copper bullets

[robert slabaugh]

Have any of you cast or used copper bullets? What was your experience?

[MT1]

Are asking if anyone has cast their own copper solids?

I have not and would think the temperatures required to work with it would not play well with some molds (aluminum). Resizing would also be a challenge if required.

[Statkowski]

Melting point of lead (Pb) is 600.61° Kelvin, or 327.46° Celsius, or 621.4° Fahrenheit.

Melting point of copper (Cu) is 1,357.77°K, or 1,084.62°C, or 1,984.32°F.

Melting point of aluminum (Al) is 933.47°K, or 660.32°C, or 1,220.58 °F.

Bottom line - Molten copper would melt an aluminum mold. A cast iron (Fe) mold would be required (the melting point of iron is 1811°K, or 1,538°C, or 2,800°F.

[RXM]

Copper bullets that are currently on the market are made via CNC machine. Lehigh Defense is one of the most recognized manufacturer of full copper bullets.

[cephas]

One way is by using a heavy press to swage the copper around a lead core.
http://www.camdenrgc.com/bulletmakin...r_jacketed.htm
First read about it over at the castboolit site: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...php?41-Swaging
Edit: never done it still learning about casting pb.

[normanvin]

Are asking if anyone has cast their own copper solids?

I have not and would think the temperatures required to work with it would not play well with some molds (aluminum). Resizing would also be a challenge if required.

To add I would think you could not use lead bullet molds on copper. I think the tolerances would get messed up with shrinkage.

[Matt F]

Why would you want to?

Lead is more than 25% more dense than copper. That means that it's got 25% more mass and therefore energy and stopping power for the same size bullet.

Plus lead is what firearms are designed to fire.

Matt

[ungawa]

Why would you want to?

Lead is more than 25% more dense than copper. That means that it's got 25% more mass and therefore energy and stopping power for the same size bullet.

Plus lead is what firearms are designed to fire.

Matt

Lead would probably be closer to 25% less energy than to 25% more energy. Mass is linear and velocity is squared in the kinetic energy relationship. So less mass, same powder (and similar efficiency) is usually more energy because of higher velocity.

[MT1]

I'm still not 100% clear on exactly what the OP is asking. Maybe he'll return to explain...?

[Farbmeister]

Plus lead is what firearms are designed to fire.

Matt

First one to say 'stopping power' loses.

I'm sure that someone is working on a copper alloy to soften it up and make it more squishable. Velocities will probably have to go up, but .223 rounds are 3000fps now.