Monolithic copper bullets

craveman85 · Sep 15, 2016

Do any of you guys have issues with copper bullets? I really liked the tsx bullets in my 243 remington 700 but that's at hart barrels getting a new tube. My main rifle now is my #1 in 375 h&h. I bought 250 of the 250 ttsx because there was a shop closing and I got them dirt cheap. I actually felt bad and wanted to give him more but he said why when he has to give half to his soon to be ex wife. Well anyways they shoot great out of my #1. I was getting .75" groups with h4350 but availability was very limited. I'm getting 1-1.5" groups with rl15 which is ok but I have an issue. I had massive copper fouling from previous sessions. Bad enough where it took many passes with sweets to get it out. My bore was squeaky clean and 8 shots has bright streaks of copper on the lands again. I've given up on sweets and mpro7 both of which were ok for normal usage and cleaned it with kg12. Works great after a few cleanings with that. 3 shots later and bright copper again. Think it's these dang copper bullets? Maybe a bore issue? I never had any accuracy with this rifle and any hornady bullets. It's too close to season to switch loads. Maybe I'll try nosler after season ends.

sixshot · Sep 15, 2016

I'd call Barnes first, but you might have to first a very few lapping shots to smooth things up.

Dick

craveman85 · Sep 15, 2016

I feel like the bore should be smooth. I hope anyways put over 200 hornady bullets through it before barnes and only cleaned it before barnes. It didn't have much copper on it then. When I go pick up my 260 from hart maybe I'll have them look it over and see how rough it is.

Paul B · Sep 19, 2016

I've done some work with the TSX bullets in .257 Robt., 7x57 Mauser and .35 Whelen. The only gun that copper fouled badly was the M70 FWT in 7x57 but it fouled with everything. Roughly a two day 8 hour job with Sweet's. Finally got mad, bought a fire lapping kit and went to work. Changed the rules a bit by using cast bullets instead of regular jacketed bullet and only 5 shots per grit rather than the recommended 10 shots. She still fouls a bit but easily removed with barnes CR-10. After the freely job I did about a two hour session with JB Bore paste to polish the bore. The .35 is very accurate with the 225 gr. TSX but the "Bob" and 7x57 are being a bit stubborn regarding accuracy. I'm using the 100 gr. .257" in the Bob and the 140 gr.7MM bullet in the 7x57 and a couple of tries in the .280 Rem. but so far the guns don't like them.

Just have to do more work I guess.
Paul B.