Unleaded Coyote Medicine

[big_bang]

So I've got a problem. The Greens have made it illegal to have lead ammo while hunting in a large part of CA. I hunt coyote in this region (and some other parts where lead is still OK).

My coyote rifles are relatively slow in twist - one is a .223 Ruger M77 MkII (1:12 twist), the other is a Savage 24-F12 combo gun (1:14 twist). I had worked out a 50-grain Nosler BT load that worked supremely well in both rifles and was murder on the dirty dogs.

Will I be able to properly stabilize any of the pure copper bullets out there? I have heard horror stories regarding Barnes and accuracy, and they seem mostly related to sectional density and spin rates. I'd hate to think I couldn't effectively use my old standby weapons out there...

I am currently not in CA, but will be going back next year. My reloading press is still back there, and I don't have the opportunity to experiment where I am now. Any input?

 

[Float Pilot]

The Greens have made it illegal to have lead ammo while hunting in a large part of CA.

Actually it is the anti-U.S. types who used the green weenies as their lap dogs.
It would make me think twice about taking any of my money there.

The militray bought some eco friendly 5.56mm ammo for indoor ranges, but it sure was not very accurate past 75 meters.

You are going to have to play with the solid coppers and try to work up a good load,, ,,,or take up the crossbow. No wait, those are probably illegal there as well.

 

[ArmedBear]

Some Barnes shooters really love the things.

Also, they have new bullets that are non-lead, but not solid copper now.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/varmint-grenade/

 

[JesseL]

I think your best bet might be to get a faster twist barrel for your Savage.

Note: Not all the lead-free bullets are pure copper (the Barnes varmint grenades have a sintered copper-tin core), but they're still long enough to require faster twists.

Edit: AB beat me to it, but the 36gr .224 Varmint grenades in his link would probably still work.

 

[dagger dog]

Does the CALIBAN put the nix on fully jacketed lead?

And by the way you need to move back to the USA

The Barnes people have the Varmint Grenade sintered metal full jacket hollow points. I've got some of the 50 gr but they are reccomended for 1-10 or faster, they are exceptionally long for 50 gr's.
But they have the 36's which are shorter and they will be more suited to you slower twist rates in you Ruger and Savage.

 

[ArmedBear]

Does the CALIBAN put the nix on fully jacketed lead?

Yes, but only in a certain area, where the California Condor (a large vulture) lives.

And be vigilant -- the same people want to do this everywhere, starting in part of Arizona, and working out from there.

 

[Matt-J2]

You are going to have to play with the solid coppers and try to work up a good load,, ,,,or take up the crossbow. No wait, those are probably illegal there as well.

Last I checked, crossbows are illegal for hunting in 3 states and restricted to disabled hunters only in 22 others. Surprisingly, California isn't one of those 25 states.

This info may be out of date now. Sorry for thread drift.

 

[big_bang]

Well, my prediction is that lead will (in the long run) be outlawed everywhere. Remember 1991 and the waterfowl lead ban?

I will check out the varmint grenade. I had also hear murmurs of a tungsten-tin sintered bullet coming on the market that has lead-like density and ballistics, but haven't seen anything available yet. I'd also be curious as to how well the sintered (read: frangible) rounds do against 'yotes. I also noticed that Nosler is making an E-bullet, but not yet in .223

Unfortunately, I don't believe I could rebarrel the Savage. It's a combo gun, so the rifle is mated to a shotgun barrel. It's an awesome desert/mountain/bush predator weapon, and was a wedding gift to boot. I'd hate to have to give up using it.

 

[JWF III]

Environ-Metal (I think that's right), the maker of Hevi-Shot, is now producing a .224 bullet with a tungsten alloy core. Because of the added density (weight) of the core, it makes for a shorter, heavier bullet. This might be a viable option with your slow twist rifling.

If interested start looking at MidwayUSA. I think that's where I saw it.

Wyman