Copper 20 Cal Bullets?

[Barr123]

Hi All,

I'm a UK based shooter looking to get into the world of 20 cals - specifically the 20 Tactical!

The UK have now announced that they are wanting to ban lead bullets by 2025. I'm thinking of trying to have as much fun as I can before then, but it does also pose the question of what are the copper alternatives for the 20s? I see Barnes have a 26grain on offer but I haven't heard much about them.

Have any of you guys got experience with non-lead bullets in the 20 cals? I asked Todd Kindler and he kindly replied to say that he's personally not used any so thought it would be good to ask a wider audience.

Many thanks

 

[Hal]

Check out Hammer bullets.

Hal

 

[B23]

Talk to some of the Cali guys like Bill K, they have to shoot LF boolits, and they'll probably have all kinds of info for ya.

 

[Bill K]

My communist state (Kalifornia) is lead free for any game or non-game animal, so for hunting it is all we can use. Target's, etc so far can still shoot lead.
But in my various hunting calibers 17, 20, 224, 6mm, 6.5, 257, 375 I use Hornady, Nosler, Hammer, Black Hole, Barnes mostly.
For the 20 caliber, just about 95% Nosler lead free bullets. They work just fine. So when you can find these, load up on a supply and have fun. If you need larger caliber lead free, check out Hammer and Barnes in the weights that work best in your firearms.

 

[Barr123]

Check out Hammer bullets.

Hal

Thanks for the info Hal, they look promising

 

[Barr123]

My communist state (Kalifornia) is lead free for any game or non-game animal, so for hunting it is all we can use. Target's, etc so far can still shoot lead.
But in my various hunting calibers 17, 20, 224, 6mm, 6.5, 257, 375 I use Hornady, Nosler, Hammer, Black Hole, Barnes mostly.
For the 20 caliber, just about 95% Nosler lead free bullets. They work just fine. So when you can find these, load up on a supply and have fun. If you need larger caliber lead free, check out Hammer and Barnes in the weights that work best in your firearms.

Thanks Bill, really appreciate the response - sounds like there is hope then! How are you getting on with twist rates and the bullet length? The 20 tac I'm looking at, I'm fairly sure it's a 1 in 10 twist

 

[searcher]

You want to shoot the lead-free Nosler Ballistic Tips. I haven't shot the Barnes as I deem it a bit light for the reach potential of the .20 - but that said, I shoot a LOT of the Varmint Grenades in my .223's (50 grain) and they are absolute dynamite on the critters and very accurate. My number one would be the Ballistic Tip. Bear in mind that, while these lead-free bullets have the capability to be very accurate for varmints (1/3 MOA +/- in my rifles), they are more powder sensitive than leaded, and you might have to try a few powders for your tube. As a rule, the faster powders seem to work better on the smaller bullets and these lead-free like to jump - so don't be tempted to start off seating them long as one might with a target bullet as the results are usually negative. If you use the Barnes - follow their recommended loads to start - right down to the length, etc. They don't offer up a bunch of load data combos - but those they do offer were certainly well-researched in a lot of rifles, as they tend to work. For powders, I'd start off with Winchester 748 and Accurate LT-32 if available - as alternatives to Barnes data. You can get specific data from members here. Both powders shot reasonably well to excellent in all the rifles they were tried in with the Ballistic Tips. If your shooting is going to be almost all within, say 275 yards, I'd not hesitate to look to the Barnes as my main bullet. You can surely hit stuff much farther - but when the wind is blowing - they are at a decided disadvantage the further out you go - not that they aren't as inherently accurate. That is the problem with deciding on the .20 cal. lead free - we don't have any heavy lead free (over 34-36 grains or so) that are commercially available last I searched, though it has been a while. My heaviest are the Speer Lead-free 34's. I bought a ton of them before they were discontinued - but my new tubes don't favor them as much - so down to the 32's. Good Luck!

 

[Barr123]

You want to shoot the lead-free Nosler Ballistic Tips. I haven't shot the Barnes as I deem it a bit light for the reach potential of the .20 - but that said, I shoot a LOT of the Varmint Grenades in my .223's (50 grain) and they are absolute dynamite on the critters and very accurate. My number one would be the Ballistic Tip. Bear in mind that, while these lead-free bullets have the capability to be very accurate for varmints (1/3 MOA +/- in my rifles), they are more powder sensitive than leaded, and you might have to try a few powders for your tube. As a rule, the faster powders seem to work better on the smaller bullets and these lead-free like to jump - so don't be tempted to start off seating them long as one might with a target bullet as the results are usually negative. If you use the Barnes - follow their recommended loads to start - right down to the length, etc. They don't offer up a bunch of load data combos - but those they do offer were certainly well-researched in a lot of rifles, as they tend to work. For powders, I'd start off with Winchester 748 and Accurate LT-32 if available - as alternatives to Barnes data. You can get specific data from members here. Both powders shot reasonably well to excellent in all the rifles they were tried in with the Ballistic Tips. If your shooting is going to be almost all within, say 275 yards, I'd not hesitate to look to the Barnes as my main bullet. You can surely hit stuff much farther - but when the wind is blowing - they are at a decided disadvantage the further out you go - not that they aren't as inherently accurate. That is the problem with deciding on the .20 cal. lead free - we don't have any heavy lead free (over 34-36 grains or so) that are commercially available last I searched, though it has been a while. My heaviest are the Speer Lead-free 34's. I bought a ton of them before they were discontinued - but my new tubes don't favor them as much - so down to the 32's. Good Luck!

Thanks for the detailed reply searcher - lots of info that's greatly appreciated! Looks like those Nosler's aren't in stock in the UK at the moment but it does appear that they are in the pipeline; I'll be keeping an eye out for sure. I don't think we can get those powders here - my local shop does have an excellent stock of Vhit and Reload Swiss powders though so I'll have a look to see what's similar. Things move extremely slowly this side of the pond in terms of gun ownership so I may be messaging you closer to the time to pick your brains if that's okay!

Thanks again