Non Lead .264 bullets?

Smittiac

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Oct 8, 2020
    222
    98
    CA
    I saw someone on here post a non lead bullet that is CA approved and not barnes or nosler etc.

    What "CA approved" lead free option have you found best results with?

    Thanks for any input.
     
    The Hornady GMXs are 100% gilding metal (95% copper and 5% tin, IIRC). I shoot them a little in my 6Creed but with so many bullets to evaluate, I have little experience with the GMXs.. Here are all of Midway's .264 nonlead bullets.

     
    Last edited:
    • Like
    Reactions: Smittiac
    The Hornady GMXs are 100% gilding metal (95% copper and 4% tin, IIRC). I shoot them a little in my 6Creed but with so many bullets to evaluate, I have little experience with the GMXs.. Here are all of Midway's .264 nonlead bullets.

    Thanks, been there done that not looking for the "big name" looking for stuff that would show up on here that works much mo betta. Maybe something that isn't a low BC lighter bullet.
     
    I’m not sure if Badlands Precision has gotten California approval, but I think they did. Give them a call because their product line is about to change and all the bc’s will be going up
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Smittiac
    Anyone have experience with the ones you advised? I'm shooting 6.5 CM and 300 WM. More interested in the 6.5 for pig/deer/black bear.

    Killed three deer with the 123 Absolute Hammer, two died instantly and one died after a 60 yards run but that was with liquified lungs and a hole in the heart, not sure what more you could ask for. MV was 3380 out of a 24” 6.5 PRC.

    With the 122gr Controlled Chaos from Lehigh I killed a 475 pound black bear, all three body shots penetrated clean through including a diagonal shot that broke the spine and hit the lungs. MV was 3150 out of the same 24” 6.5 PRC.
     
    Those are actually the ones I was looking for lol, saw a thread here a few days ago that I couldn't find.

    PVA isn't on the list though....

    Reach out to PVA- I thought they had the letter to be CA compliant.
    Also, I’ve been shooting the 122 Cayugas. They’re lasers using H4350, I’m getting 2950 out of a 21” creedmoor barrel.
     
    • Love
    Reactions: Smittiac
    I've had really good results with the Lehigh copper bullets. I use them in a 6.5 creedmoor and in a 7mm Rem Mag.

    Tikka T3 CTR 24" 6.5 Creedmoor
    Norma brass
    WLR Primers
    44.5 gr of H4350
    122gr Lehigh controlled chaos
    Averaging 2910 fps
    (coal 2.925) (B.T.O. 2.240)

    I dropped a smaller buck last year at 437yds. I put it right in the "crease" and he was DRT.
    Overall I'm happy with the bullet. The only drawback I see is they don't buck the wind as well as an ELD-X/ELD-M. But they are consistent, as long as I adhere to my dope for wind they hit where they are supposed to.
    20191201_122817.jpg
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Smittiac