Anyone hunt big game with lead free? I hunt with 12 gauge Winchester super x slugs and winchester.308 extreme points with good results. Been thinking about switching over to lead free recently. Options are 30-30, .308, and 12 gauge. Although I have rifles I still enjoy taking out my 12 gauge for deer. Shots mostly in the 25-50 yard range. Big game for me means whitetail and the occasional feral pig.
mcb
Member
I like Barnes and Maker all copper bullets. The Barnes 275gr TSX in my 450 Bushmaster has done very good for me. I also really like Maker Rex for my 300 BO subsonic loads. Reliable expansion even at subsonic velocities.
Barnes 275gr TSX 45-cal
Maker 220gr REX 30-cal
Barnes 275gr TSX 45-cal
Maker 220gr REX 30-cal
troy fairweather
Member
The only bullets that I've seen impress are the hammers, the newer hornady look promising but I like how the hammers shed the peddles and the base still penetrates. I'll have to try some soon not long before ny bans lead.
My Brother In-law only uses Barnes 140 gr. TTSX out of his 280 Rem and swears by them.
The deer I’ve seen him take have all bee dropped in their tracks.
I’m currently working on a load for my 20” .308 using 130 gr. TTSX just haven’t had the time recently to get to the range to shoot them.
I currently shoot Nosler Accubonds and love them, but as Troy has stated NY will be lead free on public land soon so I need another option.
The deer I’ve seen him take have all bee dropped in their tracks.
I’m currently working on a load for my 20” .308 using 130 gr. TTSX just haven’t had the time recently to get to the range to shoot them.
I currently shoot Nosler Accubonds and love them, but as Troy has stated NY will be lead free on public land soon so I need another option.
They work. In fact if you're using a rifle that is borderline too small for the game you're hunting they tend to be an advantage since they give better penetration than conventional bullets.
They do tend to be more expensive and if you're a handloader you have to seek out different load data than you'd normally use. In the same bullets weights as conventional bullets they are longer and take up more space in the cartridge resulting in slightly slower speeds.
If required to use them I don't think you're giving up any performance and they may be slightly better. But they aren't required where I hunt and I'm happy with what I've been using.
They do tend to be more expensive and if you're a handloader you have to seek out different load data than you'd normally use. In the same bullets weights as conventional bullets they are longer and take up more space in the cartridge resulting in slightly slower speeds.
If required to use them I don't think you're giving up any performance and they may be slightly better. But they aren't required where I hunt and I'm happy with what I've been using.
Patocazador
Member
I used Barnes X bullets years ago and they performed so-so for me. Not reliable expansion. However, the main drawback was lack of accuracy compared to Nosler Partitions. I wasn't even crazy about the Partitions' accuracy but it was a lot better than the X bullets.
With all the kudos being expressed about the new generation of lead-free bullets, I may give some another try.
With all the kudos being expressed about the new generation of lead-free bullets, I may give some another try.
Larry in wyoming
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2021
- Messages
- 619
I use nosler 180gr etips in my 300wm for elk. They're accurate enough for my purposes and they drop elk with zero drama. I went with lead free because the terrain I hunt offers shots from 10yds to 1000 so I felt I needed a bullet that could cover that. So far so good. Incidently, 400yds is about my max range. I just can't see myself shooting any further than that at game.
Anchorite
Member
I’ve shot the Barnes before and before that the trophy bonded bullets. Heck, they all work. Sometimes I think it’s more marketing hype than anything. If you do your part and put it where it counts, I think you’ll be successful.
Now, that said, I have found that a particular barrel may prefer a particular bullet (not just twist). For example, I had a Ruger 270 that just did not like Hornady 130s, but loved Speer 130s. Go figure.
Point is, experiment a little. That’s half the fun of shooting!
Now, that said, I have found that a particular barrel may prefer a particular bullet (not just twist). For example, I had a Ruger 270 that just did not like Hornady 130s, but loved Speer 130s. Go figure.
Point is, experiment a little. That’s half the fun of shooting!
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,756
I love the Barnes TTSX it is awesome in my
little CZ 527 6.5 Grendel everytime it gets shot at a deer it’s DRT buck doe I haven’t seen one run off yet
little CZ 527 6.5 Grendel everytime it gets shot at a deer it’s DRT buck doe I haven’t seen one run off yet
JimKirk
Member
I shoot the 80 grain TTSX in .243 Win.... and the 80 grain TTSX in the .25/06... Both have been very successful in killing 200 lbs GA Whitetail with no problems... many DRT and most <20 yards....
Anchorite
Member
You’re making me want a 375 Ruger for the upcoming season! Those are text-book perfect results.
Ive been exceedingly happy with mine. Ive shot only small stuff with it, but performance on game has been terrific and accuracy is on par with my target rifles, ive had it out to 900yds on steel with the factory gmx ammo.
I find that the harder bullets make it more deer friendly. First set of axis i shot were with 270 speer btsp at 2850, and i had to pick lead and bones for a while. The Accubonds and GMX have left pretty clean holes.
Still dont shoot south bound deer in the north end or shoulder, and its fine even with the softies.
Last edited:
WisBorn
Contributing Member
If you shoot a south bound deer in the north end with your 7rm it will make a mess of it
Speaking from experience
troy fairweather
Member
Anymore try the Winchester copper extreme point, it's used in the deer season copper impact xp ammo.
