Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Is a new lead-free "partition" the next logical step in big game bullet evolution?

It would seem like a lead-free version of the partition, frangible at the front, copper alloy at the back would be a logical next step... does anyone know if such a bullet is in development?

combining the quick killing ability of a frangible front with deep penetration of the back has always been a great combo...

Could work. Not a bad idea.

I think its called a north fork or TBBC

perhaps I should've been more clear, I mean frangible lead-free at the front (like the new lead-free ballistic tip)

I know exactly what you meant, and it sounds like a good idea. Give an explosive impact and then drive on through.

I think another similar route is taken by one of the custom monometals, wherein the petals are designed to come off after expansion and fly around themselves.

I've often thought of 'circumcising' a TSX just enough that the petals would automatically fly off once it expanded. That would be one deadly bullet.

I still want to shoot some de-tipped TTSX's and see how they group.

Pretty sure expansion wouldn't be an issue.

Isn't this kinda like the H Mantle bullet outta Germany? Someone should know about those...but they had lead, I think....

Hpw far from the main wound channel will these petals fly?

Sounds most like the Lapua Naturalis or the GS Custom mono's from RSA. I've always wondered if a Partition-style bullet that used Tungsten instead of Lead would have any merit. Would most likely be God-awful expensive but could still have a place.

Barnes MRX or WW XP3 answer that question already

Think of a frangible tipped MRX or XP3.


Some sort of 'lead like' front core and a tungsten rear core separated by a partition.

Should be about $1 or 2 each.

i'd think that the expantion characteristics of the solid copper or guilding bullets can be controlled by the depth and shape of the hollowpoint cavity.

I think Nosler has banked on the E Tip to fill that role.It's been doing a good job of it also.imo

I think you are describing the X, E-Tip, and GMX as they shed their petals when the going gets tough enough. In fact, I think the GS Custom is designed to loose its petals without hitting a lot of resistance.

Is there anything being done in terms of bullet development with the expandable metals now being used in lead-free bird shot, such as Hevi-Shot?

Expat

The Remington Copper Solid shotgun slugs are intended to have the petals come off. They've been much more impressive to me than any lead based slug I've used. FWIW...

They come close to what I had in mind but I was thinking of a Partition-style bullet (think A-Frame configuration) that used Tungsten in both cavities, not just in the bullets' base. Again, not sure if this would have any merit or useful application - just brain-storming.

as I understood it, the early failsafes were prone to having petals sheared off (perhaps the alloy was a bit too brittle) and it was problematic because the projectile that was left had a really small cross-section, I even saw this happen with a couple of them in elk; I'm sure that's less of a problem with a slug (whopping cross-section without mushrooming at all)

so, I'm envisioning something along the lines of what a couple people that have posted replies also see (Sam, orion), a bullet designed to lose part of its front mass, like a current Nosler partition, but, filled with some sort of non-lead frangible material in the front that gives the "shotgun effect" that helps with quicker kills, one key to the success of the partition

Nosler has some sort of technology along these lines w/ their new lead-free Ballistic tip, but I'm guessing it's too explosive for a big game bullet at this point since they're only offering it in .22

I looked up the Lapua naturalis and the RSA bullet, they are monometals that look designed only to mushroom, similar to the TSX, MRX, Etip, XP3...

Why is it so important that the front of the bullet fragments? I've only taken a few head of big game with a rifle; all triple shocks. They seemed to work fine.

I was wondering if the E Tip was a flop? I see them on sale and they are priced well below the TSX's.. I just don't see many guys posting kills with them..

As much as I love Nosler's Barnes definitely has the jump on the all copper crowd.

I certainly hope the whacko's don't get lead banned I'd hate to have to give up real Partition's and Hornady Interlokts!

Mike