All copper bullets

[Hunt anything]

I was curious of thoughts from those of you that have used the all copper bullets and the comparison of lead core bullets. How do they compare in performance?

 

[wildwilderness]

Very well.

They really work well when pushed fast. So either hand load hot or the more common way is to drop bullet weight. They penetrate very well and break bone.

The complaint sometimes is they poke right through without much damage or blood trail. That’s why you shoot faster for more shock and expansion, and I like to aim for bone to stop the animal.


If you eat the game also a benefit of no lead fragments all over the place

 

[Safari Dave]

IME, an expanding monolithic copper bullet doesn't expand all that well at slower speed.

WW's, response was spot on.


For expansion, they need to be shot at speed.

Here is an older Barnes TSX from a .470 NE after being shot through a paper target and into a pile of fairly loose dirt containing a few small rocks.

Probably a good compromise between solids and expanding bullets for DG, but definitely lacking in expansion.

I've taken a couple of deer with fast moving copper bullets, and they did fine.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

YES.

Barnes TSX and Barnes TTSX!

 

[ldmay375]

The all copper conventional expanding type have become the only ones that I hunt with. Used within their velocity / expansion range I think they work well. Depending on which bullets compared, you may have less expanded frontal area with the copper ones. I am sure you can find failures to expand, but if you search you can find some of the same for some of the popular lead cores also. I have used the copper mid weight weight classes in 338, 375, 416 on moose. Gutting the animals did not allow any thoughts of non-expansion.

The less conventional break away petal type like the CEB Maximus, Hammer Bullets, and some of the Lehigh offerings are another option.

And unless you are totally avoiding lead, there are the solid shank types with lead in the nose.

 

[ldmay375]

IME, an expanding monolithic copper bullet doesn't expand all that well at slower speed.

WW's, response was spot on.


For expansion, they need to be shot at speed.

Here is an older Barnes TSX from a .470 NE after being shot through a paper target and into a pile of fairly loose dirt containing a few small rocks.

View attachment 687141


Probably a good compromise between solids and expanding bullets for DG, but definitely lacking in expansion.

I've taken a couple of deer with fast moving copper bullets, and they did fine.

A slight correction on the bullet type. That being an older original Barnes X, their first all copper offering. Which definitely had some consistenty issues. I think they did more tweaking than just adding grooves to the TSX.

 

[trperk1]

I've used Barnes TSX on two Safaris. 1st my primary game was Cape Buffalo, I also shot a Kudu and Sable. Bullets performed flawlessly out of my .375 (very accurate too). Next was plains game and a 30-06. Great on game performance on a blue wildebeest, waterbuck and gemsbok. Just devastating wound channel on the heavier boned animals. Found they didn't expand on my Impala, Red Hartebeest, Duiker. All textbook shots, and all recovered so a success. Had to do it again I would opt for lead bonded controlled expansion bullet for plains game.

 

[Rafiki]

Last October I took Peregrine Bushmasters for my 375 and 500. In my limited experience I'm impressed enough to take them again in 2026.

300gr Peregrine VRG-3, Buffalo, neck/spine 104 yards, 375 H&H

550gr Peregrine VRG-3, Buffalo, neck/spine, 23 yards, 500 Sharps

 

[375Fox]

