making solid copper bullets?

[lower lover]

I have been using a cnc lath for work and i feel comfortable that i can manufacture solid copper projectiles pretty easily. I am perching my reloading tools now and will start to reload for the ar15 soon. I am trying to see how accurate i can get. I am unsure if i can produce something better than whats available. Is this worth trying? I understand the density of copper vs lead and oal issues that i may run into. thanks for any insight

[74c5]

Be interesting to see what you can hold on a lathe. Copper does work harden on impact and know of more than one one-shot double-kill due to over penetration on pigs.

[Fjold]

Many people make their own solid projectiles now. Barnes started out that way and even the great Nosler partitions initially had lathe turned jackets.

[J-cat]

I want to cast my own copper bullets.

[orangeusa]

If it was such a great idea, dont you think it would be popular by now?

.

[Stkx66]

If it was such a great ideat, dont you think it would be popular by now?

.

+1

[thenodnarb]

If it was such a great ideat, dont you think it would be popular by now?

.

A CNC lathe is a bit of an investment. Hardly worth it just to make bullets since solid copper projectiles have only recently become commonplace themselves.

OP, I think if you give it a test, and the tolerances are good, you should go for it if you are interested.

[sl0re10]

Yeah; make some to find out the actual cost... if the machine isnt something that wears out quickly due to use... might as well make bullets when you don't have other projects for it.

[koehn,jim]

Go for it. If it is something you feel like playing with why not.

[brettkeating]

Copper is more than 3x less dense than lead, and far more expensive. Why would you want to do that?

[gemoose23]

for lathe turned bullets... http://www.gscustomusa.com/

[thenodnarb]

Copper is more than 3x less dense than lead, and far more expensive. Why would you want to do that?

Please explain this to the idiots in Sacramento.

[asm_]

Copper is more than 3x less dense than lead, and far more expensive. Why would you want to do that?

I'm not sure where you get your information, but copper is not 3x less dense than lead. To be exact, copper is 8.96g/cm3 while lead is 11.34g/cm3. More expensive, correct on that one.

.

[asm_]

If it was such a great idea, dont you think it would be popular by now?

I think the reason why it hasn't become popular is mostly because not everyone own an CNC machine. Copper it self is relative soft and given the correct feed rate and tooling, the cutting tools will last a while. Will I ever use it for plinking? Hell no. It's much easier and cheaper to cast lead. For long range hunting, hell yes!! It will be the most precise pullet ever made.

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[CSACANNONEER]

A few years back, I picked up about 300 lathe turned copper solids from Skip Talbot's estate that Lynn McMurdo had made back in the early 90's for 50BMGs. They shot surprising well for their profile but, were a PITA to load with their flat base. I sure wish I could get more of them at or near the price I paid. The idea is far from new but, it takes someone with the machinery, know how, TIME and desire to make them.