switching from lead to copper

[acourvil]

My limited experience is that copper bullets shoot o.k., but in 4 of the 5 rilfes I have, lead loads shoot better. The 5th I have not tried lead in yet.

[Fjold]

Here's how the lead free 120 grain TSX bullets shoot in my 6.5x284. I shoot them and the 142 grain TSX (cup and core bullet) without cleaning the barrel between times with no issues. The SMKs are loaded .007" off the lands and the TSX bullets are shot with .050" jump to the lands.

[lewdogg21]

Hunt - my father is a reloader/hunter and he hasn't mentioned any issues since he started reloading copper.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[ElDub1950]

Just clean the rifle real good using a copper solvent(read NOT Hoppies #9) before switching back and forth.
.

What's a good copper solvent cleaner? Never needed one but switching to plated bullets on my next order. Thx

[Wrangler John]

What's a good copper solvent cleaner? Never needed one but switching to plated bullets on my next order. Thx

I use this stuff:


Available at:

http://www.boretech.com/products/copperremover.shtml

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/127727/bore-tech-cu-2-copper-remover-bore-cleaning-solvent-16-oz-liquid

http://www.amazon.com/Bore-Tech-Copper-Remover-16Oz/dp/B0070IQJA0

http://www.sinclairintl.com/reload/bore-tech-products/index.aspx

I use these patches exclusively: http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleanin...prod27487.aspx

Also use a Proof Positive type nylon bore brush, jag and rod with a non-brass tip so the brass doesn't leach blue copper fouling stain on the patches, or I'll know when the bore is copper free.

Proof Positive stuff is found here: http://www.boretech.com/category/rifle.shtml

I also use BoreTech's Eliminator solvent to start, then follow with CU+2 Copper Remover and C4 Carbon Remover. The barrel will appear clean after the CU+2 but then patches run with the C4 Carbon Remover come out with varying degrees of black or brown carbon fouling quickly turning clear of all color. Now the bore is clean and ready for a coat of bore lube before firing. I use Holland's Witch's Brew Bore Lube or my own alchemical concoction to esoteric to mention.

I have used Shooter's Choice, Butches Bore Shine, BoreTech's Bench Rest Blend, Barnes CR-10, Pro-Shot Copper Solvent IV, Blue Wonder, Wipe Out Foam, Sweet's 7.62, Silver Streak Outboard Motor cleaner, Rem Clean, JB Bore Cleaning Compound and Bore Bright, Holland's Witch's Brew Copper Remover, and the old classic Hoppies #9 and Outers, along with other stuff lost to history. Nothing works as well as BoreTech's products, which contain no ammonia.

Keep in mind I use only double lapped custom barrels, and that face-of-the-moon factory barrels will take a bit more cleaning. I have some factory barrels that seem to be designed to store stratified fouling as a permanent geological record.

However there are many gods in the pantheon of gun cleaning, so others will swear that their favorite brand works best. I will just and say that I'll keep that in mind before walking walk away. Arguing religion is a waste of time.

[thomashoward]

Exactly 2019 by then he will learn California is not a hunting state and do all of his hunting elsewhere.

I for one, am not going anywhere else to hunt. There is game here in Ca. I haven't shot yet.
Yes, Ca. is still a hunting state. Not the best, but still. Out of state fees are more than I can afford. Lots of us hunt here in Ca.,and will not be driven out.
A large portion of the hunting community will still be using lead. I have thousands of rounds that can still be used for targets.

PS: Witches brew removes everything but the steel. Just wrap a patch around a brush. I have a bore-scope so I can see what real clean looks like.

[Wrangler John]

I for one, am not going anywhere else to hunt. There is game here I haven't shot yet.
Yes, its still a hunting state. Not the best but still. Out of state fees are more than I can afford. Lots of us hunt here,and will not be driven out.
A large portion of the hunting community will still be using lead. I have thousands of rounds that can still be used for targets.

PS: Witches brew removes everything but the steel. Just wrap a patch around a brush. I have a bore-scope so I can see what real clean looks like.

I agree Darrell Holland's products are excellent. I use Witches Brew Copper Remover on factory barrels that become fouled. His Witches Brew Bore Lube/Break-in Fluid is great for applications where I don't use Boron Nitride or am too lazy to do the coating. On my Pac-Nor polygonal rifled barrels there is no need for an abrasive copper remover. The one I am working with currently is cleaning up with solvent patches and a nylon brush with so little effort I enjoy cleaning barrels again. Of course this applies to most custom high end barrels, Shilen, Brux, Kreiger, Hart and Schneider among others.

Varmint hunting on private property in Oregon doesn't require a hunting license, but many of the ranches have contracted their big game hunting rights to private guide services that require licenses, tags and some charge up to $10k for a hunt. The last ranch we hunted sage rats on had pronghorns wandering around, picturesque if nothing else.

[toby]

I for one, am not going anywhere else to hunt. There is game here I haven't shot yet.
Yes, its still a hunting state. Not the best but still. Out of state fees are more than I can afford. Lots of us hunt here,and will not be driven out.
A large portion of the hunting community will still be using lead. I have thousands of rounds that can still be used for targets.

Out of state hunts can be very affordable and they are almost always productive. Trust me I don't make much money and when I spend I spend it wisely. When you say you wont be driven out that is exactly what you are doing in the way of letting this state run your life and telling you what and how to do things They have done the same type of crap with off shore fishing and you know all about regs with shooting or target practice on BLM / Public land that you pay taxes on. Support it or leave it, it's your choice. Sad but true.

[mofugly13]

How long do you hunt when you go out of state? I hunt every weekend of deer season in CA, plus a few long weekends when I take extra days off. My "season" would most surely be limited if I were to only hunt out of state.

[toby]

I hunt until I get my animal usually three to ten days I spent fourteen days a few times but I get animals and my hunt is over. One trip instead of many. That's time and $$$$$$ saved plus better size animals. Not saying I get an animal every year that would be BS, but I pass on many if the shot is not good or the animal is just not what I'm looking for. I'm not a meat hunter and in no way a trophy hunter I hunt for the passion of hunting and the exhilaration of finding and tracking a good animal, the taking is just a bonus for me. If you ever hunt another good state you will say to yourself why did I not do this sooner. When and if I hunt Cali it's not in Condor range at all I hunt Low and High Desert Mule Deer, hard to find but well worth the effort, come 2019 my little bit of Cali hunting is over in full.

[mofugly13]

I hunt for the joy of hunting as well. I am a meat hunter, who hopes to bag a trophy. And so, earlier in the season I will pass up smaller bucks hoping for something bigger, and after Labor Day (I hunt A Zone exclusively, Mendocino County), I begin to lower my standards. My best/favorite seasons are the ones where I shoot a good buck in the first couple of weekends, to take off the pressure, and then get my second on the last or second to last weekend of the season. That gives me a whole seven weekends+ of hunting. I also don't get paid for time I take off, so weekend hunting keeps it cheaper for me.

That being said, I work in construction, and come across a LOT of guys who hunt. There is a high percentage of guys I talk to that tell me essentially what you just said, "Once you hunt out of state, you'll never want to hunt in CA again." I cannot see any reason to give up hunting in CA right now, but I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a membership on a private ranch with 8000 acres to hunt. My Grandfather joined this club in 1946, and I am the third generation to hunt out of the cabin that he built, so there's definitely a sentimental thing going on with me.