Never been there but put in for a J-10 tag this year and hopefully get drawn. It looks likes its only 2 weekends and only 5 days of hunting. Dont know why its so short but is it enough time to get a deer? Hopefully if i get drawn the luck might pass over and see a hog as well.

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

Norcal Kid, there are a lot of deer at FHL. The J-10 tag is a good tag and there's always some great bucks that come out of that hunt. Even though the season seems short it's still a good tag. If you have anymore questions just shoot me an email, i'll be glad to help out.

 

[Norcal Hunting Kid]

Thanks alot. If i get drawn ill be sure to email you.


NHK

 

[Land Cruiser]

I have a similar problem and posted the same question on another board. A recommendation I got was to go with Lapua Naturalis. Not easy to find and VERY expensive but according to some reputable sources it does the job well. Those that like the blood trail should like it, because it pierces more often than not. I ordered a box today and will take it to range. Consecutively I ordered a box of TSX’s with different loads and bullet weights. From what I hear around it’s the best bullet on the market with proper load for every gun of course. I hope to find that load. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[tpuig]

I got a small sow Saturday with a 160gr Federal using Barnes bullets. Took out both shoulders and went through, but it was a 7mm Mag at about 65 yards. Dropped her where she stood like a ton of bricks. Back legs kicked 3 times and it was over.

 

[Speckmisser]

Remington was loading the Naturalis, but has switched to their own all-copper bullet. Not sure if it's available on the market yet.

Thanks Boarbuster, for the follow-up on the XLC. It seems to me that the old X bullet and the XLC were both notably problematic for North American game... and likely the source of a lot of the bad feelings toward the copper bullets.

 

[Hunter0331]

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

Copper and lead bullets work it's just hitting them pigs right.
My brother and I tried the 180gr XTP on his .300 Win Mag out at 289 yards, the boar fell got up and ran lifeless at 30 yards and dropped.

I hunted some property adjacent to Fort Tejon out by the town of White Oaks, shot this big boar at 300 yards with my 6mm-284 using 70gr bullet boar dropped on it's tracks, however it was still alive so I had to give him another round.

I had been told by other hunters that they are tought animals and I can agree to that.

I did some research and that has helped out quite a bit.
Good luck
WILD BOAR ANATOMY, HUNTING WILD BOAR TEXAS, TEXAS HOG HUNTING HEART LUNG SHOT PLACEMNET

 

[kcravnit]

shoot the Etips....they are the money shot and explode on bone....every pig so far this year doa....with etips...