BULLETS
Bullet technology is advancing at an incredible pace. The quality and performance of today's bullets is better than ever, and choices are abundant. Two things seem to be driving these advances - significant interest in long range shooting and non lead requirements imposed by some states and jurisdictions. Advancing technology certainly has also played a major part.
An interesting side note to the new market of high tech and high performance bullets is that it shifts the search for accuracy to the other components of the firearm, like barrels, bedding, triggers, stocks, etc. It also gives the handloader new challenges to develop recipes for high performance. While these new bullets are designed to out perform others, there is only so much improvement one can expect when the barrel is worn out or badly pitted, the trigger is stiff and heavy, etc.
Focusing only on bullets then, I note that there are new and improved projectiles coming out all the time. Keeping track of the market can be time consuming, but productive. Despite the numerous players, there are several companies that have established solid reputations, and are worth mentioning. There are most certainly others, and we hope that you will let us know what you have discovered. One of the things I have discovered is that research pays off. So does practice. Not every high performance bullet will perform well in your rifle. Assuming that your firearm is otherwise in good shape, there may be some testing of different bullets or factory ammo to arrive at what is best for you.
Cutting Edge Bullets - https://cuttingedgebullets.com/
CE's bullets are about as precise as humanly possible, with the aid of computer guided machines. Their product line is entirely copper and suitable for both long range target shooting and hunting. They are packaged individually to protect each bullet. To look at them, brings to mind a work of art. If one has an objective of consistency, Cutting Edge bullets is at the top of the heap (along with a few others.) Incidentally, their line of bullets should be of interest to those who are now required to use non lead ammunition, (and they are certified by the State of California.)
Our Manufacturing Process
CNC Swiss Style Automatic Lathes are second to none when it comes to machining small precision parts.
They are typically used in machining complex parts in a single operation verses multiple operations using other methods. This is accomplished by the machines being equipped with live tools (meaning tools that rotate) for milling, drilling, tapping, reaming, etc. for machining done crosswise through a part. A hex, square, or any other shape can be cut on a part with these tools as well. Our machines are equipped with a pick-off spindle, or sub-spindle, so after a part is machined on the front spindle, the part can be grabbed with the sub spindle and cut off to prevent the part from falling and getting damaged. Once the part is in the sub spindle there are separate tools that can be used to machine the part on its backside which also prevents having to perform another operation on another machine. This is how the shape is cut into the rear of our bullets.
Once the part is machined complete, the part is ejected into a rubber lined part chute and onto a conveyor. The part then travels on the conveyor to the outside of the machine.
Here are a couple of pictures of rifle and handgun bullets:
- CE Bullets Handgun.jpg (18.72 KiB) Viewed 1064 times
- CE Bullets rifle.jpg (10.41 KiB) Viewed 1064 times
Berger Bullets, http://www.bergerbullets.com/
Berger bullets have a well earned reputation for precision, which in their case has seen constant improvements over the years. Again, if consistency is your goal, Berger is at the top of the heap (along with a few others). Their bullets are all of a jacketed lead core design and are suitable for hunting, long range shooting and competition. They sell both loaded ammo and bullets.
Here is what they say:
All tooling is precision made using dimensional tolerances in the .00005. Using precision-made tooling is an absolute requirement. The companies who make our tooling are specifically in the precision tooling business. We meet with them regularly to communicate our tooling needs and special projects. Those who understand precision tool making know that these things are possible but not without deliberate effort and experience.
J4 Precision Jackets are the only bullet jackets in the world known for less than .0003 total wall thickness variation on every size and lot. This has been true for decades and is provable by checking any lot. There are those who claim that they can meet this tolerance and we know that they can every once in a while, but to do this with every single lot is something that only J4 has perfected. Anyone who wants to can order jackets and check them yourself. This is an absolutely critical aspect of precision bullet performance and we are the only bullet company with this capability.
