Copper vs. Lead | The Best Hunting Bullet

Hunters have been debating whether copper or lead bullets are better for years. In this episode, our own Janis Putelis and Garrett Long are joined by Caylen Wojcik of Modern Day Sniper to put copper, cup-and-core lead, and bonded lead bullets to the test against two different types of ballistic gel at 140, 300, and 500 yards.
#fueledbynature #meateater
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[@chrisfragnito]

Throwback to the 'Mythbuster-esque' blueprints

[@greatlakeshuntingandtracki5450]

Great

[@grantlewis8326]

100%

[@dragonlord2451]

wouldve liked to see a barnes copper bullet. federal's copper bullets have always been subpar for a copper bullet.

[@davidsonfitness318]

I don't have any experience with Federal solid coppers but I feel the Barnes, Makers, and a few others would give better results

[@nospam3409]

@@davidsonfitness318 I wish a major manufacturer would load Maker bullets.

[@TheRangewannab8]

ive had good luck with federal trophy copper slugs

[@nathanadams1332]

I use a barns ttx 155 grain in my 7mm 08 at 2750 fps. Used interlock core before and wasn't pleased with the put down it had on an elk with good shot placement. Sure enough the interlock came apart but the copper stayed together and expanded throughout the animal. 120 grains may be too light to apply enough force to expand and mushroom the bullet, but is heavy enough for lead. I would bet at 160 grains the copper would expand much further than it did here.

[@davidsonfitness318]

@@nathanadams1332 It's not so much the weight of the bullet as it is how it's designed to expand at certain velocities. I shoot a lot of 300blk and there are manufacturers who make solid copper bullets from 90gr all they up over 200gr, from super sonic velocities all the way down to subsonic velocities. Discreet Ballistics (primarily subsonic bullets), Maker Bullets, Barnes Bullets make a variety of solid coppers that expand to around 2 to 3 times their caliber size. Some of these in .308 expand to around 1 inch.

[@jaketehan9178]

Would love more videos like this based on the rifles and cartridges you guys/gals use for different situations.

[@flintandball6093]

They use what they're sponsored to use. A 9.3x62 will kill everything in America in a cartridge that anyone could manage the recoil from. The buff in my display pic was shot with a 50 cal muzzleloader. Being able to consistentl put a bullet where it needs to go is far more important than a calibre for this and a gun for that.

[@soonerfrac4611]

I’ve shot deer with all 3 at various ranges. Pigs did fine with the copper solid but did absolutely nothing to multiple white tails. By contrast cup and core & bonded from 308 & 30-06 worked fine regardless of the range. Personally I think that the target & velocity changes everything. Smaller calibers such as the 6.5’s at higher speeds, or 30’s over 30-06 velocities are fine with all copper bullets. Or if the target is a more toughly built critter.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

@@flintandball6093 you're absolutely right but there are still performance differences that people have fun being soy boys about and that kind of content would not go unwatched

[@flintandball6093]

@@soonerfrac4611 I watched my brother pole-axe a tahr from 550m (600ish yards) with 150gr TTSX out of a 30-06. I used to shoot nothing but coppers but have moved back to bonded bullets more. I really love Norma Oryx out of my 275 Rigby. Not that I shoot centrefires much anymore.

[@GordBirch]

Yes please, this is what I want too

[@dirtrider1092]

Best meat eater content to date. Longer cuts and viable content not just entertainment. Look forward to more like this

[@matthewwood1978]

I believe Berger bullets are designed to penetrate a few inches and then essentially explode. Their theory is that the massive amount of hydrostatic shock (as you could see in your demonstration) is half of what kills. So they did in fact perform exactly as designed. It would have been nice to see a more “standard” cup and core like a Remington Core Lokt or Hornady Interlock. Otherwise, awesome demonstration and great data!!

[@andycronin6170]

I absolutely agree. Something like a Hornady Interlock or Speer Grand Slam would be more of a traditional cup and core designed to mushroom and have high weight retention. Bergers were not the best example to use. But nonetheless it was a good video.

