What's your Preferred lead free hunting bullet for deer sized game?

[SD guy]

The copper hunting bullets have earned my respect over the years. I have tried a fair variety & have been pleasantly surprised at the terminal performance of the offerings I have tried.

Anyone care to share their thoughts on preferred lead free hunting bullets suitable for medium sized game?

 

[snert]

130 grain 308 TTSX in a 308. Light recoil, accurate and punches like a 150 grain interlock type.

 

[COhunter]

130 grain 308 TTSX in a 308. Light recoil, accurate and punches like a 150 grain interlock type.

Been my go to for several years, both deer and elk. Going to try some Hammer bullets this year

 

[MQ1]

I’ve had good success with the TTSX, but have been very happy with the Lehigh Controlled Chaos as of late…
MQ1

 

[1K6BRA]

I have shot almost 20 deer with Barnes TTSX Bullets out of my 6.5 x 284 and 25–06, 100 grain and 80 grain respectfully. Same results each time, caliber size entrance hole, jellied heart lung area exit hole out for a blood trail if one decides to go 20 or 30 yards afterwards. all have been shot between 40 and 100+ yards. And as an added bonus, they’ve shot very well in both of these rifles. Give them some jump like recommended by Barnes. I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first on these bullets, but like they say “proof is in the pudding”

 

[PhilKeil]

Another positive on Barns TSX line. Son killed a deer at 150 with 45 win mag was absolute perfect. Deer was DRT.

 

[Gary in MD]

I have had success with the Barnes when I've used them. I've used the 100 grain TTSX out of my 257 Wby on a handful of whitetails, a really accurate hunting bullet, bang flop. I used the 80 grain TTSX pushed pretty fast out of a 240 Wby this year on a big doe. Bang flop with minimal meat damage, could hardly find the exit hole and it is another very accurate hunting bullet. I seem to remember using a 140 grain TSX a bunch of years ago out of a 7mm stw with predictable results but only on one deer.

 

[choprzrul]

I have a #1 with a 26" barrel in 25-06. It shoots 90gr Absolute Hammers to right at 3640 fps using RL16. I've fired 4 shots at 4 deer with one bang flop buck, 2 does that ran 35-40 yards in a circle and then piled up, and this year's buck that went 10-15 yards. Internals turn to jam, but for some reason there is very little bloodshot meat.

Last year, I shot an OK buck with my 6.5CM using an 85gr Hammer Hunter going 3400+ at the muzzle....it ran about 30 yards in a circle (what's with deer running in a circle after getting hit with Hammers??). Deboned that deer in the field after hanging in a tree over night. Where the bullet passed thru the far side shoulder, I quite literally had zero bloodshot meat to trim, yet could very clearly see the .264 hole through it.

Granted, 5 deer is a very small sample size, but I'm now squarely in the Hammer camp. Shoot light for caliber lead free projectiles. Speed kills.

 

[Bill K]

Same with me the Barnes TTSX work well for me on Deer/Bear in various calibers. .224 to 6.5's.

 

[Doug Casner]

Shot a elk with a Barnes. 165 gr. in a 308. Only time I ever shot game with a copper bullet. Worked like it should. Doug

 

[rr2030]

Multiple Deer taken with 180 TSX / 30-06 Others taken with 130TSX / 30-30 (10" Contender)

 

[Kurz]

This year has been bereft of any real hunting but last year I was able to accomplish some depredation hunting. I used a .25-6mmGT loaded with the 110 Badlands Super BD2 tipped solid. What a hoot to shoot! Mild yet accurate.

This load was good to 700 yards if necessary but I rarely strayed past 350-400 yards.

 

[riverside jeep]

This is a link to a study on lead free vs traditional bullets, interesting read.

Weight retention and expansion of popular lead-based and lead-free hunting bullets

Hunting bullets are often comprised of a lead core covered with a copper alloy jacket. When the bullet collides with an animal, particles—sometimes mi…

www.sciencedirect.com

 

[Carl S]

I use Virtus Precision bullets 110grn Merlins in my 6.5x47
I've shot lot's of Sika and Red deer
with outstanding results.they really kill deer and a added bonus
my defiance 8T bartlein really shoots them with little load development..25moa @100.

 

[searcher]

Like others posting here, I think the Barnes TSX and TTSX are incredible bullets. In my deer-sized calibers, I use the 120 and 140 in my 7mm Rem Mag and also use them in my .257 Roberts. every shot has resulted in not only through-and-through shots, but also extensive tissue damage. These bullets would tend to do a lot of damage to meat if hit in the wrong place I think, but my main concern is a bullet which will put them down and be able to penetrate anything they hit- which these do nicely. Barnes did their homework in their load development. Their manual provides loads which do prove to be more accurate in my rifles than the "accuracy" loads in many other manuals. That saved me a lot of load development work. Last week, I shot two pigs with the 120's, then a coyote. What was interesting with the coyote was that I miffed my first shot, hitting the coyote in the foot. The bullet literally blew the foot in two, rather than just zipping through it as I would have guessed it to do. The second shot anchored him mid-body. Not a cartridge for saving hides if one wanted to....... Huge exit like a ground squirrel getting hit.

 

[SD guy]

Thus far, I have tried Barnes offerings in 270 win with fine results.

Barnes in 6.5 grendel with fine results again.

Then Hammer Absolute hammer in bolt action 6mm ARC with good result on 2 does.

Last season The Hornady 90 CX was given a go in a bolt action 6mm ARC with super terminal performance again on 2 does.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Havent killed anything with barnes ttsx but i got 3 loads using them and they all shoot lights out. I have a 458 win mag with the socom 300 ttsx bullet goin 2200 fps that will put 3 inside same hole at 100. Have two 338’s that shoot the same load, 160 gr ttsx at 3200 that is under half moa. And working a 120 gr ttsx 7mm08 in a light pencil barrel model 7 that doesnt shoot any factory ammo well, its well under sub moa now with barnes.
May try the lrx in my 28 nosler