CENTERFIRE RIFLE HUNTING BULLETS

As a reloader, you can add a level of finesse to your bullet loads that you can’t find commercially. Many handloaders prefer lead-free bullets. Not for the environmental or landscape reasons, but because many copper bullets are hand-lathed, removing any bullet variations that can be found in cup-and-core and bonded lead bullets.

Check out some lead-free hunting bullets for reloaders below!

Mushrooming Style Lead-Free Bullets

Expanding Style Lead-Free Bullets

TIPS & TRICKS

Copper jacketed lead vs copper

Compared to more forgiving copper jacketed lead core bullets, the affinity of a barrel for a bullet seems to be greater for monolithic bullets. That is, some barrels don't like some bullets. For precision, plan to try a few different bullets, and change the bullet before changing other things (powder, powder charge, primer) if it doesn't shoot well.

Always start clean

The really important thing is cleaning your rifle's bore. This is important when you start any kind of load development to clean down to bare metal as a starting point but also for copper especially if you ever shoot with a copper jacketed lead core bullet your precision and accuracy can decline. So after shooting with copper jacketed lead core bullets always make sure to clean.

What about bullet jump?

Many copper bullets and those with a sleek, high BC are not sensitive to bullet jump. Start somewhere safe for pressure and clearance like 0.035" off the lands and make adjustments in coarse amounts.

Where to start from published loads?

Many bullets shoot best on the higher end of the published loads. But always be careful approaching max loads and be sure to know how to spot signs of pressure.

Looking for help with load development or want someone to reload for you?