.300 Savage non lead bullet - The Firearms Forum

wsas7816 · 11-08-2011, 03:58 PM

I have a standing invite for wild pig hunting in an area of California that prohibits hunters from using lead bullets. My rifle is chambered in .300 Savage (modern Savage 99F). I have not come across non-lead ammunition. Would it be possible to cast a bullet using “lead substitute”? Much thanks in advance.

1 Eyed Jack · 11-08-2011, 05:10 PM

Ft. Hunter Liggett ??

wsas7816 · 11-08-2011, 05:16 PM

Not that far south but still in the Condor Zone.

Alpo · 11-08-2011, 05:18 PM

Instead of attempting to cast something using a "lead substitute", a much better solution would be to use Barnes TSX Bullets. They are 100% copper, so meet the "no lead" rule. 30 caliber bullets are available in 110 and 200 grain flat base, and 130, 150, 165, 168 and 180 grain boat tail.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/

jack404 · 11-08-2011, 05:24 PM

go the 100% copper we had to use them breifly here thanks to greenies but they work a treat

the 5 part ones are great the jacket covers 4 copper peices that expand on impact , fantastic expansion ( over kill on small stuff ) but great for camels donkeys and pig's

i'd still use em except

1 cost
2 i have thousands of projectile i have bought in the past and need to use before i buy more
3 low need seeing we showed the greenies they polluted worse than any shooters

wsas7816 · 11-08-2011, 05:31 PM

Alpo and Jack404 ... much thanks!

JLA · 11-08-2011, 08:59 PM

Also winchester fail-safe are pure copper and Hornady GMX is pure copper too.

reynolds357 · 11-08-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

Also winchester fail-safe are pure copper and Hornady GMX is pure copper too.

Winchester Fail Safe has a lead core behind the center partition. I loaded many thousand of them over the years and I am 100% sure they have lead.

wsas7816 · 11-08-2011, 09:55 PM

Much thanks to all. After getting some direction from this thread, I found the CA DFG list of certified ammo (see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunti...ifiedammo.html if interested). It seems to make complete sense to buy rather than cast (if possible). I have someone to teach me the reloading process so I think I am on good foundation. Cheers!

JLA · 11-09-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reynolds357

Winchester Fail Safe has a lead core behind the center partition. I loaded many thousand of them over the years and I am 100% sure they have lead.

youre right. I just looked it up. All the failsafes Ive shot and never realized they had lead base-cores, always just assumed they were all copper since they expand similar to Barnes and GMX. Kinda neat now that i know.. Sort of a best of both worlds of a X bullet and a Nosler Partition.

reynolds357 · 11-09-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

youre right. I just looked it up. All the failsafes Ive shot and never realized they had lead base-cores, always just assumed they were all copper since they expand similar to Barnes and GMX. Kinda neat now that i know.. Sort of a best of both worlds of a X bullet and a Nosler Partition.

It is my understanding the Fail Safe is discontinued. I never have read that, but I can not find them anymore so I am making that assumption. It was my favorite bullet for hunting. My understanding is that the prototype was a solid copper alloy bullet. Somehow before production began, that design got scrapped for the partition design. Thus was born "combined technology" bullet company. It was Winchester and Nosler that combined their technology. I have never figured out how both Winchester and Barnes have patent rights to the same frontal bullet design. Hopefully, someone will enlighten me.

JLA · 11-09-2011, 03:29 PM

me too. I bought a locker full of reloading equipment/components a couple years ago and inside was 500 or so Fail safe projectiles among hundreds of pounds of other things. I have since shot most of them and given a couple boxes away. They really are great bullets. Accurate and expand perfectly just like the Barnes and the GMX. Im pretty sure they are discontinued. They arent listed anywhere. The GMX and the Barnes have successfully pushed them to the back of the bus.

BobMcG · 11-12-2011, 04:59 PM

If you're not already set up to handload or would just rather buy a box you could try here at Custom Cartridge. The drawback is that it isn't cheap but the plus is that it's absolutely do-able.

11-08-2011, 03:58 PM	#1
wsas7816 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 69	.300 Savage non lead bullet I have a standing invite for wild pig hunting in an area of California that prohibits hunters from using lead bullets. My rifle is chambered in .300 Savage (modern Savage 99F). I have not come across non-lead ammunition. Would it be possible to cast a bullet using “lead substitute”? Much thanks in advance. -->

11-08-2011, 05:10 PM	#2
1 Eyed Jack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 673	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Ft. Hunter Liggett ??

11-08-2011, 05:16 PM	#3
wsas7816 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 69	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Not that far south but still in the Condor Zone.

11-08-2011, 05:18 PM	#4
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Instead of attempting to cast something using a "lead substitute", a much better solution would be to use Barnes TSX Bullets. They are 100% copper, so meet the "no lead" rule. 30 caliber bullets are available in 110 and 200 grain flat base, and 130, 150, 165, 168 and 180 grain boat tail. http://www.barnesbullets.com/ __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

11-08-2011, 05:24 PM	#5
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet go the 100% copper we had to use them breifly here thanks to greenies but they work a treat the 5 part ones are great the jacket covers 4 copper peices that expand on impact , fantastic expansion ( over kill on small stuff ) but great for camels donkeys and pig's i'd still use em except 1 cost 2 i have thousands of projectile i have bought in the past and need to use before i buy more 3 low need seeing we showed the greenies they polluted worse than any shooters Last edited by jack404; 11-08-2011 at 05:26 PM..

11-08-2011, 05:31 PM	#6
wsas7816 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 69	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Alpo and Jack404 ... much thanks!

11-08-2011, 08:59 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Also winchester fail-safe are pure copper and Hornady GMX is pure copper too. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

11-08-2011, 09:55 PM	#9
wsas7816 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 69	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet Much thanks to all. After getting some direction from this thread, I found the CA DFG list of certified ammo (see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunti...ifiedammo.html if interested). It seems to make complete sense to buy rather than cast (if possible). I have someone to teach me the reloading process so I think I am on good foundation. Cheers!

11-09-2011, 03:29 PM	#12
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet me too. I bought a locker full of reloading equipment/components a couple years ago and inside was 500 or so Fail safe projectiles among hundreds of pounds of other things. I have since shot most of them and given a couple boxes away. They really are great bullets. Accurate and expand perfectly just like the Barnes and the GMX. Im pretty sure they are discontinued. They arent listed anywhere. The GMX and the Barnes have successfully pushed them to the back of the bus. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

11-12-2011, 04:59 PM	#13
BobMcG Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Somewhere in the Twilight Zone. Contributor Posts: 1,119	Re: .300 Savage non lead bullet If you're not already set up to handload or would just rather buy a box you could try here at Custom Cartridge. The drawback is that it isn't cheap but the plus is that it's absolutely do-able.