[@nvlaser9084]

Berger 215's are the go to for most Elk Hunters. For deer, ANYTHING will work but for Elk/Moose/Bear I would want something that will punch through bone a bit better. All that being said, nothing flys like a berger.

[@NorthRiverGuide]

That's what I was thinking. The bergers were designed to take in material for a few inches before that material causes the cavity to rupture. That model of bullet performed exactly as designed but that fact was ignored in order to put their own endorsed bullet ahead of a whole broad type of bullet. Can't blame them though, they are businessmen, they have to show bias towards their own product even if it means misleading consumers away from a superior performing bullet.

[@sergeantdwz5783]

Interlocks have a mechanical bond

[@borkwoof696]

That’s not what hydrostatic shock is

[@speedwolf5212]

Great content! I really appreciate the longer format as well. I’d love to see this same test with other bullets. Partition, Ballistic Tip, Accubond, TTSX, etc. Personally speaking, after over 30 years of big game hunting, it’s hard not to reach for Partitions. They’ve performed brilliantly on everything.

[@ram_bam]

You won’t, unfortunately. Meateater has a deal with Federal and this video is essentially a Federal Trophy Copper promotion. I agree with you though. The partition, accubond, and lrx/ttsx would be the better bullets to use for this test.

[@tammyfuller8827]

I’m using the 6.5 Creedmoor 125 Winchester XP copper this hunting season, Six doe’s from 40 yards to 210 yards, Dropped in there tracks, Clean wound channels, No blood shoot meat, Complete pass throw’s, Can’t what to try this in other caliber’s, Great Video, Keep them coming.

[@jackbuendgen389]

To me this just confirms what we already know about these types of bullets. Coppers rely on velocity to work properly, Bergers claim to penetrate 2-3 inches then expand is true, and bonded lead core bullets just flat out work. Overall great video guys! This should be shown in every hunter education class.

[@theliberating1]

Agree with all of that except Bergers don’t expand, they explode. 😂

[@jackbuendgen389]

@@theliberating1 on critters I don't doubt it. Especially at close range

[@ryanbarton9487]

Love the time and detail you put into this. This helps not only to understand but make better choices in different hunting applications. Would love to see more of this type of testing on all types of things.

[@jakegelber7584]

Don’t reply! Scam alert

[@MTMILITIAMAN7.62]

Hello from Kalispell! Copper monolithic bullets are great for typical hunting distances, inside 200 or 300 yards. But beyond that distance, they have two fatal flaws; they require higher impact velocity to initiate expansion, and they don't have the BC of lead core bullets. Copper is harder than lead and has a much higher melting temperature (~1984 deg F), so copper bullets have a higher minimum velocity threshold for expansion, typically somewhere around 2000 to 2200 fps. And copper is less dense than lead, so a bullet of a given volume will have less mass. This means a copper bullet will have less mass and a lower sectional density than a lead core bullet of the same volume. Because sectional density is critical to computing ballistic coefficients, having a lower SD means an all copper bullet will have a lower BC than a lead core bullet of the same shape and volume. These two short comings work together to rob the monolithic expanding copper bullets of usable range because they need more velocity to expand, but lose velocity faster than lead core bullets. Lead is actually a perfect material for bullet construction. It is malleable and easy to shape, has a low melting point, and a higher density. This helps it maximize SD and BC for a given volume and shape. And high velocity rifle bullets will reach temperatures of 550 to 600 deg F due to friction with the bore and the air. Lead melts at ~621 deg F, so the lead core of a bullet will be near a liquid state when it impacts, allowing for better expansion at lower impact velocities. Some lead core bullets can show usable expansion down to 1500 or 1600 fps. These two advantages help maximize velocity retention and provide optimal terminal performance at longer ranges, making lead core bullets much better when ranges start getting out past 300 yards.