I like using them for deer hunting because there is no lead fragments in the meat. For Africa though I’ve decided a tough bonded bullet gives me more reliable performance. I do like Barnes TSX and TTSX because they shoot very accurately when pushed fast with lighter bullets (150 in 300 win 250 in 375 H&H) but I’ve had a couple irregular events I can’t explain. I’ve never had the bullet fail to expand but I have had them fail to penetrate and don’t understand why. Other than these two cases I’d say generally perfect performance. The first was a Hartmann zebra at 200 yards in open. The bullet 180 gr TSX penetrated only a few inches on shoulder but knocked the zebra off its feet and needed a follow up shot as we walked up. The second was a full broadside impala in open just under 200 yards. The bullet 250 gr TTSX made a flesh wound on the shoulder and apparently deflected. I’ve never had a swift A frame or trophy bonded bear claw fail me in any way on anything, so those are the bullets I trust when paying for hunts given the option. I’ve read enough good reports and spoke to enough PHs I’d trust the 300 gr Barnes in 375 H&H. Also 55 gr Barnes in my 223 Rem has been very impressive to me. Barnes seems much more finicky than lead core bullets to me. Certain calibers and weights better than others but Lead core seems much more consistent across a range of weights. I’d like to try cutting edge or hammer bullets on game but I have a lot of other bullets to use up first.

 

[Paul K]

A slight correction on the bullet type. That being an older original Barnes X, their first all copper offering. Which definitely had some consistenty issues. I think they did more tweaking than just adding grooves to the TSX.

Yes, and they copper fouled horribly. Though they were very accurate in my rifles.

 

[Rifleman97]

IME, an expanding monolithic copper bullet doesn't expand all that well at slower speed.

WW's, response was spot on.


For expansion, they need to be shot at speed.

Here is an older Barnes TSX from a .470 NE after being shot through a paper target and into a pile of fairly loose dirt containing a few small rocks.

View attachment 687141


Probably a good compromise between solids and expanding bullets for DG, but definitely lacking in expansion.

I've taken a couple of deer with fast moving copper bullets, and they did fine.

A lot of that has to do with how they’re constructed and what they were designed for, but I agree for the most part.

For example, the above bullets were shot subsonic. But they were also designed to be shot subsonic.

Copper bullets have a ton of potential, and I use them exclusively on almost all of my rifles. But for dangerous game in .423 on up, they really haven’t seemed to get them dialed in yet. They’re fully capable but there’s not a huge market for it so they’ve been focusing on more popular calibers, and I get it.

The Barnes 100gr ttsx made for the 257 weatherby would definitely not expand subsonic, but it wasn’t designed to. It may take time before anyone is willing to make quality DG rated all copper expanding for the real big boys like the 470 and some of the lesser popular chamberings

 

[Cooposo]

My experience has been great with finding accurate loads at acceptable velocities. My 300 WSM liked Hornady CX a little better than Barnes LRX. My 270 likes Hornady CX and Barnes TTSX about equally. My 30-06 shoots the CX and Barnes LRX about the same, but I had better velocity with the Barnes, which, as stated by others, is extremely important with copper projectiles. I would suggest to anyone getting started with them to try, either through factory loads or hand loading, a medium weight for caliber bullet in Hornady CX, Barnes TTSX, and Barnes LRX. Usually a rifle will like one, if not all three.

In terms of terminal performance, the copper projectiles I’ve mentioned above drive disproportionately deep compared to similar weigh lead core. The permanent wound cavity looks like a laser shot, not too wide but cutting deep. You need quite a bit of velocity for any shock factor from these bullets, and given that they are a less malleable metal, you need more velocity for mushroom/ expansion of the bullet. Most recommended impacting at 2000 FPS, although that has some wiggle room depending on the type of bullet.

If used with these things in mind, they are great and reliable killers of game, but do not often give the dramatic instant drop-on-the spot killing of softer bullets. Certainly avoiding the dispersion of large and small and microscopic lead particles in the meat is a bonus as well. My experience has been game giving a few jumps and kicks before going down for good, or a short run before going down for good, and excellent meat preservation.

 

[ftrovato]

I sometimes thing they are more work than they are worth with the amount of copper fouling they leave in barrels. But they do work very very well with enough velocity.

Personally I've been gravitating back to A-Frames, Partitions and this Sept I'm going to try Norma Bondstrike bullets on Red Stag.

