Copper bullets, I am over it.

[SixFive]

As a hunter I have learned to HATE solid copper bullets. I know many of you think they are wonderful but I have tried, Barnes, Hammer, and Cutting Edge and simply do not see the terminal performance good bullets create like Terminal Ascent, Bondstrike, Partition, Ballistic Tip or Accubond. Do copper bullets kill deer? Sure but honestly I can kill a deer with a 22 rimfire, that doesn't make it the right bullet.

Even non premium bullets like CoreLokt, SST, and Hot Core perform better than copper in my opinion.

I have many different calibers and have tested copper bullets on deer for three years from 6mm Creedmoor to 300Rum same inconsistent performance half of the time. I like to dump a ton of energy on Target with a strong chance of a passthrough. I am not bragging guys but most of the deer I shoot with Bondstrike or Terminal Ascent FALL OVER IN PLACE, BANG FLOP. I know, I know sometimes they just run regardless but I am telling you out of the last 7 deer shot with Bondstrike bullets they were 100% bang flops (I shoot high shoulder towards the neck). I rarely see this from copper, they do not go far but they do go unless I neck shoot them.

I truly gave solid copper a fair chance, among my many friends I have seen the inconsistency of especially Barnes. To slow doesn't open well, to fast it pin holes. I just do not have time for it and I am over it. Rant over

The final straw was last night my friend had a perfect heart lung with 130ttsx from a 30-06 about 100yards, tracked that stupid deer for an hour went over 100 yards. We skinned it out at my house and it once again was a PIN hole through and through, perfect shot but horrible expansion and complete pass through dumping little to no energy in the deer.

One note in fairness: Copper can be very destructive bullets WHEN heavy bone is hit. I will also concede solid coppers have a place in Africa.

I know all the fans of copper will chime in here with stories and pictures of devastated deer they have killed with copper, good for you, my experience is they are INCONSISTANT, do great one time and the next who knows.

I will be selling off every solid copper bullet I own shortly, I have a bunch!

 

[DLT]

Oh boy I have got my popcorn ready

 

[SixFive]

Oh boy I have got my popcorn ready

I know right? I guess I was feeling sassy today LOL

 

[DLT]

I know right? I guess I was feeling sassy today LOL

Haha. I don’t have a dog in the fight but if I were hunting bigger game I wouldn’t shoot solid coppers either

 

[K22]

While I have no personal experience with these bullets, I do remember one incident in which the son, Jimmy, of the farmer where I hunted deer shot a massive buck with a 7 mm magnum using a copper bullet at about 150 yards. The deer when down. When Jimmy approached it, the deer got up and ran off despite an impressive pool of blood on the ground.

We tracked the wounded deer into the evening and the next morning but never found it. Of course, one case is no reason to make a general indictment of copper bullets. Poor shot placement with any bullet could have resulted in this incident.

However, Jimmy is an excellent field shot and had taken many deer, but anything is possible in the field. This was his first experience with copper bullets and never used them again, so I don't have any more data. Yet I can't help wondering if the bullet was the culprit given an experience hunter and fine field shooter that Jimmy is.

 

[divingin]

California required lead-free for any hunting. I don't know of anyone here that uses them because they're better than classic hunting bullets, just that it's a requirement. I get around it by not hunting.

 

[SixFive]

While I have no personal experience with these bullets, I do remember one incident in which the son, Jimmy, of the farmer where I hunted deer shot a massive buck with a 7 mm magnum using a copper bullet at about 150 yards. The deer when down. When Jimmy approached it, the deer got up and ran off despite an impressive pool of blood on the ground.

We tracked the wounded deer into the evening and the next morning but never found it. Of course, one case is no reason to make a general indictment of copper bullets. Poor shot placement with any bullet could have resulted in this incident.

However, Jimmy is an excellent field shot and had taken many deer, but anything is possible in the field. This was his first experience with copper bullets and never used them again, so I don't have any more data. Yet I can't help wondering if the bullet was the culprit given an experience hunter and fine field shooter that Jimmy is.

I have seen it more times than I can say with Barnes, they just do not have the Terminal performance of a good expanding lead bullet.

 

[SixFive]

California required lead-free for any hunting. I don't know of anyone here that uses them because they're better than classic hunting bullets, just that it's a requirement. I get around it by not hunting.

I understand if you HAVE to use them, but we do not here in SC so I no longer will until we are forced.

