Thanks to all! I was looking at those copper bullets. I really only need one box to have on hand... (and of course, 1 to work up the load, and 3 more to shoot for fun in the process, like at some water jugs, ballistic gel...) And as for hunting, I hadn't thought of using the 10 for that, just as a backup bear taser... and to motivate the zombies to go elsewhere for their brains.  As for the rifles I hunt with, I saw a few vids on you tube when the message went out from our Fish and Game department a couple years ago about the lead issue. I watched a slo mo of a lead core JHP exploding lead shards into gel and meat x-rays confirmed, lead in your meat! That was all I needed to know to switch THEN. Later that year, I blasted a buck with a .308 Nosler E Tip out of a SCAR17 from 150 yards which dropped that buck in 30 feet. Devastating, however, no shards. I blasted a Russian boar the next year with a 6.5 Grendel and E Tip from 150 yards on the full speed run. Didn't lead it enough and wasted both hams. Damn! But that boar went about 20 yards and layed down till I walked up on it, and it "charged" me, and not very fast either. One quick head shot ended that bout. What a mess. Bone shards in the hams but no lead! So I am kind of OK with this situation. It's just the side arm in bear country that bothers me. I guess what's good for the California Condor is good for me...

I appreciate the help and expertise guys! Thanks! And Shadow, we probably do have family ties! From what I can remember, everybody is related to everybody else! 

Hi, ya'll, newbie to the forum here. I'm a coon-ass originally born in Lousiana, but moved to Kommiefornia before I was old enough to have anything to say about it. As such, I have been raised by staunch conservatives from both states that are military in nature and history, having relatives who have fought, but miraculously, not died in many of America's conflicts. My step father put nuclear misslles in submarines during the cold war. Therefore I am a true red-blooded 'Muricun raised in a red county (at the time, Santa Clara) in a blue state, during a red presidency, (Nixon, Viet Nam), and have a middle of the road attitude regarding politics... except one critical issue, and that is the 2nd amendment. Without which, there is no constitution imho. That said, having been taught to shoot by my GRANDMOTHER at age 7, (she always got the deer according to her brother, "cuz she was a dead eye who could shoot the eyes out of a rattler at 300 yards"), and so it goes.

I started buyin firearms in '90 when we invaded Iraq. I got an AR, and a 12 guage, and a .357 Colt King Cobra was given to me by a VERY good friend. I came to love the horsepower of that round, and of course the reliability. I left it with my ex-wife once we separated because she needed that kind of reliability and protection.

I decided to buy a 10mm in 1991 when she and I bought that land in the sierras and discovered bears running amuck with our new livestock owning experiment. All the reports were that it has similar ballistics to that .357, and I like the idea of mag swapping. I thought the Glock 20 might be a great pack weapon due to weight, capacity, etc. At that time, there were still issues with frames, etc, however, I went to a range one day in Cotati to try one out. I put all the rounds in the ceiling. The range officer instructed me that I need to learn the Glock. That I needed to learn how to shoot a weapon with no front weight, etc. After putting some holes in the paper finally, he then asked me if I wanted to "try shooting a REAL gun?..." Of course I agreed. He introduced me to the Colt Delta Elite, which I immediately recognized as a 1911, which I was VERY familiar with. I fell in love with that gun on the spot. Then discovered the $1000 price tag, or thereabouts, depending on the model. OUCH! I saved, and once I got home, discovered that our one local range and shop (owned by thef local police chief) had MANY. Gold Cups in .45, and the Target and service version of the 10mm. I immediately put down whatever was in my wallet on the Target. It was/is GORGEOUS! It felt right! It shoots right where you aim it! etc etc etc.... yeah, it's heavy. I DON"T CARE!!! I love my Delta!!!

And so, as I began reloading the year before with a single stage Lee press, et.al, I bought the dies. In those days we didn't yet have internet, so you all didn't exist (online yet)... and neither did the ability to buy supplies, and get info like now. So... Here I am, asking you all the pertinent questions as I have on other forums about the other pea shooters I have collected, and the issues we are constantly being shoved down our throats on the Californicated left coast. (I think we are the victims of large scale election fraud, as I can't believe that a majority of our citizens are actually STUPID enough to vote for these leftist gorrillas...) Anyway, 10mm, and Kommiefornia:

We are now relegated to non lead bullets for hunting, and depredation. There ain't much out there as many of the shooting sports manufactures are shaking their heads and ignoring us, and for good reason, until you consider the market. We are huge, but the selection for pistol hunting lead free bullets for auto loaders is tiny. I am in bear country. I must now only possess lead free ammo when I am hunting on my own land! So my sidearm of choice for bear back up defense is my 10mm. I would be using a solid TMJ or FMJ lead 180 or 200 grn loaded to the max with Longshot most likely, only now I can't carry that. Any suggestions?

Next: for 2 legged varmints, and Zombie apocalypses (meth monkeys): I like to plink with what I would actually have to use in self defense, which has been 180 grn JHP that I would typically buy in bulk. Anybody have experience with the  Montana Gold Bullet versions? Seems like a good deal? Any issues with fouling? Pressures? Weirdnesses? I know to start low and work up. I reload EVERYthing I own. Better performance and accuracy per gun than factory, right? Turns out my latest GF/life partner of the last 12 years has a Colt Python, so my .357 reloading dies are getting used again! Funny, we both have Blued Colt big bores... one wheel, and one auto... Zombies beware! (they flee when they hear one of them report and then the AR500 steel gong 300 yards away go "CLANK!!!

Thanks for your experience and wisdom, ya'll!