 

[Bill J H]

I recently returned from Africa and recovered 3 bullets. I seldom shoot all copper bullets at my local hogs and deer, etc. However, my PH related he really liked them so I worked up a load for my 30-06 and it was a tack driver. I also took a 308 Win for my son and he took a Zebra among other animals.

I've included a pic of the bullets and a short description regarding the specifics of the shot. You can compare and contrast the 2 TTSXs against the A-Frame. They are all similar weights and the MV is very close...according to my chronograph.

* Below Pic *
Bullets L to R:
Barnes 168 TTSX from Blue Wildebeest (2750 fps MV)
Barnes 168 TTSX from Kudu (2750 fps MV)
Swift A-Frame 165 from Zebra (shot from my 308 Win @ 2725 fps MV)

• Blue Wildebeest - 75 yds quartering to me. Shot just behind the point of the shoulder and the bullet was lodged under the skin in the offside flank. Ran 75 yds and piled up. Bullet performed flawlessly petals intact.

• Kudu - 90 yds quartering to me. Shot just behind the point of the shoulder and the bullet was lodged in the offside hindquarter. Kudu dropped in its tracks and never got up. A nice clean kill. The bullet performed flawlessly. The petals had sheared off and the face was beat up; I think it went thru several big bones to shear the petals.

• Zebra - 90 yds quartering to. Shot in shoulder and bullet lodged in hip; dropped in its tracks. Bullet performed flawlessly with nice mushroom.

 

[sgt_zim]

I was curious of thoughts from those of you that have used the all copper bullets and the comparison of lead core bullets. How do they compare in performance?

Some outfitters love them, some don't want them in camp.

Was listening to a Joseph von Benedikt podcast about an upcoming buff hunt in Moz some time this summer. The outfitter doesn't want anyone to bring TSX because of the risk of overpenetration. His words were to the effect of "if you bring Barnes and hit a 2nd buff, you're paying for it; if you bring A Frame and hit a 2nd buff, I'll pay for it."

TSX has a reputation for expanding poorly, or not at all, below about 2k fps. Truth be told, A Frame doesn't expand well below 2k fps, either, but you do get some meplat deformation/flattening down to around 1800 fps.

Know your rifle, know your ammo, know your quarry, know your probable shooting conditions/distances. Bring the ammo with the highest probability of filling that need. It might be TSX, or it might be Swift or North Fork or Hornady DGX or Norma Oryx.

The only rifle I own for which I use TSX is my wife's 375 H&H because I know she's never going to shoot past about 150 yards, no matter the species, and the "hot" load for it is 300 gr TSX at about 2400 fps. If she decides she wants to go past 150, I have a 280 AI she can use.

 

[ftrovato]

Some outfitters love them, some don't want them in camp.

Was listening to a Joseph von Benedikt podcast about an upcoming buff hunt in Moz some time this summer. The outfitter doesn't want anyone to bring TSX because of the risk of overpenetration. His words were to the effect of "if you bring Barnes and hit a 2nd buff, you're paying for it; if you bring A Frame and hit a 2nd buff, I'll pay for it."

TSX has a reputation for expanding poorly, or not at all, below about 2k fps. Truth be told, A Frame doesn't expand well below 2k fps, either, but you do get some meplat deformation/flattening down to around 1800 fps.

Know your rifle, know your ammo, know your quarry, know your probable shooting conditions/distances. Bring the ammo with the highest probability of filling that need. It might be TSX, or it might be Swift or North Fork or Hornady DGX or Norma Oryx.

The only rifle I own for which I use TSX is my wife's 375 H&H because I know she's never going to shoot past about 150 yards, no matter the species, and the "hot" load for it is 300 gr TSX at about 2400 fps. If she decides she wants to go past 150, I have a 280 AI she can use.

I've heard the same in Mozambique. They (PH's) are not a fan of Barnes Coppers for the reasons you mention.

 

[Safari Dave]

As always, go with what your PH recommends...

My last one liked Hornady DGX and DGS, so that's what I used.


