hand loading (reloading) copper bullets for hunting

[Scott]

I'm building a 1911  with a 6 inch barrel to hunt deer with.   The gun is almost completed and I'm starting to think about the ammunition that I'm going to be using.  Being that I am in California, I have to use non lead bullets.  I have picked up some Lehigh 150gr Xtreme Defense bullets.   Does anyone have any experience reloading these or other copper bullets for hunting?   What powders are you using?

Thanks,
Scott

[50BMG]

Hi Scott,
While I have never loaded all-copper projos for 10mm, I have used them in .44mag & .454Casull handguns to hunt with along with rifle calibers of 6.5Grendel, 7mm RemMag, .308 & .300WinMag.
Thsi year I will be hunting with the 10mm and a 6.5Grendel pistol loaded with Barnes 120g TSX solid copper projos.

For the most part, just load them like normal/lead core projos and work your way up to the desired velocity.

The only slight "issue", if one could call it that, I have run across with solid copper projos was with .454.
The Barnes projectiles had such a large hollowpoint in that caliber that the "body/OAL" of the projo itself was a bit longer than normal to make up the mass. So, due to seating depth, I couldn't get enough powder in the case without serious compression to give me the higher velocity that I normally get out of lead projos in a similar weight range.

Regarding what load to use, this site has a great section of different/proven load recipes you could follow.
Find one in your desired projo weight range, reduce the powder level by @10% (if the recipe only includes a "max" charge weight), and work your way up in charge weight from there, checking for pressure signs as you go.

Personally, for "hot/hunting" loads with projos in the 180g weight range, I'm partial to VV3N37 or AA#9 powders, both using Win. WLP primers.
This years deer 10mm load for me with 185g LBT (solid hard cast lead) projos is 9.2g VV3N37 in front of WLP primers out of my Springfield XDm OSP (has a 5" barrel due to it being suppressor ready).
With this load I'm averaging @ 1309FPS
Hope this helps.
Happy hunting!

[Ramjet]

Something to keep in mind is these are generally longer than their lead counterparts. (Less case capacity) the point I am making is use data that is developed for that specific bullet. Do not use like weight data for a lead or jacketed bullet or you may get into high pressures because of the reduced case volume from the monolithic bullet.