[@TMar129]

This is one of my favorite Meateater pieces of content yet! Well done and I hope to see more in depth hunting gear nerd outs.

[@andycronin6170]

I love what you did. I dont want to ve critical at all because what you compared was awesome and done really well. I wouldn't have used Berger for the cup and core example. That bullet did what Berger advertises it to do. Hornady Interlock, Speer Grand Slam, Sierra GameKing, Nosler portion, Swift A frames, etc. Are more tradional cup and core bullets that are designed differently than Bergers. The ones mentioned are made for higher weight retention. It would be awesome if you did this again with only cup and core bullets with different designs from one manufacturer. For instance Hornady Interlock, SST, and ELDX. Speer BTSP, Hot Core, and Grand Slams. They are all made cup and core yet different designs for different results.

[@BChunterguy]

They’re sponsored by federal all 3 of those bullets are factory offerings from federal.

[@Nick-sx6jm]

The partition style bullets are different from regular cup and core because of that copper partition in the middle that prevents over expansion/fragmentation. They are proven bullets and the gold standard when it comes to terminal performance. Lots of guys for some reason like those match style or eldx bullets that fragment and come apart more so I think it was good to use a match or eldx style. They work ok at lower velocity but at higher velocity they suck and are really inconsistent.

[@phild9813]

The Berger certainly didn’t perform like a traditional cup and core. More like a frangible FMJ. No real expansion, as the hollow point tip is still intact.

[@andycronin6170]

@@Nick-sx6jm my son shot a cow elk at 178 yds with a 7mm Rem mag with a 150gr ELDX and it perfom as advertised. The top portion of the bullet fragmented, but the bottom was mushroomed and still in tact and it was found in the opposite side shoulder. I wish I could post a pic on here. I was actually impressed with how well it held up at those velocities at that range.

[@Nick-sx6jm]

@@andycronin6170 I shot a buck at 325 yards with a 162gr eldx from a 28 nosler so it was probably going about the same speed. The buck was walking and stepped into a depression as I shot and I hit it in the spine. The bullet completely exploded. I thought it was a perfect shot because the last thing I saw was the buck drop but even 2 hours later when I got to it it was still alive. I have had other problems with differnt types of cup and core bullets and thats why I said they fragment or can be inconsistent. Sometimes they work great (especially at low velocity) but they also often disappoint.

[@mkcl9073]

This is great! Thankyou for putting this out there as I and deciding on a preferred cartridge(s) for elk, bear, and deer. This is certainly the stuff that all hunters can benefit from

[@jesuschristiskingandsavior461]

.308win/30-06

[@craigschaefer8764]

Very detailed test. Best I’ve seen. Good job.

[@WallaceTheRed]

DANG it. I thought about this format awhile back. You all killed it and answered a lot of questions.

[@Cedricmaker]

Really good test! Very appreciative of the thorough approach

[@Horsenado]

LOVE to see this type of experimental content coming from meateater crew. great job

[@kennethmcdonald3889]

Finally somebody did a real test well done

[@LeeRobinson_TTU]

Incredible tests! We need to see more bullets tested at long range especially with the bone in gel. Much appreciated guys.

[@thomaslinton6446]

Bravo! This is brilliant! More of this from MeatEater

[@boarderdlux22]

Great methodology! A much needed video. I’d love to see a follow up video comparing bullet expansion between 50-200m as many hunting situations I’ve experienced have been short range engagements

[@garethharris5521]

More of this type of content please! Great stuff

[@jakegelber7584]

Scammer alert, don’t reply

[@brandonwarren5758]

Very good study, more of these please!

