Ammo query - who makes rounds with "copper wash" bullets?

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Graystar

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I'm thinking of joining a range that is much closer to me than my current range. However, they have a particular ammo requirement...no FMJ ammo is allowed. Their recently built "state-of-the-art" range uses a steel plate deflector into a water bath. The range people say that, for safety, I must shoot ammo that fragments on impact, and that FMJ doesn't fragment reliably.

Now, the range I shot at in Idaho had the same setup and they allowed FMJ ammo. So I'm not sure what to make of this story. However, it's their range so....

Anyways, they say that I can use "copper wash" ammo. This is ammo that doesn't have an actual copper jacket, but has copper impregnated into the lead. Sorta like copper fouling in the barrel, but on the bullet instead. Supposedly, this give the reduced-fouling benefit of copper, but still allow the bullet to fragment.

Anyone heard of this stuff? Anyone know where I can get some .45 ACP?
 
Sorta sounds like the old Winchester-Western "Lubaloy" bullets to me. But IIRC they were only available in revolver loadings.

I have had pretty good luck with the CCI Blazer .45 fragmenting ammo.
But of course I have only shot 100 rounds of it so far.
 
Most of the "copper-wash" ammo you'll find today is 22 LR, but the closest thing you'll probably find in most centrefire calibres is "electroplated" bullets; this stuff LOOKS like jacketed ammo, but is really just a swaged lead core that's been plated with a copper alloy.
 
Also Precision Bullets, which are coated, not plated.
I had just started the process of ordering from these guys when I saw your post!

They've got what I need. They make ammo using Ranier copper plated bullets. That's the ticket.

Thanks guys!
 
The only company I can think of that makes ammo with copper washed bullets is called "American Ammo". They make a truely crappy product and should be sued for dragging the good name of America into their dirty dealings. If my choice were to shoot at a range that required me to use "American Ammo' or not shoot at all, it would be a tough choice but I would have to give up shooting.:D

Copper washed bullets can foul your BBL worse than lead. I would suggest joining a different range. Most of the cheaper ammo is FMJ so you would save money even if another range was more expensive. 90% of the centerfire ammo I shoot is FMJ.
 
There's a range in Lancaster that has the same requirement; no FMJs.

Seeing as how copper plated bullets look like FMJs, how do they tell the difference?
 
Jim Watson & Intune beat me to it; National Bullet Co. in Eastlake, OH does offer a "copper-ized" round. I have examined them personally, and it is a VERY THIN copper coat.

Don't know if it will meet your range's requirements, but is is [bad pun intended] worth a shot.....

www.NationalBullet.com

440-951-1854
 
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