Lead free bullets

[Home Loader]

Evening all
I am interested in people's experiences with lead free bullets, in particular for use in a .222, .243 and.308 if you have experience please share.
Thanks Martin

 

[Selous]

I have used lead free barnes bullets in 22/250, 308 and 7mm rm. excellent experiences all round. Minimal meat damage, good penetration and very quick kills. Use a weight lighter than your usual bullet and don't be afraid to push them hard and fast. Others experiences may differ but I have had no problems getting them to shoot well.

 

[Ranger22]

Haven't used them in the cals you are asking about but used them in my 270. The Barnes copper bullets were by far the most accurate. They hit hard and dump all their energy into the beast whilst retaining they're full weight, often found fired bullets lying on the ground no more than a metere behind the beast

Al

 

[Home Loader]

Thank you folks I will be trying some Barnes TTSX, it's interesting that so far their has been no negatives as I have been speaking to as many people as I can about them and their are two camps the lovers and the loathers!

 

[night stalker]

Tried both weights of barnes varmint grenades and 40 grain Nosler lead free BT's in my 222 but they didn't work at all. I think the varmint grenades need 1 in 9 twist or faster and the Noslers need 1 in 12 twist or faster. I think standard 222 's are 1 in 14 twist.

Rick

 

[Selous]

Thank you folks I will be trying some Barnes TTSX, it's interesting that so far their has been no negatives as I have been speaking to as many people as I can about them and their are two camps the lovers and the loathers!

The loathers generally haven't used them, are too tight to buy them or have not matched the bullet to the task.

 

[Ronin]

Well said!

They work

They're accurate

They cost a whole pound.....

Against a carcass worth 40 - 200 quid, ,,,,,,dependant on animal size

 

[Whitebeard]

Like srvet said you need to use a bullet lighter then your usual lead cored projectile, using a bullet of the same weight but made of a less dense material will result in a bullet longer then the standard weight bullet and because twist rate is a factor of bullet length rather then weight, a faster then usual twist rate will be needed to stabalize said bullets.

Ian.

 

[finnbear270]

Like srvet said you need to use a bullet lighter then your usual lead cored projectile, using a bullet of the same weight but made of a less dense material will result in a bullet longer then the standard weight bullet and because twist rate is a factor of bullet length rather then weight, a faster then usual twist rate will be needed to stabalize said bullets.

Ian.

Ian, do you think that the bullet manufacturers might mention this?, the solid copper Barnes, just says 130 grain .270 on their packaging, & nothing in the load data to suggest poor performance with original twist rates.

 

[Ranger22]

I used the federal barnes in my bog standard Remy SPS 270, they were grouping sub 1/2 inch. I found they shot more accurately than their lead counter parts. Not convinced that they need a faster twist rate

Al

 

[finnbear270]

Forgot to mention that these bullets are as accurate as the Partitions.

 

[Sharpie]

Ian, do you think that the bullet manufacturers might mention this?, the solid copper Barnes, just says 130 grain .270 on their packaging, & nothing in the load data to suggest poor performance with original twist rates.

Barnes do provide info about twist rates in the load data on their website.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/

For 270 they use 10" twist which I think is standard, but they also state "*A 1:9.5” or faster twist is recommended for the 150-grain TSX."

For .224 bullets they provide more detail, i.e. for 223:

*To stabilize in flight, 45-grain Banded Spitzers and 53-grain TSX bullets require a 1:12” or faster
twist; 62-grain TSX and 55-grain MPG bullets need a 1:9” or faster twist.
The 36-grain Varmint Grenade works fine in barrels with a 1:14” twist, while the 70-grain TSX
needs a 1:8” or faster twist. The 50-grain Varmint Grenade requires a 1:10" or faster twist.

And for 222:

*This cartridge will not stabilize 53-, 62-, and 70-grain TSX bullets fired in 1:14” twist barrels. It
produces good stability with 36-grain Varmint Grenade bullets.
*A 1:12” or faster twist is required to stabilize the 45-grain Banded Spitzer; a 1:14” rifling twist will
not stabilize this bullet.

Its probably also why they don't offer a 100gn bullet in .243, because no normal rifle would stabilise it.

 

[Cyres]

Couple of years ago I purchased a selection of non lead .224 bullets at the CLA and cannot remember who from. They are both hollow point (ak hunting) and solid but as yet not got arround to reloading some. They are considerably longer than their equivalent weight in copper/lead so should have a better Bc and will require tighter twist but my .223 is 1:8 so should be OK. They are CNC machined out of what looks like phosphpour bronze type metal. Hollow point has very large cavity not dissimalar to that of a Magtech .22lr sub.

I will check and post more details next week

D

 

[Sharpie]

Couple of years ago I purchased a selection of non lead .224 bullets at the CLA and cannot remember who from. They are both hollow point (ak hunting) and solid but as yet not got arround to reloading some. They are considerably longer than their equivalent weight in copper/lead so should have a better Bc and will require tighter twist but my .223 is 1:8 so should be OK. They are CNC machined out of what looks like phosphpour bronze type metal. Hollow point has very large cavity not dissimalar to that of a Magtech .22lr sub.

I will check and post more details next week

D

That sounds like http://www.thegunroomuk.com/ who seem to have vanished. I still have a phone number.

​And one of their .408 CheyTac bullets on my keyring.

They made some interesting things.

 

[Home Loader]

Thank you folks interesting, I will be trying some as soon as I can lay my hands on a few boxes of bullets to reload! Thanks

 

[Drag1]

Will have to try some of these soon cos the Forestry Commission are going lead free in 2015
​

 

[N.F.W.M]

I tried 85g TTSX in my .243 and could not get them to group. Tried several different loads, seating depth etc, I even spoke to a very helpful chap at Barnes... I gave up in the end.

I loaded some 168g TSX (or could have been 165g) in my .308. Accurate as hell. The second hind I shot with this bullet, showed zero reaction to shot, calmly walked off into a plantation then slowly sat down. She was dispatched with a neck shot. The TSX had completely pencilled through the chest. No expansion, no effective wound channel.

After this experience I would need a huge amount of persuasion to use Barnes Bullets again.

Regards

​Ed

 

[long_range_rob]

I know the FC in Scotland trialled lead free last year but according to my FC Ranger friend they have no plans to go lead free at present. Also if a Barnes bullet grits lodged in a tree that then goes through a saw mill how would the band saw fare?!?!

 

[Selous]

I tried 85g TTSX in my .243 and could not get them to group. Tried several different loads, seating depth etc, I even spoke to a very helpful chap at Barnes... I gave up in the end.

I loaded some 168g TSX (or could have been 165g) in my .308. Accurate as hell. The second hind I shot with this bullet, showed zero reaction to shot, calmly walked off into a plantation then slowly sat down. She was dispatched with a neck shot. The TSX had completely pencilled through the chest. No expansion, no effective wound channel.

After this experience I would need a huge amount of persuasion to use Barnes Bullets again.

Regards

​Ed

​i wouldn't go above 150 grain in a 308 and would choose 130 grain in preference. I find they need velocity!

 

[Barkingsnake]

...how would the band saw fare?!?!

Much better than if it was a 30-06 AP bullet from WW2...probably zip through it like butter.