Exposing lead core on Campro 405

bunny

bunny

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I have good results with Campro bullets especially the 405 in my 45/70’s. One concern is a C.O. May consider them a FMJ and this could be an issue if using them for hunting. So I used a single cut file to remove the copper plating on the nose, as far as I am concerned having an exposed lead nose would make them perfectly legal for hunting. .458 bullets don’t need to expand to be effective so this deserves further exploration. Of course the best way to do this would be in a lathe to keep a consistent balance.
The 405 weight was actually 403 and after filing ended up ant 400.
I was also thinking with a lathe one could easily drill a centred hole and create a hollow point.
Any thoughts from other appreciated.
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I have done the same thing for my 45-70 using the 500gr spitzer they make. (Single shot rifle) I made myself a jig for my small mill and do a single pass with an end mill to keep things consistent. I haven’t used them on game yet but to be honest I’m not too concerned about expansion with a .45 cal hole to start with. I have seen no loss of accuracy after cutting them down.
 
100% foolishness, if you have any hopes of maintaining any semblance of accuracy. The amount of time required to modify an entire box of bullets in no way justifies whatever end result you are hoping for.

It is one thing to modify a single bullet. Do a whole box and then get back to us about how worthwhile that work is.

If you want exposed lead nose bullets then just buy those. 🤷‍♂️
 
bunny said:
I have good results with Campro bullets especially the 405 in my 45/70’s. One concern is a C.O. May consider them a FMJ and this could be an issue if using them for hunting. So I used a single cut file to remove the copper plating on the nose, as far as I am concerned having an exposed lead nose would make them perfectly legal for hunting. .458 bullets don’t need to expand to be effective so this deserves further exploration. Of course the best way to do this would be in a lathe to keep a consistent balance.
The 405 weight was actually 403 and after filing ended up ant 400.
I was also thinking with a lathe one could easily drill a centred hole and create a hollow point.
Any thoughts from other appreciated.
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I played with drilling hollow points in cast lead, PC rifle bullets for a while and never really achieved anything useful but in your case converting fmj to exposed lead nose does make legal hunting bullets. If it works for you and you have the time, go for it.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
100% foolishness, if you have any hopes of maintaining any semblance of accuracy. The amount of time required to modify an entire box of bullets in no way justifies whatever end result you are hoping for.

It is one thing to modify a single bullet. Do a whole box and then get back to us about how worthwhile that work is.

If you want exposed lead nose bullets then just buy those. 🤷‍♂️
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I do exactly that. They’re as accurate as any other load I’ve tried, I’ve shot them out as far as 500 yards. Takes me maybe 20 minutes to a box worth.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
100% foolishness, if you have any hopes of maintaining any semblance of accuracy. The amount of time required to modify an entire box of bullets in no way justifies whatever end result you are hoping for.

It is one thing to modify a single bullet. Do a whole box and then get back to us about how worthwhile that work is.

If you want exposed lead nose bullets then just buy those. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...

It's a 45-70, not a 6.5Manbun

At the range he's likely shooting at, it's going to make less a difference than how much coffee he has in his belly will.
 
The main reason for trying this is because my favourite 45/70 bullet is the 400 Speer but they are extremely hard to find, also expensive. The Campro’s are easy to get and reasonably priced, and can be modified very quickly.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Not trying to wade in here with my 'obtuse hat" on, but are plated bullets considered a "jacketed bullet" by law?
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Does law define a jacketed bullet? If it does why would it matter? I’m not familiar with other provinces but Alberta hunting regs only stipulate it must be an expanding bullet, nothing about its construction. Can you not hunt with cast? The goal here is to visually differentiate it from a fmj for the purpose of a warden checking it. Being softer lead the slug is likely going to flatten and break up if it hits anything solid regardless. It may not expand if it doesn’t hit bone but you could say the same thing about several popular hunting/target bullets.
 
