Anyone ever use these bullets?

[handirifle]

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ER_F60_CU_RAPTOR

I know they are very expensive, but Kalifornia is lead free only now. I also know of the other lower cost brands, and use them. What gets me curious is the design parameters. This is from their description;

"After 1.5 - 2" of penetration six blades are engineered to shear off and radiate out in a star pattern while the Blunt Trauma BaseTM continues to deliver deep, straight-line penetration. A minimum impact velocity of 1500 fps is required for the hollow point to function as intended."

The LOW min velocity is nice especially when compared to bullets like Barnes with a 2100-2200 min. SOME of the Barnes are lower, but not by much. Hornady and others are similar to Barnes, as well. Once a Barnes bullet drops to min or below, it simply drills a caliber diameter hole through what ever it hits.

This design seems like it would give pretty devastating performance on something like a deer. A 60gr bullet would give somewhere between 3500 and 3700fps from a 243. With a 307BC I ran some calcs (Point Blank software) and it had a 300yd point on with a 4" circle (2" high max and 2" low max). That's a 260yd zero, at 3700fps, impacting 1.6" high at 100yds and 1.97 low at 300. With 2768fps at 300 and 1021ft lbs energy. It doesn't fall below 1500fps until 800yds, so theoretically, it would still open reliably at 700yds. That would have a little over 400ft lbs of energy. Not really deer power there, but I would never shoot one that far anyway.

Just looking at the numbers (except the price) it seems pretty impressive.

[Shooter0302]

My questions are;
1`. what 6 MM cartilage can drive a 60 gn bullet at 3700 fps ?
2. What animal do you hunt with the 60 gn bullet

[LoneWolf]

I'm pushing a 115gr DTAC at 3040fps out of the 6 Creed with a 25" Barrel. I would guess a 60gr Bullet in the 6 Creed could be driven to 3300-3400 and with a 243ai or 6-06 I bet you could get 3700 pretty easily.

[BarrelBurner]

My questions are;
1`. what 6 MM cartilage can drive a 60 gn bullet at 3700 fps ?
2. What animal do you hunt with the 60 gn bullet


.243 win will do it without much effort. So there should be several others topping that.
Some of the benchrest boys are hitting that 3700fps mark with 6mmBR's and its variants.

[handirifle]

I was basically extrapolating data. Barnes online manual lists 58gr loads at 3800-3900 and 62gr loads from 3700-almost 3800 so it was a ballpark extrapolation, but within reason. I have pushed 58gr (not Barnes) at 3800 from my 20" barrel.

I haven't hunted anything with them yet, and bullet weight for monolithic bullets is not nearly as relative as lead core. I would hunt deer with it. Mainly these out here. They are a smaller version of mule deer, at about 200lbs tops. Not sure I WILL try them, but that low min velocity is sure tempting. I plan on using the Barnes 80gr first though.

[earl39]

My questions are;
1`. what 6 MM cartilage can drive a 60 gn bullet at 3700 fps ?
2. What animal do you hunt with the 60 gn bullet

1.... How bout a 6-284

2.... Depends on the type bullet. With a solid/expanding type (no lead) bullet you can hunt animals you would normally hunt with an 80 or 90 grain lead core. I use a 90 grain lead free 6.5 bullet and a 70 grain lead free .224 bullet on hogs and whitetail with complete pass thru on most whitetail shots. Hogs are a little different story and only had one get away but it was completely my fault as it was a bad shot.

[handirifle]

I think when I get some extra cash, I might order a box of these and experiment. Maybe on a yote first. Based on how they say the bullet performs, it sounds like it will be devastating. That first 1.5-2" of penetration should get it past the ribs, then the lungs would be toast.

[Aussie shooter]

There's a few blokes in OZ using them, you might find some info on the Aussie "Enough gun" forum, they seem awfully expensive for a hunting round though, Cheers

[s3silver]

At almost twice the price of Barnes, I don't think I will mess with them. I've taken several CA bucks with the Barnes 6.5 100 ttsx with great results.


I thought CA wasn't all lead until 2019? You must be hunting in so-cal.

[handirifle]

Aussie Thanks, I will look them over. Yes LOTS of money.

S3silver
I live and hunt in northern SLO county. One of the few remaining conservative strongholds left in this state. Non-lead has been required here since they enacted the "traditional condor breeding zone". I too, use the Barnes. Mine have been the 168gr TTSX from my '06, but always looking for something different. I haven't hunted anything for the last 2 years though. RV and other commitments have kept me away.

[s3silver]

S3silver
I live and hunt in northern SLO county. One of the few remaining conservative strongholds left in this state. Non-lead has been required here since they enacted the "traditional condor breeding zone". I too, use the Barnes. Mine have been the 168gr TTSX from my '06, but always looking for something different. I haven't hunted anything for the last 2 years though. RV and other commitments have kept me away.


That's what I thought...condor range. I'm in nor cal and will be there soon too.

Have you tried the 150 TTSX or maybe even the 130's. They'll probably give you more or better expansion. I found the ttsx loves speed and all my loads have shot the best at hot loads.

[taylorce1]

My buddy tried them in his .300 WM on one OK hunting trip. He was contemplating using them on an African plains game hunt and wanted to see if they were at least as good as his favorite TTSX bullets. They worked as described, but inside 100 yards they created massive entrance wounds much like a varmint bullet. It's a good thing the bullet shank is solid copper/brass and doesn't come apart as well.

He and his dad took a total of six white tail that trip with that rifle and load. In the end my buddy stayed with the TTSX for his African hunt. He's always trying different mono metal bullets, but he seems to always go back to Barnes in 6mm he loves the 80 grain TTSX for everything.