Lead free Ammo

[mcwoodduck]

I have a pig hunt at the end of this month in an area that requires "lead free ammo" 
I have found some that say they are lead free on the fron of the box but on reading further they have an enclosed lead core and are designed to limit lead fowling.
Is anyone loading a 100% lead free bullet in either 44mag, 357mag, or 45 ACP?
I know Nosler has big copper sluggs but I do not have time to work up a load for my guns and would rather just purchase loaded ammo for a one time hunt.

[Mikey]

mcwoodduck:  I believe the 'lead free' was not meant to mean 'without lead', just without enough lead showing or exposed to burning powders to cause lead particles to be shot out into the breathable atmosphere and breathed in by people. 

There are 'total metal jackets' or 'enclosed' bullets made for each of the calibers you mentioned, 357, 44 and 45acp.  In the 357 and 44 I believe they are referred to as 'silhouette loads' and have a decent sized metplat.  They are not expaning bullets, but they are not frangible either yet I don't believe they are sufficiently well designed to be effective for any sort of hunting. 

There may be an offering for the 45 though.  Mag-Tach makes a 230 gn fmj-swc design for the 45 acp that functions like a hardcast swc from my acps.  These are not totally enclosed and have an exposed lead core, so I don't know if that would work in the lead free state of the peeples republik of kalifornika.  Do the regulations specify 'no lead' at all, or minimum amounts of lead exposed, or no lead shot for waterfowling, or what?  Mikey.

[Mikey]

mc - sorry about the previous ramble, I should have read your note more thoroughly. 

I would hazard the guess that if the box says 'lead free', whatever the fine print says, it is designed to meet the laws there, and as before I believe the 'lead free' was meant to reduce lead fowling. 

If you don't have the time to work up a load I would just use the stuff that says 'lead free' on the box.  Just bring the box along with you in case you are stopped and questioned (by a conservation officer or game warden).  Tree huggers and wanna-be field experts don't count.  JMTCW.  Mikey. 

[BruceP]

According to the Barnes Bullet website both Corbon and Federal load the Barnes XPB in 44mag. and 357mag. I have never used the XPB bullet but from what I have read it should work fine.

Bruce

[mcwoodduck]

Bruce,
Thank you.  Did not think to go to the Federal page.
Mikey,
I was thinking of doing the same thing and having the box with me but it shows a lead core on the box and the fine is really steep not to mention they closed the area for a month to firearms because one of the buzzards had lead poisoning.  Later proved to be a wheel weight the stupid thing ate, but the tree huggers, pinko commie bed wetters, and the anti hunting crowd would go nuts if they saw the bullets and may want to close the area for good to firearms showing that hunters could not be trusted.

[Redhawk1]

I would say Barnes bullets is your option.

[30-06man]

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=603

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=601

[kernman]

mcwooduck,

You might check out the post I started recently asking if Barnes copper bullets penetrate better than lead. If you haven't already. It was also discussed on a recent thread of Mikey's, called, if I'm not mistaken, what 357 ammo do you use? That one is a long post; I believe I introduced the subject on the second page.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck on your hunt.

Kernman

[mcwoodduck]

Guys I shoot with rave about the barns bullets in their rifles and I would like to have a sidearm with me for around the cabin and this seems to be the only way to go right now.
I'm sure we can do some ballistc tests with the bullets.  Also if I hit anything with them I'll let you know how they worked.