What will switching to mono metal bullets get me?

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RichardSlinger

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I have never dabbled in mono metal bullets, it seemed years ago when I started to reload like a whole bunch of issues were had with those bullets.
I gather most of those issues have now been resolved.

I’ve been toying with the idea of experimenting with them in either 308win,7x57 or 270win.
I hear that people are shooting light weight bullets as a rule when using these.
My question is out to 300meters with any of these cartridges, what would a lighter weight mono bullet give me that a standard weight leaded bullet won’t give me?

Other than supposedly lead free meat.
my 7x57 seems so far to like heavier bullets.
Would it in theory be ok shooting say a 140gr bullet instead of 160gr bullets out of it given that mono metal bullets are generally longer than cup and core bullets?

If you were to buy some GMX/TTSX bullets which one would you prefer and why?

Also what weight would you pick for 270win, 308 and 7mm Mauser?
I hunt deer, moose and elk.
My current 270 loads are 130gr interlock, 140gr Accubond. 308 165sierra and 7mm 154gr interlock
 
I tried gmx bullets in 8mm rem mag and they were terrible. I would have been lucky to hit a deer at 200 yards so they went in the garbage. I've tried them in different caliber rifles with good success though.
 
I hunt with Barnes tsx in 7rm. 150 grain over 7828ssc is my 'do all' bullet for big game; deer, black bear, moose.
They group well in my Tikka t3 the usual 1" or less groups.

In my experience the monos do not give a dramatic bang flop kill as much as jacketed lead, but kill with certainty. They are also able to punch thru bone to the vitals whereas a franginble bullet will only wound, gives a hit more forgiveness for shot placement especially quartering to. And you can literally eat right up to the hole. Much less meat damage than ssts or ballistic tips.
I've read that the monos can be used at 80% only the weight of a corresponding lead based bullet, so the 150 is equivalent in killing power to a 180 grain.

As with most things gun and hunting related, so love them, some hate them, for a variety or reasons. I switched to monos and won't look back.
 
It'll get you deeper penetration, for which you trade smaller diameter wounds, slower kills, longer runs, and a lack of apparent shock unless heavy bone is hit.

Is that a trade you want to make?
 
For the same $$ I'd take a bonded core pill over the solid copper/gilding metal bullets.
Partitions are also excellent premium pills with reliable performance.
 
I only use monometal bullets in cartridges that may produce impact velocities on game above 3000fps. In those scenarios, the monometal bullets hold together much better, ruin less meat, and will not fragment on heavy hone, and fail to penetrate to the vitals. For lower velocity cartridges, I prefer cup and core bullets, preferably bonded cores.
 
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270, 129gr LRX
7x57 139gr LRX
308 150gr TTSX

They kill well and meat damage is minimal. I've yet to experience the pencil wound or lack of expansion in the 21 years of using Barnes
 
My only experience was using 225gr. TSX in my .35Whelen. First day out shot a bull Elk at 186 yds. Nice broadside shot behind shoulder dropped him within 20yds and was able to feel the perfectly expanded bullet under hide of off shoulder. Great, was very impressed. Next day got a similar shot at a good Muley buck except this time he ran in circles, staggered around for about 40 seconds before finally expiring. Bullet passed right through with out expanding. Killed the deer, but could have lost him if in heavy cover. Next day had to dispatch a medium bear that wouldn't leave our hanging game alone. Same reaction as the deer.
Don't get me wrong, they do work, but at least for thin skinned deer sized game I prefer a quality cup&core bullet.
The TSX grouped very well in my rifle I will say.
 
RichardSlinger said:
Gatehouse said:
They offer any shot angle you want capability, something the Interlocks don't
Any shot angle that I can think of where I have to worry about whether the bullet will penetrate the boiler room, will result in massive meat loss and or a bullet in the stomach.
Click to expand...

No, not at all. I've shot deer and bear end to end and hard quartering with Barnes bullets with no excess meat loss, and quick kills.
Click to expand...
 
What you'll get is near match-like accuracy (in most cases) and if used at normal distances, great reliability in the form of quick humane kills, with deep straight line penetration through anything that may be in the way (shoulder bones, etc.) of the vital areas (heart/lungs).

You'll almost always get 2 holes instead of only one, for over double the likelihood of a good blood trail, not that you'll need one though, because the animal will be dead within seconds, and lying within about 40 yards of it's original position. And along with all this, there will be very little meat loss.

If these things are important to you, you'll surely benefit from the use of a monolothic expanding bullet, such as Barnes LRX, TTSX or TSX. And if you doubt that these bullets will deliver a wide wound channel, with lots of devastating knock down power, take a look at the expanded bullet in my avatar. That's what they look like after hitting an animal.
 
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