For this years deer hunt I am thinking of using copper ammo. The ammo would be .308 and 30 06. So my question is this. How did the point of aim change when you switched ammo from lead core to copper for the same grain bullet ? I have been using Remington core lokt. I do not hand load.
Copper Ammo
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Ks5shooter
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My rifles didn't like it at all.
Varminterror
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Completely different load, completely different zero. Nothing unique to copper solids - any time you’re changing bullet profile, brand, model of ammo, you have to expect a change in your point of impact and a change in your trajectory.
Buy it, try it, rezero for it.
Buy it, try it, rezero for it.
You'll just have to try it and see if your rifle likes it and see where it hits. Solid copper ammo has it's place and used correctly works well although it is expensive. If I were you I'd save my money. Where copper shines is when used in cartridges normally considered borderline too small for the game hunted. If I were elk hunting with a 243 I'd shoot copper bullets. But with a 308 and 30-06 I doubt you'll find copper any more effective than the bullets you've been using on deer or bear size game.
If you do decide to try it you'll probably get better results by dropping down at least 1 bullet weight lighter than you normally use. I do handload and have experimented with them in both 308 and 30-06. I'd not go any heavier than 130 gr with 308 or 150 gr with 30-06. I can get right at 3000 fps at the muzzle with either of those, and they will out penetrate conventional 180 gr bullets.
The downside to copper is that they need faster impact speeds to expand. Below 2000-2200 fps at impact and they behave like FMJ and don't expand. That is part of the reason for lighter bullet weights driven faster. They are not a good long range bullet where impact speeds are slower. But if they impact at 2000-2200 fps or more they do a lot of damage and penetrate deep.
If you do decide to try it you'll probably get better results by dropping down at least 1 bullet weight lighter than you normally use. I do handload and have experimented with them in both 308 and 30-06. I'd not go any heavier than 130 gr with 308 or 150 gr with 30-06. I can get right at 3000 fps at the muzzle with either of those, and they will out penetrate conventional 180 gr bullets.
The downside to copper is that they need faster impact speeds to expand. Below 2000-2200 fps at impact and they behave like FMJ and don't expand. That is part of the reason for lighter bullet weights driven faster. They are not a good long range bullet where impact speeds are slower. But if they impact at 2000-2200 fps or more they do a lot of damage and penetrate deep.
My hunting area`s will rarely give a shot of even 100 yards. I know I have to try any different ammo in my guns to see if zero remains close to the same. I guess the question I am asking is how far off of zero was the copper ammo in the gun you tried it in compared to the ammo you were using. I do not expect copper ammo to shoot the same as in your gun even if we own the same rifle.
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for the replies.
mcb
Member
Copper bullet have come along way since the early stuff. They are making bullet for lower velocity cartridges that work very well. You need to know what velocity range they work at and thus make sure you hit the target in the range but you can get low velocity all copper bullets.
I have been using them in my 450 Bushmaster and my 300 AAC Blackout supers and sub-sonics with good effect.
Barnes 275gr TSX, impact velocity was only about 1850 fps from my 450 Bushmaster. The Raccoon did not fair well. I found the bullet after it went through the raccoon and nearly 3ft of forest floor. Perfect expansion 100% weight retention.
Maker REX 220gr. Impact velocity about 950 fps from my 300 BO pistol. Split the first two 1 gallon water jugs, punch a ragged triangular hole through both side of the third and found it in the fourth 1 gallon jug of water. Again good expansion and 100% weight retention.
I have been using them in my 450 Bushmaster and my 300 AAC Blackout supers and sub-sonics with good effect.
Barnes 275gr TSX, impact velocity was only about 1850 fps from my 450 Bushmaster. The Raccoon did not fair well. I found the bullet after it went through the raccoon and nearly 3ft of forest floor. Perfect expansion 100% weight retention.
Maker REX 220gr. Impact velocity about 950 fps from my 300 BO pistol. Split the first two 1 gallon water jugs, punch a ragged triangular hole through both side of the third and found it in the fourth 1 gallon jug of water. Again good expansion and 100% weight retention.
Seamaster31
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I handload almost all of my ammo and have used mono-metal bullets in a few different rifles. These same rifles have also shot the "normal" gilding metal/lead core bullets. My general impression is that the POI was not radically different between the loads but some small adjustment was needed. If you do change to pure copper bullets (such as the Barnes offerings) you are probably best advised to clean your barrel thoroughly before using them as pure copper does not play well with guilding metal deposits. Some of the mono-metal bullets are made from pure copper while others (Hornady, Nosler, etc.) use gilding metal.
I am not a big fan of any of the mono-metal bullets in calibers of .308 and smaller, but they can be very effective. The newer plastic tipped bullets seem to open much more reliably than the older style hollow pointed versions.
I am not a big fan of any of the mono-metal bullets in calibers of .308 and smaller, but they can be very effective. The newer plastic tipped bullets seem to open much more reliably than the older style hollow pointed versions.
Scrub the bores BEFORE you test the copper.........can't promise it's not voodoo superstition, but my rifles don't seem to care for a bore fouled by other types when I swap to coppers......my routine would go along the lines of scrub scrub wipe, then 3 fouling copper shots, THEN test it out.
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