I agree he needs to use a different bullet… But the very first sentence he says he is developing a target load not a hunting load..replace that hunk of scrap metal bullet and start over...bullet serves no purpose in big game hunting..
Brendan,
- This is a target load . This load is not a hunting load.
- It needs only to ring steel and punch holes in paper, terminal ballistics are not an issue.
- I intend to shoot a fair amount so keeping cost down important.
- I want the bullet to be close to the grains of my hunting round but ideally slightly lighter
Agreed! That's why I recommended #31; they have the same weight bullet design but different material - precisely designed for what the OP is what is trying to accomplish. I do not think he can do any better except to use the same bullet he will hunt with. We can only advise; however, he has the ultimate decision.Here are my $.02, and I understand you are looking for a target load.
Here goes.
The amount of time and money you will spend messing with a target load is a waste. Get the bullets you plan to hunt with, load and target shoot with them. You will then have first hand knowledge of the load you plan to hunt with. No worries of the wrong zero, the wrong dope, and you will build a sense of drop AND have confidence in the load. I used to shoot cheap military rounds out of my hunting AR, and then go to my main round to hunt. I got confused on my dopes and it was not comforting sitting on stand with the animal in sight, wondering if I had reset zero for my hunting round. My experience is this, find the load that works, buy all you can of the same lot for primers, powder, bullets and brass, and use them and know where that gun will shoot at all ranges. Your life will be SOOOOOO much simpler and you will save money in the long run.
If you want to try two loads, you can, but you will wish you had not.
FMJ is still lead inside of a copper jacket.FMJ's are not ideal for seeing impacts on steel beyond 600yrds. Even copper monos can be tough to visualize. You need the splat of lead on steel.
Sorry, I was thinking of military FMJ's. Do all FMJ's break apart when hitting steel at distance?FMJ is still lead inside of a copper jacket.
Mono's definitely leave less of a signature but the issue isn't if you are hitting the steel it's when you miss that it's really hard to see them