[@ianharper1189]

excellent video everyone. I started using all copper bullets by accident years ago. When i bought the ammo I did not realize they were copper. I brought them to the range to sight in my 3006 and the groups were incredible. i then hunted with them and they seem to perform perfectly. i dont usually shoot past 250 yards. I have been using winchester super x 150 grain copper hollow points. They stopped making them so when i run out of what i have im switching to Barnes 150 grain ttsx. They shoot great as well and the poi is almost identical, hopefully they drop deer as well as the winchesters do

[@doghousedon1]

Awsome vid guys. I've always tried to smack bone going in, sending a bunch of secondary missiles through the vitals. Bone + vitals has always been my target. Thank you very much for doing this vid.

[@markkoehler5110]

This is the most scientific and engineering approach i have ever seen comparing real world performance simulation in all 3 bullet type / construction categories. Awesome! Thank you!

[@yaro07]

Loved it! Do more of these please

[@tat2ddrac]

Great video, I love the fact each shot was into fresh gel. Very informative. I liked seeing the performance of each type of bullet. Just from my personal experience in the field with each type of bullet I always choose the bonded bullets as I feel they perform the best for my needs.

[@user-uv6mr7wc6d]

Great video! One thing to note, the bullets were fired from a rifle with an 18 inch barrel, which means they were moving 150-200fps slower than what the specs are. At 500 yards, this means they hit at roughly 1800fps (not 1950-2000 as stated in the video) which is the bare minimum for copper bullet expansion. This is likely the reason the trophy copper barely opened up at that distance. Using a standard 24 inch barrel and/or a caliber with higher muzzle velocity and retains more velocity (6.5 PRC, 270 WIN, 7 Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag etc.) and a Trophy Copper bullet at 500 yards should be no problem.

[@duckwacker8720]

It's still a trash bullet

[@maxgustafson4085]

Love this, I’d like to request an archery version using the deer scapula. Compare fixed and mechanical heads, heavy Ashby style arrows versus light etc something like that

[@ChrisJones-nm4id]

Or you could just not shoot deer in the shoulder?

[@patternpaper4940]

@@ChrisJones-nm4id That would be ideal, but it’s a good idea to plan for the worst.

[@ChrisJones-nm4id]

@@patternpaper4940 Why would you plan to shoot a deer in the shoulder? Shot placement should be a higher priority than just pulling the trigger

[@patternpaper4940]

@@ChrisJones-nm4id You plan for it so that if it happens you have given yourself the best chance possible for success. That’s like saying “Why buy smoke detectors? Just don’t light your house on fire” or “Why wear seatbelts? Just don’t crash”

[@TMar129]

@@ChrisJones-nm4id bad shots happen. They happen all the time and they happen to some of the best archers in the world. Why wouldn't you have the best set up to allow you the shooter the most forgiveness in every situation?

[@Deerslayer1912]

Great test and footage. Looks like they’ll all work on a deer quite effectively as long as you put the bullet in the right place. Would be cool to see you guys get into some NRL Hunter matches. They’re a ton of fun and help you learn to shoot better rapidly

[@mrudd39]

Used to rock 130gr ballistic tip cup & core for deer and 150gr partition for elk in my 270win. Now I use 130gr accubonds for both. Clean bull elk kills out to 422 yards so far. Bonded bullets made the game much simpler when seasons overlap. Thanks for confirming what I suspected all along.

[@austinwebbcreative]

What a cool video, thanks guys!! Very well done

[@underdogoutdoors]

Excellent comparison, thank you!

[@seanbalch7563]

Excellent info. I always appreciate making decisions based off science and not opinions. This is great

[@btmountaineer93]

One of the best comparisons I’ve seen. I would to see a comparison of a bonded bullet to a partitioned bullet such as a Nosler Partition or Swift A-frame in a large dense animal such as a moose, bear, or bison.

[@theliberating1]

I’d be copper all day long on those big boned animals.

[@dillonvallee5137]

Great video. I will say that I’ve harvested four deer at a variety of ranges from 90 to 300 yards with the Berger Hybrid in 7 REM mag and it has performed great. Each time the bullet penetrated into the vital cavity perfectly and devastated the heart and lungs with practically no wasted meat or shattered bone.

[@drjrjules1]

Mythbuster-esque... love it! Well done.

[@saltwateriv5735]

Been waiting a long time for a video like this

[@jamesdavis4719]

I have shot a few Elk now with those Berger Bullets and have not had perfect shot placement, but they have never gone more than 100yds and always expired before I can get to them. Love them Bergers! Like a mini grenade going off.

[@wickertwm]

Best video I have seen on this subject. Terrific

[@brianedward2986]

I have chosen the barns ttsx copper as my choice. Great expansion great flight. Every bullet I have recovered has opened perfectly bone or no bone.

[@ogoe_joeoutdoors1088]

Same, Here we are required to shoot non lead so this was the best choice for me.

[@brianedward2986]

I also live in a lead free state so I explored the non lead line up and the barns ttsx worked the best for me. From .338 cal to .243

[@joseehernandez2447]

I recover one bullet from a black tail deer a few seasons ago. At 100 yards the Barnes ttsx did the job. But the crazy thing is that the bullet was sticking out from the boat tail out of the shoulder. So now I see why…. By the way it was a light bullet 100 grain out of a 25/06

[@ogoe_joeoutdoors1088]

@@joseehernandez2447 If you look at Berger's videos they explain that they want the bullet to expend all their energy inside the cavity of the animal so that it will barely exit leaving a solid wound channel and less likely to strike a second animal. I think that was proven in the tests that Meateater conducted.

[@ogoe_joeoutdoors1088]

Since most of the replies here are from non lead shooters. Do any of you load your own rounds? Looking for new load data using AA4350 but can't find any for Berger bullets which is driving me nuts.

[@rhettmigneault6767]

Amazing well done content more of these kinds of videos would be amazing

[@TheRockbanner]

Absolutely great video! I’d love to see something similar with shotguns, analyzing different kinds of shot and different gauges would be quite interesting.

[@jakegelber7584]

Scammer alert, don’t reply

[@406MountainMan]

Thanks for the informative video! I've been using 150gr Trophy Copper in my 7mm Rem Mag since 2008 with extreme reliability. I won't feed my loved ones potentially lead-tainted meat ever again. Shoot straight, folks!

[@OVBassets]

Excellent test glad I am going with a bonded bullet for this season.

[@dpm6000]

Super valuable! From California so been hunting with only copper for the last few years so kept the same as we hunted elk in Colorado and now moved to North Carolina. Was thinking of switching back to lead (for cost and availability reasons) but now think we'll probably stay with what we've got. Certainly lots of development being done with copper and it will be the future as lead is slowly phased out.

[@diggernash1]

I think the Berger is in it's own category; being designed to fragment. The "standard" cup and cores sometimes fragment, but they are not designed to do so.

[@edwardabrams4972]

Bergers are designed for shots 500 yards and out past that! They are not designed for shots under 300 yards unless your shooting a non magnum! Just my 60+ years of hunting and reloading speaking! Our job as the hunter is to determine what kind of hunting we are doing on what kind of game and choose the best bullet for that hunt!

[@tbo2307]

Bergers are crap. Best used on paper.

[@diggernash1]

@tbo2307 maybe if you are shooting something larger than whitetails. I don't use them any more to keep lead out of my meat, but they emulsified the internals on 4 whitetails for me; putting them down fast. Ballistic tips did the same thing when pushed hard, especially at close range. I'm a Barnes TTSX fan now; expand, retain weight, and pass theough.

[@macsmith2092]

Very informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@aaronanderson8491]

Great content. I’ve hunted with Nosler Accubond for years with multiple calibers (.243, .270, 6.5 CM) and have taken everything from pronghorn to elk with a single shot. I’ve also been able to recover two bullets from game animals (.270 out of an elk @ ~380 yards and 6.5 CM out of a pronghorn @ ~160 yards). Both bullets showed near perfect expansion. I’ve recently switched to copper due to lead fragmentation concerns in meat. I’ve not yet shot a game animal with solid copper but am certainly looking forward to my own comparisons. I’m certain I won’t have any problems with the monolithic bullets and this video proves the point. Thank you for this exception video.

[@johnandrosemarywyatt977]

Outstanding! Great experts and information.

[@DuckersAI]

Love the Nosler Accubond and Accubond LR!

[@davidmackee8575]

great test very interesting and informative thanks guys...

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@BitsOfEternity]

I suggest wrapping the ballistic gel in Saran Wrap to keep the pressure inside the gel, for a more realistic representation of the shockwave. As it is, the gel can just float freely, but inside the body, there are other body parts keeping that wound channel together as a whole.

[@philiph554]

Excellent test and discussion. I have settled on the Nosler Accubond LR in my 7mm Rem Mag handloads. They are accurate (sub 3/4 moa). I have not yet taken game with them but I am sure they will be effective at all practical distances

[@Nick-sx6jm]

Just reloaded some 175gr ABLR in my 28 nosler that im going to test this weekend. Hope they get similar group sizes to yours and around 3200 fps.

[@JDsModernMartialArts]

Lots of time and effort! Great job.

[@darylgiese756]

Very well done. I'm a ballistics guy with a significant military and LE background. We also hold ballistic labs to study the effects of different bullets (with and without shooting through barricades, glass, etc.) in ballistic gel. Your results are exactly what I would have expected from this test; however, I would have used a normal soft point bullet instead of the Berger. Berger bullets are designed to do exactly what we see them doing in the video. Since there is no consistent method of controlling their expansion, or determining when they tumble, I will not use them on game (though they can, and do, produce some pretty spectacular kills). In my humble opinion, the Federal Terminal Ascent is the best hunting bullet Federal has ever produced. Thanks for the great work!

[@lostboysoutdoors4638]

Great video guys!

[@WildCallOutdoors]

Thank you guys for the research. Now with different calibers! 🤗

[@jakegelber7584]

Scammer alert, don’t reply

[@4jesus1981]

This is my first year of using Winchester Copper XP Bullets (both 6.5 Creedmoor and .300 Winchester Magnum) and i will never go back to a lead projectile. The knockdown power the Copper XP bullets have amazed me. With both calibers i never lost a deer and with .300 Winchester Magnum it dropped them like a sack of taters and 6.5 Creedmoor expanded just like the .300 with a great blood trail but of course not the same knockdown but definitely a killer. I'm sticking with the copper.

[@titomish5914]

I have using that ammo on my 270, have shot 6 deer with them one shot kill no problem at all

[@pastorjosh44]

More like this please. Great stuff.

[@shanescott3168]

Great video and information. Thank you! I saw how cup and core bullets perform this year when I recovered the copper jacket cups from two whitetails I harvested. The cores were gone and caused good exit wounds. The copper jacket cups were nicely expanded but found inside the cavities. Both bullets did their job but came apart. I can see how a bonded or copper bullet would perform better in a larger animal.

[@davidanderson1916]

Great test….very eye opening…….great work

[@MatthewinGooseneck]

Great Test! I would like to have seen a measurement of the size of the mushroomed bullets to see which bullet expaneded to the biggest caliber.

[@heremyjogan]

This was well put together. Thank you for shooting the blocks at range and not like 25 ft away. My bullet choice is based on anticipated impact velocity and animal. Backwoods deer hunting within 150 yards (higher impact velocity) ill go with a bonded or copper bullet (Nosler Accubond or Barnes TSX). In cases with longer range shots (lower impact velocity) ill go with a traditional lead core bullet like the Nosler Partition or Hornady Interlock. Everyone wants to shoot high BC bullets, but what really matters is can you place the shot in the boiler room and are you using the right cartridge/bullet for the task.

[@randysmith8604]

I shot the accubond the first time this yr. Shot two. 180 grn 300win. 90 yards and at 500 yards. Neither close of far expanding both had to pin holes. I was very disappointed. All good shot placement behind the front shoulder. Want shoot them ever again.

[@jamesmooney5348]

Wow, was actually good information. Good job

[@Timbermonkey360]

Awesome video, thanks guy's

[@lumberr-jackk]

Very well done. Thank you

[@RT-gv6us]

I shoot mostly cooper bullets (Barnes). I was very please to see how quickly the copper bullets begins to expand. The Bonded was impressive at the expansion at long range. It seems to give destructive expansion at both short a long range. Very well done test. I agree that I would have like to of seen a different cup and core bullet than the Berger. The 140g Nosler BT in the 6.5 CM would have been interesting.

[@mattphelps7049]

Great information!

[@gewoneou4719]

Really great test! Just wish you used a normal soft point bullet (e.g. interlock) for the cup-and-core instead of a hard point VLD...

[@coreytohme9861]

That was my thought as well. It should perform similar to the bonded bullet except for expanding sooner and not penetrating as far.

[@stephencooper5040]

Excellent testing and as close to the scientific method as I’ve seen executed for gel tests. Well done y’all.

[@thatotherguy338]

Speer gold dots is what I've switched to. Phenomenal accuracy and deadly in everything I've loaded it in from 223 to 30-06

[@jimsmith4059]

Great information. I would love to see the same test with multiple copper projectiles for those of us that are forced to use lead free ammunition.

[@theliberating1]

Go Barnes… they’ve been at it the longest, but Horns CX is a great option as long as you’re moving around 2K and up at target.

[@gabimarie8]

This is a great video!

[@the_tactical_chimp]

Re-watching this after last weeks "gear talk" podcast adds a lot. I wish yall would have dropped both together, but the podcast was a great follow-up!

[@timebert9467]

Great test, short and sweet with a dose of MeatEater credibility. I'd love to see some taped barrel, accuracy testing with slow-mo of the muzzle included. Do you reckon you guys could have a crack at that? A buddy of mind banana'd is rifle recently. Some visual education around this issue would be fantastic👍👍

[@mrocksalt]

Would like to see more tests done with copper bullets and barrel twist.

[@TerryLee04950]

Would like to we how Barnes copper vortex 70 grain 5.56 in a 16 inch barrel ar15 . 1.9 twist. Compared to the others.

[@turtletruth]

Best video that explains bonded bullets!

[@mikeelium3044]

Great video. It showed me exactly why I use cup and core. I don’t like to track with a rifle!

[@rcourtney3]

Awesome video. I hunt with 180 grain Berger hybrids and have always been amazed at how after initial impact, they turn and destroy random stuff. I have yet to shoot a big game animal and have the bullet exit. It has been more common that after entering an animal broad side, it turns almost 90 degrees. After watching this, it makes a lot more sense to me.

[@Nick-sx6jm]

I would give the ABLR or the bonded bullet they used in this test a try. I have used all 3 types and the bonded bullets by far perform the best in the real world on game. They kill quickly and consistently, give deep penetration, and not a lot of meat loss.

[@theliberating1]

I hit my elk last year with the Berger 195 at 375 yards from a 26 inch 28 Nosler… took 3 shots… not one bullet made it through the first lung. Garbage.

[@Richard-wz9uh]

Love this! That Terminal Ascent is really a smart design bringing together the higher BC of the cup and core bullet with the weight retention of the all copper bullet. Really hard to go wrong. I look forward to Federal releasing more bullets in this line. Would like a 250-300gr .338 cal. That thing would be a hammer from my favorite 33 Nosler.

[@jakegelber7584]

Scammer alert, don’t reply

[@Bowstringdotcom]

I would pick the TA every time of the 3 bullets tested. Just a fantastic design. Im a Nosler AccuBond guy, but technically that TA or the previous Trophy bonded tip are about the best design on the planet in my opinion. Weight retention from the solid shank, reliable expansion and bonding with a polymer tip. Whats not to like?

