Home > categories > Minerals & Metallurgy > Copper Pipes > Solid copper bullets for a 40 Cal?
Question:

Solid copper bullets for a 40 Cal?

I think taurus makes a solid copper hand gun bullet and maybe one or two other companies do as well. The reviews are great.

Answer:

I use copper bullets in aome of my hunting rifles. I find that a 130grain barnes x in a 308, goes faster, flys flatter, and drives deeper than a 150. The expansion is reliable, and controlled. One could get better expansion out of a harnady AMAX bullet, but it wont pass through all deer if the shot is quartered away. Its a give and take thing when hunting. As for a .40, well its a nice ballance between the firepower of a 9mm, and the size of a .45. I carry a .40 for police work. What you want is a bullet that reliably works in your gun, and puts a 155 grain or bigger bullet out a 1000 fps; 900 fps is also accepable in a 180 grain weight. The copper bullet is a good idea, Im not convinced it it the way to go for the extra money. Whatever you do, shooting is fun, so I guess if cost is not a factor, and the copper gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, Have at it!!!
Why? A pure copper bullet has less mass than a lead one or a copper jacketed lead one. I want MORE mass, as much as possible. I also want a soft, expandable center, not a hard one. I think any advantage is a matter of Marketing and Salesmanship than good ballistic science...........remember the gun mag writers are on the payroll of the gun and ammo companies.
Well Brooke, this certainly is a new product. We'll just have to wait and see how they work out. They seem to be defensive ammo, but I've never heard of defensive ammo of solid copper. Copper tends to be too hard to expand reliably so maybe they've engineered some factors to insure expansion. As far as keeping your bore clean, and using in lead-free shooting ranges these rounds sound like they're the cat's meow. Maybe I'll look for them the next time I shop for handgun ammo. Thanks for the update! H
Why are they needed, a copper jacket is all that is required. Sounds like a good sales pitch.
The Taurus Copper Hex bullet, is 98% copper. Taurus debuted this near 3 years ago, and American Handgunner magazine did a spread on them. They retain more mass than ANY other hollow point on the market, and they are very predictable, much like Barnes X. I have not found any commercially loaded ammo with these yet, nor have I located anyone who carries them in stock. I know they must be out there somewherer, as John Taffin mentioned them in a recent article, again in American Handgunner. I would love to get some of these.

Share to: