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Old May 18, 2014, 06:22 PM   #3
jmr40
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Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,792
Copper bullets work differently, and are often an improvement. They do require SPEED to work properly and even very light bullets out penetrate much heavier conventional bullets. The key is to drop down at least 1, probably 2 bullet weights lighter than normal.

For deer or black bear I'd use 95gr and no heavier than 110 gr bullets in a 270. The copper bullets retain 100%, or darn close to it, of their weight after impact compared to 50% or less with conventional bullets. It takes a pretty stout bonded lead bullet to maintain even 80% of its weight.

That means a conventional 130 gr bullet fired @ 3000 fps from your 270 will probably weigh around 60-100 gr after impact. The 95-110 gr copper bullet started @ 3600-3700 fps will weigh more after impact and do more damage than a conventional 130 gr bullet. Shooting the same weights you would normally use results in impact speeds too slow and unsatisfactory expansion.

Lots of folks use them even in places where not required for the deep penetration they give. I'm loading 130's in my 308 @ between 3050 and 3100 fps and 150's in my 30-06 @ 3000-3050 fps. I'd expect complete penetration and a large exit hole on any black bear with that combo.

They are not a great choice for true long range hunting. At long range where speeds have dropped off they often do not expand. Most folks recommend at least 2000 fps at impact and feel better with 2200 fps. But that still gets me to 400 yards or a bit farther with those loads.
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