Solid Copper Bullets?

[Gargoyle]

.308 Cal-160gr Target Hammer™ - Hammer Bullets

Recommended twist rate is 1-11" or faster Bullet length is 1.34" Bullet weight is 160gr Recommended use: Target G7-BC=.250 estimated

hammerbullets.com

Machined target bullets. Other than cost, why wouldn't these work for 600yd FTR?

 

[762plinker]

may require a special chamber..some use a gas ring seal..forward of the neck to chamber

 

[Gargoyle]

may require a special chamber..some use a gas ring seal..forward of the neck to chamber

These bullets don't require that. I shoot the hunter version of Hammers.

 

[D-4297]

I was under the impression that solid copper rounds were not acceptable in TR Competition . Am I mistaken about that ? Asking because I really don't know .

 

[Gargoyle]

I was under the impression that solid copper rounds were not acceptable in TR Competition . Am I mistaken about that ? Asking because I really don't know .

Well that makes two of us then.

 

[Fuj]

I spent way, way, way too much money on solids from Warner, Hammer,
and Cutting Edge. The Hammer Hunter design worked the best for what
I was doing. Bottom line is, they did'nt shoot good enough to compete
with. What I'm looking for is a solid bullet maker that would do a rebated
boat tail. However, money is better spent elsewhere.....

 

[Ned Ludd]

Monolithic bullets are currently legal in F-Class. I was told by a member of the rules committee that that could change in the future if folks started winning a lot of matches using them, but that hasn't happened as yet. Some of the issues associated with their use:

1) COST
2) They are typically very long for their weight and thus often require faster twist rates to fully stabilize
3) They may require a different freebore to shoot optimally than traditional lead core bullets of comparable
weight
4) Occasional odd/unexplained external ballistic behavior

I had an F-TR rifle purpose-built to shoot the monolithics, and I tried to make them work over a period of a several years. I have tried three different .30 cal monolithics from two different manufacturers and was never able to get them shooting consistently to an acceptable standard. In matches, they would occasionally exhibit stellar performance, but they would also regularly yield some very undesirable characteristics, such as unexplained vertical. I know several other F-TR shooters that had similar results. Ultimately, when one considers the cost of a rifle setup dedicated to shooting the monolithics, which may not be optimized for comparable weight lead core bullets, as well as the cost of the bullets themselves, the perceived benefits of the monolithics may not always be what they appear on the surface. The performance issues could potentially be changed with a single new monolithic bullet design, but the costs associated with their use probably will not change.

Edited to add: as far as the OP's question, I see no reason that bullet wouldn't work in F-TR at 600 yd, just as long as you could get them shooting with acceptable precision. However, a G7 BC (estimated) of 0.250 for that monolithic 160 gr bullet is really not exceptional. A traditional lead core bullet such as a Berger 155 or 168 Hybrid would likely equal or surpass the external ballistic performance at a much lower cost.

 

[D-4297]

Thank you for the clear response . So they are "Legal" but of no real benefit , due to costs , and other unexplained oddities .

 

[Ned Ludd]

In my hands, they weren't the benefit I had hoped they would be. I know a few F-TR shooters that had pretty much the exact same experience as I did, but that doesn't mean someone else couldn't get them working consistently.

Unfortunately, the lure of high BC is...strong. LOL

 

[Gargoyle]

Thanks so much Ned. Sweet response. Maybe something to try after I settle in to FTR.

 

[F Class John]

Ned laid it out perfectly but I throw my couple thoughts in.

I very very lightly tested them back in 2020 as I had the same idea as several above including the OP. At something around $140/100 back then ($160 now) for Cutting Edge I struggled with them for all of the above reasons. To shoot a 180 solid I would've had to spin up a specific 7 twist barrel (I normally use 1:9) with massive freebore. The bearing surface is stupid long on them. Once I realized I'd have to spend somewhere around $2100 just in bullets to test a barrel to completion I promptly stopped.

So instead I bought the 156gr since they were the heaviest I could shoot in a 8.5 twist I had sitting around. Started testing and between not having the right freebore and realizing I didn't want to chase the money I stopped after one box after barely completing a powder test.

Yes I realize my testing was flawed since it barely got off the ground, but I think it showcases the exact reasons nobody is doing it that I know of.

 

[Sandstorm]

Well said John.
Too much money and work for very little return, Get some A tips instead.

 

[Fuj]

Well said John.
Too much money and work for very little return, Get some A tips instead.

This past year, I started playing with the 7mm 190 gr A-tips. I got
them to shoot tight at 500 yards real easy. But my 183 Sierras shoot
about the same groups from the same current Brux barrel, so the cost
of them will keep them on the shelf for the time being. Going to spin
up a 3 groove Lilja and test the 190's in that. It's nice that even though
the A-tips are longer, you don't need more twist.