Operation X-RAY - Brobee's 2024 Bonded Bullet Exploration

Really good video! Awesome to see with the x ray how far fragments travels through the meat! I’m all for non lead bullets, but I don’t use them as much as I could I guess, one reason is that lots of my rifles shoot somewhat low velocity to start with and lots of the mono bullets perform better at higher velocity like 1800fps and above and really I think 2000 is more realistic! And when you start at 2400fps 2000 comes pretty fast lol!

Anyway, awesome work on the video, thanks for taking then time and sharing!!
 
Really good video! Awesome to see with the x ray how far fragments travels through the meat! I’m all for non lead bullets, but I don’t use them as much as I could I guess, one reason is that lots of my rifles shoot somewhat low velocity to start with and lots of the mono bullets perform better at higher velocity like 1800fps and above and really I think 2000 is more realistic! And when you start at 2400fps 2000 comes pretty fast lol!

Anyway, awesome work on the video, thanks for taking then time and sharing!!
Guessing there are none made specifically for the velocity profile of your rifles? :(
 
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This was a super-interesting research project I was previously unaware of. Interesting that they found correlation between the location of the nano-particles and the location of small fragments still large enough to visibly see on the xray.

Also interesting + useful is their recommendation of the 10cm rule.

Had not imagined that some of the small lead nano particles are the result of precipitation/condensation of lead that is vaporized in the high energy high friction environment.

Thanks so much for sharing,

Brobee

'bout time its me showing you something interesting for a change lol.

Just wanted to mention...what you said about maybe being on the wrong side of that far shot with irons? Just part of being human man. Way to show it, call it honestly, and drive on. Thats some integrity.

Reminds me of what Aldo Leopold said about hunting being a sport where theres no one watching. You didn't have to show us, but ya did!
 
Great video. I for one will always choose a lead core bullet over a mono bullet when ever I can. Ingesting small amounts of lead fragments is not as harmful as many make it out to be. They pass thru our systems. Lead is more of a concern when it's in the air as in an indoor shooting range.
Ingestion is actually the only way to get elemental lead, like that in a bullet, into your body's processes. Your stomach acid will affect it and some will end up in you. Organic lead compounds will enter your body any way they can and some are very good at it. Minimizing exposure and entry is important if you don't want to have a scary conversation with your doctor like I did.
 
The only people I know to have suffered from diagnosed Lead Poisoning worked at a smelter. How did you get it?
Shooting 25,000+ rounds a month for years. It wasn't poisoning just really, really high. The doctor wrote me a prescription for a new hobby but I never bothered. You did correct me though, inhalation is also a route but for the majority of people it's not a realistic route for elemental lead. The lead styphnate from your primers forms lead oxide though and that is probably the worst type of lead you would expect to be exposed to through this hobby. It can permeate directly through your skin and into your bloodstream though simple contact.
 
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Guessing there are none made specifically for the velocity profile of your rifles? :(
Most would work inside 150m I think?!?! I’ve used lots in 30-06 for moose and the end results were mostly good. In fact I just developed a load for one of my 30-06 with 165gn TTSX for an all around light rifle for caribou moose bear and sheep!
 
Most would work inside 150m I think?!?! I’ve used lots in 30-06 for moose and the end results were mostly good. In fact I just developed a load for one of my 30-06 with 165gn TTSX for an all around light rifle for caribou moose bear and sheep!

Ah cool, I wasn't sure what you're using!

Shooting 25,000+ rounds a month for years. It wasn't poisoning just really, really high. The doctor wrote me a prescription for a new hobby but I never bothered. You did correct me though, inhalation is also a route but for the majority of people it's not a realistic route for elemental lead. The lead styphnate from your primers forms lead oxide though and that is probably the worst type of lead you would expect to be exposed to through this hobby. It can permeate directly through your skin and into your bloodstream though simple contact.

There's a reason they say to wash your hands if you play with the steel gongs you're shooting...as well as if you're reloading. Lots of nice lead exposure from primer dust and not just inhaling it.
 
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25,000 rounds a month isn't exactly typical, more a statistical outlier.

Indoors?

One will note that lead bullet/shot bans were claimed to be for birds that ingest it (and have a gizzard) not out of any concern for people.

I'm looking for a unleaded bullet as effective as a cup and core on Deer without hitting humerus/scapula/spine. I'd like to try the ECX. I'm satisfied with the TTSX on Elk but not on Deer.
 
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Yea, some great info here. Great videos as well.

Makes you wonder how much of that blood shot, internal organs that the birds get after concentrates their lead levels. Most carcasses are cleaned up in a few hours after your gone.

Personally I have switched to copper bullets in all my rifles, not for the sake of no lead ingestion, but they just seem to be what I could find for some calibers, plus in some they just shoot better.
 
Have read lots of folks insisting that Federal Fusion are in fact some form of Speer - I regrettably have no good information to add.

Re small amounts of lead - I have lots of shooting and hunting friends who are properly trained medical doctors and medical researchers - I have asked them about this in the past and after soliciting their perspectives on what they chose to review and their professional opinions, they unanimously and independently inform me that there is no safe amount of lead ingestion for small or unborn children. The consequences of exposure for this demographic are damaged brain and nervous systems, then consequently learning disabilities + underdeveloped intellectual and emotional capacity.

