30cal lead free bullets

[Fast14riot]

Well, living behind enemy lines here in CA, now that I'm rebarreling my 30-06 hunting rifle I'd like to start out developing a new load with all copper bullets. I'd like to stick to 165-180 grain bullets and wondering which ones were the preferred choice? Hornady GMX, Barnes, others? I haven't really dealt much with all copper in the past, so this is new territory for my. Previously I used N180BT which work great.

Looking for terminal ballistics similar to the 180 ballistic tip as I don't hunt elk or really need controlled expansion, consistency in shape and accuracy as well as generally available.


-X

 

[AckleymanII]

125g Tipped triple shock will not stop in any deer on the planet, no need to go heavier like you would with cup and core bullets.

check this site for some loads reported by shooters:

http://centerfirecentral.com/MDB/Ca...ber=3006Spr&Weight=&Powder=&Submit=Search+Now

 

[wapiti25]

watch that you get a barrel with the proper twist for the "copper" bullet selected. The green bullets are longer for the weight, as the 165 may be longer than a 180 lead bullet.

 

[Fast14riot]

New barrel is a 10 twist, I had considered an 11 twist but I don't want to have to run near max for 200gr bullets.

I have to do some more reading.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

I never had a problem shooting 168 TTSXBTs in a 1 in 10" twist 30-06.

As others have pointed out, you do not need that kind of bullet weight to penetrate deer ('twas my elk load a few years back).

Barnes has been making the solid copper bullets the longest, and they seem to have all the kinks worked out. All the Barnes copper bullets I've tried have been good enough for the task. Some of the other brands do not perform as advertised.

For deer, I would not look further than the 130 TTSXBT.

 

[Fast14riot]

The areas I hunt, my family hasn't taken a deer or goat inside of 300 yards in over a decade, so was hoping for a little heavier bullet to help with windage. Hunting highland desert in CA and NV.

I might try the 130ttsxbt as well as the 168ttsxbt to see which shoots better.

Thanks

 

[watercam]

Consider the Tipped 165 or LRX from Barnes. Work well in 10" twist barrels and is devastating on game. I use them with both '06 and 300 Weatherby. I moved from CA to OR three years ago and still use them even though I am not required to (yet).

 

[Larryh128]

If you are shooting distance look at the 175 gr Barnes LRX bullets. They are a VLD design and have considerably less drop than a 165/168 hunting bullet. Very accurate bullet. I load them in 06, 300WM & 300 WSM. Either Mid South or Natchez just had a sale on them, about $33 a box.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

The areas I hunt, my family hasn't taken a deer or goat inside of 300 yards in over a decade, so was hoping for a little heavier bullet to help with windage. Hunting highland desert in CA and NV.

I might try the 130ttsxbt as well as the 168ttsxbt to see which shoots better.

Thanks

I see. Yeah, the heavier bullets will move less in the wind. My concern with them at the longer ranges is that they really do need 2000-2200 fps impact velocity to expand well. Depending on your altitude and muzzle velocity, expansion may get iffy at the longer ranges and 30-06 velocities. I know the loading manuals say you can push it faster, but 2700 fps was about all the speed I could get out of the 168 TTSXBT with a max load of H4350.

At sea level, expansion at 400 yards is a dicey deal. Lots of lead bullets expand reliably down to 1500 fps, giving a much longer effective range.