A couple of pics:
- Berger classic-hunter.gif (8.83 KiB) Viewed 1064 times
- Berger vld-design.gif (8.91 KiB) Viewed 1064 times
Lehigh Defense - https://www.lehighdefense.com/
Lehigh Defense offers an impressive line of bullets and loaded ammo for self defense, long range target shooting, and hunting. A great deal of their line is lead free and certified by the state of California for use in hunting. The Lehigh technology in making their bullets is quite unique, and a visit to their website will be very informative. Several versions of Lehigh's bullets are suitable for hunting, and here is what they say about one such bullet.
Controlled Chaos Technology
Controlled Chaos The development of this technology was the result of an animal control agency's request for a no lead .243 bullet that would provide extensive wound trauma with little minimal pass through energy. Basically the idea was to burst the bullet into numerous particles at a predetermined depth creating many wounds and a large temporary cavity with shot placement at or near the central nervous system. The agency had tried copper matrix frangible rounds and found the penetration depth and particle size were less than what was require for proper terminal performance.
The bullet is designed to penetrate to a specific depth and to fracture as the internal hydraulic pressure exceeds the hoop strength of the nose design. At the time of fracture, a massive energy spike is released as the particles break away and radiate outward from the initial trajectory path.
- Lehigh bullet.jpg (122.52 KiB) Viewed 1064 times
Barnes Bullets - http://www.barnesbullets.com/
Barnes has perhaps the largest presence in the non lead bullet market. They have been making all copper bullets for more than 30 years. In many ways, Barnes has been a pioneer and leader in the non-lead projectile market. Today their lineup of these bullets is comprehensive and their performance is well established. One of the outstanding features of the Barnes X bullets is their fantastic weight retention. When I could find the fired bullet, the weight consistently exceeded 95%. The mushrooms were nearly textbook perfect.
- Barnes TSX.jpg (1.41 MiB) Viewed 1064 times
Nosler Partition - https://www.nosler.com/partition-bullet/
No discussion of premium bullets would be complete without mentioning the Nosler Partition. For many decades, this bullet was the undisputed king of premium bullets, and for many, even today, it remains so. With increasing technology, the position at the top of the heap of bullet manufacturers is becoming a crowded field. Nosler is still a contender, and for many good reasons.
Here is what they say about the partition bullet (from their website.) Note: the numbers on the picture corrrespond to the numbered paragragh below.
- Partition-Section-with-bullet-points.jpg (16.26 KiB) Viewed 1062 times
1 Nosler Engineering
Nosler’s special lead-alloy, dual-core provides superior mushrooming characteristics at virtually all impact velocities.
2 Fully Tapered Copper-Alloy Jacket
Ruptures instantly at the thin jacket mouth, yet the gradual thickening along the bullet’s axis controls expansion and curls the jacket uniformly outward at high and low velocities.
3 Nosler’s Integral Partition
Supports the expanded mushroom and retains the rear lead-alloy core. The enclosed rear core retains more than two-thirds of the original bullet weight for deep penetration.
4 Dual-Core Construction
Every Partition® bullet in the Nosler® line delivers optimum length, weight and ogive design for maximum in-flight and terminal performance.
5 Special Crimp Locks
Adds strength to resist deformation under the pressure of heavy magnums.
Loaded Ammunition
For all you shooters who do not handload, you are not to be left out of this technology. Several companies have stepped up and are making ammo with premium bullets.
1. Winchester Deer Season Copper -
https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunit ... per-Impact
2. Sig Sauer Elite Hiunting Ammunition -
https://www.sigsauer.com/store/308win-1 ... ng-ht.html
3. Remington (loaded with Barnes X Bullets)-
https://www.remington.com/ammunition/ce ... erformance
4. Cutting Edge Loaded Ammunition (handgun only) -
https://cuttingedgebullets.com/shop/cut ... ammunition
5. Leehigh Defense loaded Ammunition (both rifle and handgun) -
https://www.lehighdefense.com/collections/ammo
6. Weatherby Loaded Ammunition (with Barnes X- Bullets) -
http://www.weatherby.com/300-wby-mag.html