[@drewlarson5906]

Slipping in the Swaro spotter. Nice!

[@ejsocci2630]

Awesome awesome, thanks for sharing.👊🏻

[@burnerworkaccount8216]

This is the content meat eater needed.

[@zach_6.813]

Very well done test however I must say the cup and core was represented poorly in my experience. I have never seen or heard of anyone using a Berger bullet for hunting medium sized game or larger, to most people that Berger is a glorified match bullet that will kill well. However almost everyone I know across many states use core lokt , inter lokt ,powershok ,PowerPoint etc. and I feel the exposed lead tip bullets all open better and hold together better than represented by the Berger. Again great test, but the cup and core could have been better represented in my opinion.

[@bradleyward8112]

I agree 100% with everything you said. Most folks would not pick up a box of bergers and head out the door. Does not mean they are bad, but definitely not going to be chosen over a core lokt, interlock, power shock, or power point. Otherwise the test was pretty damn cool

[@billychaney4581]

Id love to see a Paul Harrel setup in gel with ribs & grapefruit behind the ribs to represent lungs

[@bearhuntingmagazine]

Great info.

[@anthonywooten9103]

Excellent video. In my limited hunting experience game seem to run longer with a Barnes TTSX ( tipped all copper)than with a Berger Hybrid Hunter ( Cup & core).

[@chroniclesofthecreeks]

Good luck having a blood trail on smaller calibers though with that Berger. The copper should produce a way bigger exit wound.

[@lancebernal9982]

Great Video! My personal preference are Barnes line up (TSX, TTSX, LRX). They all performed well for me out to at least 400 yards in various calibers.

[@snookmeister55]

I know this is old I'm replying to but only Barnes copper worked for me and then only 130 & 168 grn in 308.

[@snookmeister55]

.7 MOA in a hunting round is what I'm talking about, Barnes copper. I've seen better accuracy but not often and this bullet retains mass. I'll stick with it for now.

[@davidadams4247]

I have used all types of hunting projectiles and most of them do a pretty good job at 100 to 200 yards. But the one I have been the most impressed with is the Barnes TTSX I use 185gr and 250gr depending what I am hunting with my 338 win mag 100 to 500 yards I have been impressed

[@boxy8438]

Wow, I may be pulling the winchester xp3 out of storage this year. I fell in love with that ammo right away. Didn't switch to barnes until I had hogs move in and that was years after xp3 was discontinued. I've only shot 2 animals over 125 yards. One a big old buck with xp3 and entry/exit looked same as smaller deer I shot at 25 yards with xp3. And the only shot I've ever taken at a black bear at 300 yards with barnes ttsx. The shoulder of that bear won as almost identical to the shot they showed at the end here Janis took on a bear. I even commented on that video how simular our experiences were

[@EndoftheBlock7224]

More of this please

[@alex1996belli]

Nice vid. In Denmark hunting bullets has to be lead free form 2023 so nice to see the way the bullets react. 🙂

[@chrisholloman3710]

Iv'e been loading various Barnes bullets in all my hunting rifles ranging from .223 through 458 win mag for 15 years now and never found a rifle that didn't like them. Having said that the Barnes are more expensive and when I'm building loads for a gun that's just for shooting targets i use the Bergers due to cost and the fact that they are extremely accurate.

[@theliberating1]

Truth

[@TTT-du6oj]

Great video presentation 👍

[@jeffreykcarlin518]

This is great information that the average shooter like me just couldn't duplicate at home. Excellent video! These are lighter bullets. I would love to see a similar test based on something like a 300 WM or RUM with the 180 or 200 grainers that so many of us love.

[@Ringtail273]

Great video guys! Just wish I could find some terminal ascent bullets for reloading. Can’t find them anywhere.

[@timothyhylton4830]

I used the bonded bullets last year and shot 3 whitetails they were devastating on them. Really really like the bonded bullet myself.