Does anyone know if a manufacturer makes copper bullets in 117 or 120 grain bullet for a 25.06? I did a google search and only came up with a few that already produce the entire round but I would like to reload my own and test these???
Copper For 25.06
- Thread starter Wild Country
- Start date
fackelberry
Active Member
I know Barnes makes the 115 TSX is as heavy as they go from them! I don't know of any other manufacturer that has one heavier than 115 i could be wrong. I think the problem is that will all copper bullets compared to lead core bullets is they tend to get really long to make up for the weight of the lead core bullets. Alot of factory rifles have too slow of a twist to properly stabilize the long bullets. Even though the lead cores or bonded lead cores start out heavier the all copper ones retain more weight when actually recovered from animals. There are some great bonded core bullets in 120gr. that would do really well, but if your dead set on the all copper bullets the 115 Barnes may be the heaviest. I personally know a woman who shot her Shiras mose with the 115 out of 25-06. Did a fine job and she has a nice bull to show for it!
dan maule
Veteran member
Brianh
Member
I use the Barnes TSX and its an awesome bullet. Dead on accurate out of the box, with 1-inch groups at 200 yards. Hell, I can't see that well. Antelope at 350 yards and a Mulie at 225. Both toppled right over. Couple whitetails, but those were close.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
Seems 25.06 and 257wby guys love the 100gr TSX or TTSX.
If I went heavier maybe an accubond or scirocco...
just a thought...
If I went heavier maybe an accubond or scirocco...
just a thought...
JimP
Administrator
I shoot 100 gr TTSX's out of my 25-06 and have no problems with them. I started it out on 115 gr TTSX's but the 100's shoot just a little bit better, but not enough to complain about, either will do the job that they were intended for.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Unless you live in a state that bans lead, my question is ...Why use all copper? I've been using the same 117 gr Sierra BT bullet for over 40 years and I'm not about to change unless the states I hunt in require all copper.
badgerbob
Active Member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I do not live in a state that bans lead but have seen a few presentations and studies on lead and its leaves a dust trail through the wound channel and I just don't want to consume any lead if I can help it so I have decided to switch to copper for all my hunting...switched years ago with my game birds jut time for the long guns now!
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
We have been using lead in all our ammunition since the firearm was invented and humans are still thriving. I have consumed literally thousands of pounds of game shot with lead ammo in my life and I'm still here at 75 years old. Waterfowl ingest lead while filtering mud and dirt for food and it can be toxic to THEM if they eat enough. Some carrion eaters ingest lead from gut pile and if they ingest enough it can be toxic to THEM. I can go along with the waterfowl problem, but the rest is pure politics IMHO. Just another way to make hunting and shooting (and gun ownership too) more difficult.
JimP
Administrator
I have seen the same studies and while I don't think that they are propaganda to get you away from shooting lead they do make sense.
With waterfowl eating it, I often wonder why they still allow lead shot to be use shooting clay targets over water. But you can't use it when shooting birds. But I do have to agree that in some areas the whole pond may be covered with lead shot and that the bottom feeding birds may ingest way too much.
On animals on those studies it shows that most of the lead is dispersed into the guts of the animal besides just the wound channel so that is mostly a non factor for us humans. That along with the fact that most hunters cut out all the meat around the wound channel and scrap it there will be very little lead left for you to eat. But if you have small children I can understand being a little bit more cautious where it comes to lead.
As for shooting copper bullets, I switched a number of years ago and have never looked back. It wasn't because of the lead problem it was because they were what quite a few of my rifles liked to shoot and I don't mind paying a little extra for them. But I still have a couple of rifles that will continue to shoot lead out of and not even think about any problems with lead in the meat.
To the OP try some 115 grain Barnes TTSX or the 100 grain TTSX bullets and see which one your rifle likes the best. My 25-06 likes the 115 grain ones best but not enough to even matter so I have gone to the 100 grain ones for some extra speed.
