Going back to lead, giving up on copper

[pazmino]

I've thrown in the towel on copper, having tried and failed to find any that will group in my Rem 700 .243 as well as the 1" at 100 yards I get with my trusty Geco 105g softpoints (at £33/ box).

I've tried Winchester Extreme Copper Impact, Federal Trophy Copper and Sako Powerhead II - all at around £50 or more a box I may add - and none grouped better than 2" at 100 yards. Plus my RFD told me yesterday that they've had notice from the Gun Trade Association that there's going to be at least a 5 year grace period before lead is banned, and even then under 6.5 may be exempt (and airgun pellets will be apparently also, unsurprisingly).

So I'll just have to stick with lead. A pity - if they sort out copper rounds that can group in a .243 1:9.25 twist I'd be happy to give them a try, but at present there don't seem to be many options - I enquired about Edinburgh Rifles's 100g Peregrine, but there are no stockists down here (Oxon) and it would have been costly just to send some down.

 

[bluesako]

 

[MarinePMI]

I've thrown in the towel on copper, having tried and failed to find any that will group in my Rem 700 .243 as well as the 1" at 100 yards I get with my trusty Geco 105g softpoints (at £33/ box).

I've tried Winchester Extreme Copper Impact, Federal Trophy Copper and Sako Powerhead II - all at around £50 or more a box I may add - and none grouped better than 2" at 100 yards. Plus my RFD told me yesterday that they've had notice from the Gun Trade Association that there's going to be at least a 5 year grace period before lead is banned, and even then under 6.5 may be exempt (and airgun pellets will be apparently also, unsurprisingly).

So I'll just have to stick with lead. A pity - if they sort out copper rounds that can group in a .243 1:9.25 twist I'd be happy to give them a try, but at present there don't seem to be many options - I enquired about Edinburgh Rifles's 100g Peregrine, but there are no stockists down here (Oxon) and it would have been costly just to send some down.

I had pretty good luck with the old Barnes 85gr bullets in .243. Might give the new TSX ones a go, if you need to run copper. Just remember, copper needs to be run hot to get good accuracy.

 

[pazmino]

Ah, thanks. The Sako Powerhead II uses Barnes TTSX 80gr - they didn't group at all well in my Remington, unfortunately.

 

[User00040]

Ah, thanks. The Sako Powerhead II uses Barnes TTSX 80gr - they didn't group at all well in my Remington, unfortunately.

Don't blame you, there is no sense 'transitioning' to copper unless you are forced to by landowners or are under contract where it is specified.

 

[Stalker62]

This works in my rifle.

 

[Stalker62]

FWIW this for .308



Or if you wanted to buy factory - the difference in POI going over to the non-lead (in my rifle) was 0.25 MOA (I click at 100 yards).

 

[devon deer stalker]

Ah, thanks. The Sako Powerhead II uses Barnes TTSX 80gr - they didn't group at all well in my Remington, unfortunately.

I reload the Barnes TTSX 80g in my .243, no issues.
For me, I'm never going back to lead now, I have loads for the 6.5x55 SE as well

 

[pazmino]

I reload the Barnes TTSX 80g in my .243, no issues.
For me, I'm never going back to lead now, I have loads for the 6.5x55 SE as well

Thanks - what rifle/ twist rate do you use? The Rem 700 has 1:9.25 - I'm no expert, but I get the impression that's not that common for the calibre. Not sure whether that has something to do with it.

 

[devon deer stalker]

Thanks - what rifle/ twist rate do you use? The Rem 700 has 1:9.25 - I'm no expert, but I get the impression that's not that common for the calibre. Not sure whether that has something to do with it.

From memory it's 1:10

 

[Hunter300]

Try a Sako instead of n Rem 700

 

[Acm]

I’ve a few lead free loads for all 3 of my rifles, 6.5x55 .30-06 and .222 and I’m happy with the accuracy and terminal performance in all of them. The two bigger cals shoot exclusively lead free and have done for years, however whilst the Barnes 50grn ttsx is very very effective in my .222 I just can’t shake my addiction to v max for foxing

 

[Sakoodin1]

If you’re not shooting to sell to a game dealer then there’s no issue with using lead!! I only use copper because that’s what the buyer wants? If it’s for the pot then I would be whacking them all with eldx . I re load and have great success with the lrx bullets from Barnes in my .270+7mm rm and ttsx in the .22.250 and I’m about to try get a load for the 6.5 creed with the lrx too. They work flawless and all group better than I can shoot

 

[devon deer stalker]

Try a Sako instead of n Rem 700

Whoops, I should of said, I shoot .243 Sako 75

 

[User00040]

Whoops, I should of said, I shoot .243 Sako 75

Literally makes no difference what brand it is, the bullet does not know what brand of rifle is being used, even Sako have turned out wonky barrels over the years (but maybe not as many as Remington... )

 

[SussexShooter]

This works in my rifle.

View attachment 324461View attachment 324462

Funnily enough that’s the same load for me…

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

I think the copper bullets are too long to be stabilized with the barrel twist.
Drop down to 70 grain and see if that works.
Or for all deer species, buy a used 6.5x55 sako or Tikka and 100gr copper bullets should group ok as they are 1 in 8 twists.

 

[FISH BOY]

Ah, thanks. The Sako Powerhead II uses Barnes TTSX 80gr - they didn't group at all well in my Remington, unfortunately.

While they use the same 80gr heads/bullets/projectiles (whatever you want to call it) the velocity performance between factory Barnes and the factory Sako is considerable - don’t even think the Sako is technically deer legal in 243 from the figures on the box.

Been using the 80gr factory Barnes TTSX for the last couple of years and it’s sub 1”MOA in my 1:10 twist 243.

 

[JTO]

I think the initial poster is only talking about factory ammunition, no point in suggesting handloading data.

 

[homer]

Don't blame you, there is no sense 'transitioning' to copper unless you are forced to by landowners or are under contract where it is specified.

My biggest fear, is that the game dealers ask for copper only.