I havent seen any out here yet. If i do ill try some.
yeah, call that papaitan....all you need is a pot....If you shoot a south bound deer in the north end with your 7rm it will make a mess of it
Speaking from experience
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,334
I will say this about Barnes X, TSX, TTSX, LRX etc. When you include feral hogs I’ve killed multiple hundreds of critters with mono metal X bullets. To include African DG, cats, bears, African plains game, deer, elk, antelope, etc etc. And I’ve used them in calibers from .223 to .470. I’ve never had one fail to open up and I’ve never felt that they didn’t provide absolutely adequate shock or knock down.
On straight up lung shots, on light game I’ve seen several instances when it took longer to kill than a more rapidly expanding soft nose bullet generally would.
The solution to that issue is shoot them in the vital triangle like you should be doing anyway. Gut shot critters won’t die any faster or slower with mono metals than with traditional lead nose bullets. I’d venture to bet that most of the horror stories I’ve heard about the one that got away that were shot “perfectly” behind the shoulder with an X bullet that left hair but no blood. Wasn’t shot perfectly, they were gut shot or hit low or high. Because I’ve found critters shot in the vitals with an X tend to leave an awesome blood trail due to that big open exit wound on the off side.
On straight up lung shots, on light game I’ve seen several instances when it took longer to kill than a more rapidly expanding soft nose bullet generally would.
The solution to that issue is shoot them in the vital triangle like you should be doing anyway. Gut shot critters won’t die any faster or slower with mono metals than with traditional lead nose bullets. I’d venture to bet that most of the horror stories I’ve heard about the one that got away that were shot “perfectly” behind the shoulder with an X bullet that left hair but no blood. Wasn’t shot perfectly, they were gut shot or hit low or high. Because I’ve found critters shot in the vitals with an X tend to leave an awesome blood trail due to that big open exit wound on the off side.
Last edited:
D.B. Cooper
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 4,396
I've often touted the efficacy of Barnes TSX in my 243. I'm definitely a believer and something of an evangelist.
The only two objections I hear to the use of copper/non-lead ammo is either political (they're trying to control us/ban hunting/etc. etc.) or cost (store-bought factory ammo is expensive.) I used to buy into the political argument, and I'm not dismissing it, but I found it irrelevant once I realized just how effective and accurate the Barnes TSX ammo is. If more hunters realized this, there would be little need for laws banning lead ammo, because the industry would move that way in response to consumer demand. I recognize that factory ammo is expensive; I just bought a box of 308 for a friend for $57. Compared to Remington Core-Lokt or other basement price (and performance) ammo, that is super expensive. Compared to other premium, high performance ammo? Not so much. (Nosler, GameKing, Federal Premium are all comparably priced.) Additionally, when one calculates the total cost of a hunt, ammo is probably the smallest line item on the receipt. (My single biggest expense last year was fuel for the truck and the side by side. My 2nd largest expense was Mountain House.) This is doubly true if one prorates the sunk cost of big ticket hunting accessories (side by side or 4 wheeler, rifle, scope, etc etc) over many years.
So with all that said, the one drawback I'm beginning to see after shooting Barnes TSX for 5-6 years now is that the bullets are usually (but not always) light for caliber. The only thing that might drive back to traditional lead ammo would be if I found a projectile that a.) had similar or at least acceptable performance, and b.) had a significantly higher BC that would extend that effectiveness further than my current bullet. The rapid loss of velocity downrange is the only limiting factor.
The only two objections I hear to the use of copper/non-lead ammo is either political (they're trying to control us/ban hunting/etc. etc.) or cost (store-bought factory ammo is expensive.) I used to buy into the political argument, and I'm not dismissing it, but I found it irrelevant once I realized just how effective and accurate the Barnes TSX ammo is. If more hunters realized this, there would be little need for laws banning lead ammo, because the industry would move that way in response to consumer demand. I recognize that factory ammo is expensive; I just bought a box of 308 for a friend for $57. Compared to Remington Core-Lokt or other basement price (and performance) ammo, that is super expensive. Compared to other premium, high performance ammo? Not so much. (Nosler, GameKing, Federal Premium are all comparably priced.) Additionally, when one calculates the total cost of a hunt, ammo is probably the smallest line item on the receipt. (My single biggest expense last year was fuel for the truck and the side by side. My 2nd largest expense was Mountain House.) This is doubly true if one prorates the sunk cost of big ticket hunting accessories (side by side or 4 wheeler, rifle, scope, etc etc) over many years.
So with all that said, the one drawback I'm beginning to see after shooting Barnes TSX for 5-6 years now is that the bullets are usually (but not always) light for caliber. The only thing that might drive back to traditional lead ammo would be if I found a projectile that a.) had similar or at least acceptable performance, and b.) had a significantly higher BC that would extend that effectiveness further than my current bullet. The rapid loss of velocity downrange is the only limiting factor.
troy fairweather
Member
I've got a case of 150 gr 308win and no rifle lol. I'll probably get a 308 kimber tho to shoot them.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,355
My home state of California has required them for years. I would never have tried them otherwise. For the most part I've been impressed. It does seem to me that most of them thrive on speed and give great penetration, so my tendency was to go with smaller and faster. Something like a .257 Weatherby with a hundred grain TTSX at 3500+ FPS can give startling results, is easy on the shoulder, and essentially eliminates holdover out to as far most people have any business shooting at big game.
The downsides are cost - handloaders don't get too badly gouged, but factory ammo is an arm and a leg - and the fact that my rifles either loved or hated them. I essentially retired several favorite hunting guns because they just refused to shoot any of the non-lead offerings.
The downsides are cost - handloaders don't get too badly gouged, but factory ammo is an arm and a leg - and the fact that my rifles either loved or hated them. I essentially retired several favorite hunting guns because they just refused to shoot any of the non-lead offerings.
Good reason for a new rifle!