Yes there is lots of nanny state, alarmism, Karen-itis, and folks generally loving to tell other folks what to do out there these days, compounded by mountains of misinformation and malevolent manipulation…hope folks don't feel like I’m insisting they behave a certain way. My rational for my behavior+personal decisions contemplates that even if there’s only a 2% chance that feeding lead-dust contaminated meat to my kids results in even mild impaired brain development, I can eliminate this risk completely by choosing to hunt with a different bullet, so I do.

I figured others might be interested in what I learned (particle distribution of lead fragment size with bonded bullets), hence my video project presenting radiography of bonded bullet shot deer. It won’t do anything to quell the gun community debate around whether or not lead is bad for you, but might shed some light on how far you have to go in culling tissues around the bullet terminal trajectory if you want to avoid ingestion of very small particles.

Appreciate you watching, appreciate you commenting, and also appreciate the opportunity for civilized discussion! Thanks again.
I was in no way insisting your opinions were wrong at all. We each make a choice and I'm happy we have options. Years ago when I went thru a large amount of medical testing I was told I have a high amount of lead in my system and when questioned by the dr as soon as I said I shoot and hunt his remark was you must be shooting indoors alot. At the time I shot alot of pistol on indoor ranges.
Almost all of my deer meat is taken with archery or muzzleloarders. The powerbelts I use don't often shed much weight so for big game it's not really an issue for me. In the days of lead for ducks everyone I knew who hunted ate the odd lead pellet. I know I've swallowed many over the years from waterfowl and small game. Copper isn't good in the system either but hey I live down wind of Detroit and Sarnia so my life expectancy is no doubt already shortened
You post some great videos and I've enjoyed every one I've seen. I really like the buckshot deer ones.
I do gotta know though. In this video when you dropped the buck in that cut line did you know about the larger buck that walked out right after?
 
Ah cool, I wasn't sure what you're using!



There's a reason they say to wash your hands if you play with the steel gongs you're shooting...as well as if you're reloading. Lots of nice lead exposure from primer dust and not just inhaling it.
I use all kind of stuff lol!
 
25,000 rounds a month isn't exactly typical, more a statistical outlier.

Indoors?

One will note that lead bullet/shot bans were claimed to be for birds that ingest it (and have a gizzard) not out of any concern for people.

I'm looking for an unleaded bullet as effective as a cup and core on Deer without hitting humerus/scapula/spine. I'd like to try the ECX. I'm satisfied with the TTSX on Elk but not on Deer.
Hammer bullets are a fragmenting all copper bullet, might be the way to go?!?!
 
I use all kind of stuff lol!

I might have noticed! hahah.

Think I read from Barnes themselves that the 168 ttsx was designed for the 308 and 30-06 and opens a bit easier but if ya have that 165 going fast, seems like you got it all figured out anyway!

For the 30-06 I was curious about their 175gr Long Range X at about 2700 fps. I dont reach far out enough for it to really slow down anyway. Or loading the 110gr TTSX to laser speed and trying them out.
 
I might have noticed! hahah.

Think I read from Barnes themselves that the 168 ttsx was designed for the 308 and 30-06 and opens a bit easier but if ya have that 165 going fast, seems like you got it all figured out anyway!

For the 30-06 I was curious about their 175gr Long Range X at about 2700 fps. I dont reach far out enough for it to really slow down anyway. Or loading the 110gr TTSX to laser speed and trying them out.
I’ve been wanting some 168 for a long time but can’t seems to find them anywhere!
The rifles that I have than can push bullets to an adequate speed for mono are my 30/06’s and 7x65 and maybe the 8mm06 with lighter bullets!
 
I’ve been wanting some 168 for a long time but can’t seems to find them anywhere!
The rifles that I have than can push bullets to an adequate speed for mono are my 30/06’s and 7x65 and maybe the 8mm06 with lighter bullets!

Bet the 7x65 with the 120gr TTSX would be a real beaut. That one has a really good reputation.

The ones I've used here that are made for lower velocities, like the 110 and 120 for the 300 Blackout open up even when they are going pretty slow. They come apart when you push them hard tho. Too bad they didn't have any slower offerings for your other rifles.
 
Bet the 7x65 with the 120gr TTSX would be a real beaut. That one has a really good reputation.

The ones I've used here that are made for lower velocities, like the 110 and 120 for the 300 Blackout open up even when they are going pretty slow. They come apart when you push them hard tho. Too bad they didn't have any slower offerings for your other rifles.
That’s ok, I’m looking at hammer bullets, actually I’ve been thinking about hammer bullets for a while I just need to buy some and try them!
 
That’s ok, I’m looking at hammer bullets, actually I’ve been thinking about hammer bullets for a while I just need to buy some and try them!

Cool! Lookin forward to hearing how they work for you. They sure have a lot of fans too.
 
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I loaded the 110 ttsx 110gr in 300wm and it was a horrible failure at 3700fps. Hornaday 110 gmx held together at 3700fps but it was just a mangled mess when recovered. Never hit any game with them but killed alot of water jugs
Should be like lightning on game as it's like a fat bulleted 257wby
 
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