257hunter said:
Does law define a jacketed bullet? If it does why would it matter? I’m not familiar with other provinces but Alberta hunting regs only stipulate it must be an expanding bullet, nothing about its construction. Can you not hunt with cast? The goal here is to visually differentiate it from a fmj for the purpose of a warden checking it. Being softer lead the slug is likely going to flatten and break up if it hits anything solid regardless. It may not expand if it doesn’t hit bone but you could say the same thing about several popular hunting/target bullets.
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I have the same interpretation of the AB regs, and have been curious about the CamPro bullets especially their 45-70 offerings. What got me interested in this context was their 44 mag bullet that I checked out earlier this year....see the 10min : 11sec mark here where I discover that at higher velocities, the CamPro bullets do increase in diameter:


I'm also very interested in their round nose 158gr .357 round nose flat point bullet - it has a SUPER wide meplat....further investigation coming once the snow is gone...;)

Cheers,

Brobee
 
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257hunter said:
Does law define a jacketed bullet? If it does why would it matter? I’m not familiar with other provinces but Alberta hunting regs only stipulate it must be an expanding bullet, nothing about its construction. Can you not hunt with cast? The goal here is to visually differentiate it from a fmj for the purpose of a warden checking it. Being softer lead the slug is likely going to flatten and break up if it hits anything solid regardless. It may not expand if it doesn’t hit bone but you could say the same thing about several popular hunting/target bullets.
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Not sure why you're arguing with me here... I posed the question so buddy can sort it out. Is a plated bullet considered a fmj in law? If no, then no worries, and carry on. If it is, then he'd catch a charge for a wildlife act violation of some sort. These things matter in law actually, legal definitions....

Is the OP in Alberta? Do you know?

Is this a cast bullet? OP is asking about a plated bullet. Does the package say "cast bullet" or "plated bullet"? A cast bullet that's been plated would still be considered a plated bullet, no?


I cast bullets, I'm aware lead isn't hard like a diamond. Again, thanks tips.:ROFLMAO:
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Not sure why you're arguing with me here... I posed the question so buddy can sort it out. Is a plated bullet considered a fmj in law? If no, then no worries, and carry on. If it is, then he'd catch a charge for a wildlife act violation of some sort. These things matter in law actually, legal definitions....

Is the OP in Alberta? Do you know?

Is this a cast bullet? OP is asking about a plated bullet. Does the package say "cast bullet" or "plated bullet"? A cast bullet that's been plated would still be considered a plated bullet, no?


I cast bullets, I'm aware lead isn't hard like a diamond. Again, thanks tips.:ROFLMAO:
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Not arguing, simply discussing the question. If you read my previous replies you’ll see that I’ve done the same thing, for the same reasons. The law doesn’t say fmj, it says non expanding, these things matter you know.
 
257hunter said:
Not arguing, simply discussing the question. If you read my previous replies you’ll see that I’ve done the same thing, for the same reasons. The law doesn’t say fmj, it says non expanding, these things matter you know.
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I guess the best course of action for the OP would be to send an e-mail to whatever authority within the provincial government for clarity on the subject.
 
I just chuck them in my lathe and use a drill bit with a set stop to fully expose the flat.

Very consistent and accuracy is unchanged.
 
Filing off the plating as you have done will not effect accuracy and it makes them legal for hunting. Mission accomplished.

BC outlaws “full metal jacket not expanding” bullets for hunting. These ones are obviously not fmj bullets.
 
bunny said:
The main reason for trying this is because my favourite 45/70 bullet is the 400 Speer but they are extremely hard to find, also expensive. The Campro’s are easy to get and reasonably priced, and can be modified very quickly.
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I have the same campro bullets as well. I often wondered about shaving off the copper plating on the meplat and converting my bullets into hunting rounds. My rifle is a Pedersoli sharps q model and I've come across three boxes of Remington core lokt rounds. I understand that they are way too powerful for my sharps, can I reduce the loads from 49.9 gns to a mild load using the same powder? If so, what powder charge would be good to start with?
 
I made a bunch of Campro 250g (45 Colt Projectiles) into an exposed lead hollow point using a fixture, a ball nose end mill and a drill press with stop set. Didn’t take long once your setup to run through hundreds.

Use them for 450 bushmaster, plenty accurate for MRDS distances.
 
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