Trying to "outsmart" your PH, is never a good idea.

 

[Rifleman97]

As always, go with what your PH recommends...

My last one liked Hornady DGX and DGS, so that's what I used.


Trying to "outsmart" your PH, is never a good idea.

I love my all coppers and use them whenever I can. But if a ph told me they would prefer if I used ___ bullet, I’m gonna use that bullet. Even if I don’t like that bullet.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I've used Barnes TSX on two Safaris. 1st my primary game was Cape Buffalo, I also shot a Kudu and Sable. Bullets performed flawlessly out of my .375 (very accurate too). Next was plains game and a 30-06. Great on game performance on a blue wildebeest, waterbuck and gemsbok. Just devastating wound channel on the heavier boned animals. Found they didn't expand on my Impala, Red Hartebeest, Duiker. All textbook shots, and all recovered so a success. Had to do it again I would opt for lead bonded controlled expansion bullet for plains game.

How do you shoot an animal as small as a duiker with s .30-06 and any bullet, and recover the bullet? I have noticed that people shooting all copper bullets seem to retrieve a disproportionate number of bullets. Maybe because copper is lighter than lead?

I've only.shot.one duiker. I was using a .30-06 with 180 grain Partitions. Of course the bullet passed through and he folded up on the spot. Some years back I started using AccuBonds for North America and PG. I've used them in 7-08, 7 mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag. So far, I have never recovered a single bullet. All have passed through leaving a large exit wound and a dead animal. I have killed a large variety of game from a smallish impala ewe (for camp.meat) up through a bull moose. No recovered bullets. I even offered $10 to any spinners or meat cutters that could find one of my bullets in Zim. No dice.I don't live in California, so I haven't gotten excited about all copper bullets. The one thing I can say for them though is that Hunter Habib swears by them, and if he says it, I believe it!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

With Barnes TSX (375 H&H) I’ve Killed: Hippo, Croc, Buff, Giraffe, Sable, Zebra

Barnes TSX: 7MM REM MAG. PG: Eland, Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Impala, Warthog, Bushpig, Blesbok, Red Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Nyala, Reedbuck.Multiples of many of these listed.

Barnes TSX: 7MM REM MAG. North America: Multiple Bull Elk, Cow Elk for Meat, Antelope, Mule Deer, Black Tail, Pigs, Coyote. Multiples of many of these listed.

Barnes TTSX: (.243) Roan, Lechwe, Barbary sheep, Golden Wildebeest, Bushpig, Tsessebee, Warthog, Badger, Genet Cat, Springbok, Caracal, Black Impala, Common Impala, Mountain Reedbuck, Baboon, Jackal, Klipspringer, Duiker. Multiples of many of these listed.

Probably unintentionally left off a few animals from these lists…

Barnes TSX or TTSX: No animals were wounded or ran off unrecovered. All recoveries were with within less than 75 yards, which included some that were heartshot and ran 50 to 75 yards. Some shots broke shoulder, some double lunged and/or passed through, some were neck shots, some were through the chest and heart or lung shot, most were behind the shoulder resulting in heart & lung or double lung…

All first hand experiences, not guess work or speculation, or my “cousins friends Safari” or redacted articles or reports from who knows where…

I’ve also used Nostler Partitions on my first Safari along with Accubond. I don’t use either of those anymore. I prefer the accuracy of Barnes TSX and TTSX over Nosler Partitions and find Barnes to be amazingly effective. Accubonds in my experience are accurate but tend to cause a lot of damage and not penetrate as well as I prefer. Firsthand experience…

Plenty of info of firsthand experience in my reports. I hope this helps…

**I’ve recovered several Barnes bullets that range from perfect mushroom, to partial pedal loss, to all pedals broke off. I didn’t document each instance probably should have. But I have pictures of a couple of them in each caliber…

My PH likes Barnes Bullets. Especially when I leave my custom loaded Barnes for him as a gift…