With waterfowl eating it, I often wonder why they still allow lead shot to be use shooting clay targets over water. But you can't use it when shooting birds. But I do have to agree that in some areas the whole pond may be covered with lead shot and that the bottom feeding birds may ingest way too much.
On animals on those studies it shows that most of the lead is dispersed into the guts of the animal besides just the wound channel so that is mostly a non factor for us humans. That along with the fact that most hunters cut out all the meat around the wound channel and scrap it there will be very little lead left for you to eat. But if you have small children I can understand being a little bit more cautious where it comes to lead.
As for shooting copper bullets, I switched a number of years ago and have never looked back. It wasn't because of the lead problem it was because they were what quite a few of my rifles liked to shoot and I don't mind paying a little extra for them. But I still have a couple of rifles that will continue to shoot lead out of and not even think about any problems with lead in the meat.
To the OP try some 115 grain Barnes TTSX or the 100 grain TTSX bullets and see which one your rifle likes the best. My 25-06 likes the 115 grain ones best but not enough to even matter so I have gone to the 100 grain ones for some extra speed.
Never once did I say you or anyone else for that matter had to switch or any of us were dying from it! I just chose not to eat lead so feel free to say whatever ya want...I am choosing to shoot copper! Sorry to have offended you!!!!
JimP
Administrator
I don't believe that you are going to have to worry about dying if you ingest lead from the meat of a animal that you shoot, but if you have young children then it may be a concern.
I worked around and with lead for over 20 years, ate sandwiches after handling lead and getting powdered lead onto my hands and just a light washing before I ate lunch and I had and have no symptoms of lead poisoning. I was also one of the wonder children that grew up in the 50's, and 60's with lead paint all over the place along with toys being made out of lead. The wonder about it is that I am still alive with all the hazards that were around then that people are scared about today.
I drank from open ditches that I swam in. Our swings didn't have safety seats but just a piece of wood to sit on. We climbed trees and didn't come home until way after dark. I remember when I was 6 or 7 when myself and a friend went camping by ourselves in the woods next to our house. Somehow we survived.
But it is as you said about using copper bullets it is your choice.
I worked around and with lead for over 20 years, ate sandwiches after handling lead and getting powdered lead onto my hands and just a light washing before I ate lunch and I had and have no symptoms of lead poisoning. I was also one of the wonder children that grew up in the 50's, and 60's with lead paint all over the place along with toys being made out of lead. The wonder about it is that I am still alive with all the hazards that were around then that people are scared about today.
I drank from open ditches that I swam in. Our swings didn't have safety seats but just a piece of wood to sit on. We climbed trees and didn't come home until way after dark. I remember when I was 6 or 7 when myself and a friend went camping by ourselves in the woods next to our house. Somehow we survived.
But it is as you said about using copper bullets it is your choice.
badgerbob
Active Member
One of my uncles would file a lead .22 bullet and put the shavings in his dog food. Claimed it got rid of the worms. He would do this a couple, maybe three times a year. Dog lived to a real ripe old age.
bghunter
Active Member
Lead is not harmful for people, just condors might can be poisoned with lead : )
I have been shooting cooper for couple years and like it, don't have 25.06 but all of my rifles shoot very good with Barnes TTSX.
I have been shooting cooper for couple years and like it, don't have 25.06 but all of my rifles shoot very good with Barnes TTSX.
I hope you are trying to make a joke. Lead is very toxic to humans. Most get it from inhaling dust or consuming contaminated things.
That said I happily use bullets with lead and trim away any blood shot or damaged meat around or near the wound channel. I do prefer bonded or premium bullets, and fragmentation is one reason I avoid Bergers.
bghunter
Active Member
fackelberry
Active Member
Only in the State of California! I could never or would never live in California. Everything gives you cancer or is known to give you cancer! Just read the back of any warning labels on ANYTHING. I don't know how any of you people are still alive out there? HAHA, It's not know to any other state to cause cancer, just Californians! Nothing against you BGhunter, i just couldn't live in a State where politicians run EVERYTHING and have no common sense because it's "known" to cause cancer!