 

[SixFive]

Haha. I don’t have a dog in the fight but if I were hunting bigger game I wouldn’t shoot solid coppers either

Yeah I have read the MANY online reports of field guides out west complaining about copper bullet performance on elk.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

California required lead-free for any hunting. I don't know of anyone here that uses them because they're better than classic hunting bullets, just that it's a requirement. I get around it by not hunting.

That's the agenda related reason for a lead ban, make hunting/shooting more expensive, force individuals out of the activity. The environmental aspect is mostly disinformation/lies.

 

[divingin]

That's the agenda related reason for a lead ban, make hunting/shooting more expensive, force individuals out of the activity. The environmental aspect is mostly disinformation/lies.

Maybe. California has done a lot more than that to increase cost/complexity of gun ownership. The lead-free thing was a drop in the bucket.

 

[SteveOak]

The plan is working.

 

[wv.citybilly]

For the suggestion box:
ballistics gel will show you what damage your bullet does, or cheaper, buy a roast, wrap it in plastic wrap, and shoot it.

 

[SixFive]

For the suggestion box:
ballistics gel will show you what damage your bullet does, or cheaper, buy a roast, wrap it in plastic wrap, and shoot it.

Yup, Take a look at Federal Terminal Ascent gel block tests on Youtube, they are just WOW! They are also just WOW on deer to

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm with SixFive I've tried them in more than a few centerfires and BPS muzzleloaders. They worked ok in the short ranges I hunted deer but in the centerfires, accuracy was substandard compared to other bullet designs.

 

[Doug Casner]

Only game I ever shot with one an elk . Went about 50 yds. They shoot good on target. Doug

 

[DLT]

I understand if you HAVE to use them, but we do not here in SC so I no longer will until we are forced.

I got a close friend of mine and I swear if they stopped making copper bullets he would quit hunting

 

[okie]

I like traditional lead core bullets. copper is for Cali. and for people who like to be different. flame on...

 

[Savagenut71]

As a hunter I have learned to HATE solid copper bullets. I know many of you think they are wonderful but I have tried, Barnes, Hammer, and Cutting Edge and simply do not see the terminal performance good bullets create like Terminal Ascent, Bondstrike, Partition, Ballistic Tip or Accubond. Do copper bullets kill deer? Sure but honestly I can kill a deer with a 22 rimfire, that doesn't make it the right bullet.

Even non premium bullets like CoreLokt, SST, and Hot Core perform better than copper in my opinion.

I have many different calibers and have tested copper bullets on deer for three years from 6mm Creedmoor to 300Rum same inconsistent performance half of the time. I like to dump a ton of energy on Target with a strong chance of a passthrough. I am not bragging guys but most of the deer I shoot with Bondstrike or Terminal Ascent FALL OVER IN PLACE, BANG FLOP. I know, I know sometimes they just run regardless but I am telling you out of the last 7 deer shot with Bondstrike bullets they were 100% bang flops (I shoot high shoulder towards the neck). I rarely see this from copper, they do not go far but they do go unless I neck shoot them.

I truly gave solid copper a fair chance, among my many friends I have seen the inconsistency of especially Barnes. To slow doesn't open well, to fast it pin holes. I just do not have time for it and I am over it. Rant over

The final straw was last night my friend had a perfect heart lung with 130ttsx from a 30-06 about 100yards, tracked that stupid deer for an hour went over 100 yards. We skinned it out at my house and it once again was a PIN hole through and through, perfect shot but horrible expansion and complete pass through dumping little to no energy in the deer.

One note in fairness: Copper can be very destructive bullets WHEN heavy bone is hit.

I know all the fans of copper will chime in here with stories and pictures of devastated deer they have killed with copper, good for you, my experience is they are INCONSISTANT, do great one time and the next who knows.

I will be selling off every solid copper bullet I own shortly, I have a bunch!

WOW, that shocks me about the hammer bullets. I absolutely love them in .257 , .284 , .308. BANG FLOP. My 250 Savage , model 99 impressed me BIGTIME with the power hammers. Shot a buck quartering to me and got heart , lungs and found bullet under the skin in opposite hind quarter.

 

[justinp61]

I'll start by saying I've never used any solid copper bullets that have been the rage for several years. My reason is practicality, the bullets I use work for my purpose, they are accurate, and have been reasonably priced, although I haven't had to buy bullets in a few years.

My thoughts are shoot what works for you and not worry about what anyone else is doing. I'm not against trying new stuff, but the costs for these bullets is pretty steep. I can't imagine that the groundhogs I kill with my $0.16 bullets would be more dead with a bullet that costs $1.00 or more.