Solid copper turned bullets

[Luke_NL]

There are more attractive alloys than "solid copper" to make bullets, thus addressing some of the concerns of the weight to volume (size) ratio. Famously, CheyTac mills solids, and the idea is hardly new. Over in Europe there are different companies (and individuals) producing solids, as lead is banned for hunters in several areas (most of Germany, I believe). Some are full of it, others reportedly produce outstanding components. I am eager to witness testing of solids based on a 'track-at-long range-design' that were made by a start-up, but have had pretty poor experiences with solids produced by LOS (a slovakian company). I shot those in .224 and they were awful. Better as caliber goes up (have seen acceptable groupings in .308) but apparantly it is bloody hard to produce consistent rounds by milling a solid material. Kind of has me wondering what the start-up will amount to, but as it's a friends' I am hoping for the best. From what I can tell you do need much more serious equipment than a table-top mill to consistently produce bullets to demanding specifications though.

 

[338 Mollett]

I've done a few tests with these mono bullets in .338.Going by bc nothing flies with them,that being said if you find a combo that will shoot 1/2 moa you have done well.Most mono bullets have the drive band bearing surface too short .I feel this is a detriment to accuracy.Copper can be milled into bullets,it has been done and is going on now.Shooting out to 1 mile tomorrow with them woo hoo!

 

[338 Mollett]

Tests today were a big flop with mono's save your time and money.

 

[Dans40X]

Been there,done that for a few .338" & .510" diameter VLD's scaled from other projectiles.
Wasp waste/banded w/ sintered tungsten tip &/or cores.

Lost River Ballistic's monolithic's were a joke in the accuracy department as I'd rather have shot Sierra Match Kings backwards.

Price pure copper,babbit material or 360 brass 3/8" or 5/8"diameter X 1.5"(per bullet) & you'll drop the project to pick up the 'phone to order monolithic projectiles by the 1000's.

 

[StevenDzupin]

The French used Bronze in their WW1 8mm Lebel projectiles ( Balle D ).

Starting with lengths of Bronze wire a 2 step die was used to form the Boatail
base ,then the Ojive. The narrow central belt was machined away in an automatic lathe that formed the crimp groove.

Seemed to work well enough to produce several millions of projectiles for them.
Everything old is new again!! :

For shorter runs today a "Swiss" style screw machine would do the trick easily.

Regards and good shooting,

Steve

 

[Luke_NL]

Tests today were a big flop with mono's save your time and money.

Sorry to hear that, you seemed psyched about trying them. I won't be shooting any impressive distances until well in the new year, but I'll update if and when. As for the smaller LOS mono's, I'm done with them.

 

[ballistic64]

That smelter produces metallic lead from mined ore, not metal the bullet manufacturers use for making bullets. 99.8% of their raw material comes from recycled lead batteries & those sources are pretty stable considering the prevalence of batteries in vehicles around the world.

Agree that the smelter is not the issue, but the environmental whacko threat is real. There are too many people that are willing to remove "contaminants" from the environment at any cost.

Have you seen what the Navy does to a ship now before they scuttle it in the ocean? They strip it of all lead based paint and put the paint in a landfill. Absolutely stupid, but it makes some people happy.

Lemme see... they put in a land fill, and the rain leaches it into the ground water, which goes into the aquifer, which goes to...

... my faucet.

Hmmmm

Not to worry CS, the ground acts as a wonderful natural filter. Besides it doesn't compare to the lead we all huffed down when it was in gasoline or ingested every morning reading our newspapers and drinking our coffee. Lead was more than likely determined to be hazardous when they shoved enough of it down a rats mouth that it died from terminal constipation. ;D

 

[mr45man]

Tests today were a big flop with mono's save your time and money.

The .50 cal shooters use brass bullets and shoot some pretty good groups at 1000. The barrel/chamber have to be set up for "bore riders".
The FCSA 1000 y record is under 2" shot with brass bore riders.
John H.

 

[CatShooter]

Lemme see... they put in a land fill, and the rain leaches it into the ground water, which goes into the aquifer, which goes to...

... my faucet.

Hmmmm

Not to worry CS, the ground acts as a wonderful natural filter. Besides it doesn't compare to the lead we all huffed down when it was in gasoline or ingested every morning reading our newspapers and drinking our coffee. Lead was more than likely determined to be hazardous when they shoved enough of it down a rats mouth that it died from terminal constipation. ;D

It was said with tongue well planted in my cheek... I have so much lead in my system that I set off alarms when drive within a mile of airports.

 

[Webster]

I would think that making bullets by manual lathe turning would too labor intensive. It would have to be an unattended computer controlled process to get the cost down. If it took five minutes to machine a bullet on a manually controlled lathe and the operator made $20/hr each bullet would cost $1.67. You still have to box them, ship and advertise. The machined bullets I see on internet for sale cost about $70 per 50 ($1.40 each).

 

[338 Mollett]

Ok I have tested brass turned bullets and copper turned bullets in 338 lapua,338norma,and 338 mollett my own case lol.Now any body that wants to meet on the f class line with these bullets,I will bet a beer a shot your choice of beer !!!

 

[Dans40X]

338 Mollett,
I'd accept the challenge @1K or beyond.
You with your 338 of choice & 20rds for record.
I'll be shooting a caliber of choice.

You can shoot w/ crutches/F class on your rifle.
I'll be shooting prone w/coat,sling,glove.

I'll pass on the beer of choice,as it all smells/tastes like moose piss!
Better yet-
How 'bout $10 a round for record?

When/Where do we meet-
Bring your check book!!

 

[338 Mollett]

Miscommunication,I don't like the mono bullets.I 'll shoot my 7mm.Sorry you don't like beer Dan.

 

[Prometheus]

I am eager to witness testing of solids based on a 'track-at-long range-design' that were made by a start-up, but have had pretty poor experiences with solids produced by LOS (a slovakian company).

A friend give me about 70 LOS bullets in 308 and I have tested them in my 308 Win competition rifle with a Shilen selected match barrel. Accuracy was ok but after testing and cleaning the groups with my competition bullets rise up dramatically and the barrel was ruined.
Beware from hard brass bullets