Groove Bullets-A Better Mousetrap?

[Bobcat]

I had the pleasure to hunt with Don, the owner of Groove Bullets, a few weeks ago. I have been experimenting with his newly designed solid copper bullets. With their design you are supposed to get less copper fouling and more accuarcy than with other solid copper bullets. So far I have only fired them from my 14" 7-30 Waters Contender.....and they were awesome! I fired two 3-shot groups at 100 yards. The first group was .841" and the second group was .654" for an average of .75". I figured I could stop my load development at this point. I have test rounds loaded for 7mm-08 and am looking forward to seeing how they do. I will be trying them on whitetails this season.

The load I was using was: 35.5 grs. of W-748 with the 127 gr. .284 Groove bullet in Win brass using WLR primers. OAL was 2.775".


Here is link to find out more about them: www.groovebullets.com/

Bob

[todbartell]

I don't see what these bullets do that a Barnes TSX can't do better, at less money. Plus Barnes bullets are available across Canada too. I don't like the idea of the petals on the Groove bullets shredding off.

7mm 140 gr. Barnes TSX-BT

[Bobcat]

All of the test reports I have seen on the TSX bullets are favorable. Barnes may have solved some of their problems they had with the regualr X bullets. I am still anxious to try the Groove's on game. They are extremely accurate and I think they will do very well on big game.........yeh, I know they are $0.13 a bullet more. Different strokes.....that is why we have Fords and Chevy's.

Bob

[ArizonaRanger]

Well the grooves have already been shown to penetrate more than the Barnes,my 7mm's are yet to come in and will compare them myself against some 130 Barnes I have sitting waiting for them.
I am supposed to get the first batch of groove 458's and will do likewise with them.
We will see.
Jack

[CoonDawg]

I'm also waiting on some custom groove bullet for a 366 wildcat and depending on how things go maybe in 408.

[TexasDoc]

As Like Tod,I do like the Barnes XXX as the come in a Weight I like I shoot 180gr. out of my 300 RUM and the 300 Win Mag. I have had no fouling with them.I would liketo try the Groove Bullets if they where in the 165 or 180gr. range. in my 300 wsm I think they work great as this gun likes abit lighter bullet. I will be ordering some soon as I will be needing them for theHog hunt in Feb.


Doc

[ICMCumin]

Based on discussions with Don, I think he builds a quality product. I am not a reloader nor am I an expert on rifles and bulllets, but it looks like his design is based on sound research and testing.

One of the big points that Don discussed about the Groove bullet is that is all copper and that lead bullets may be subject to the same environmental restrictions as we are currently saddled with - no lead shot for waterfowl.

While I am in huge disagreement with any environmental issues caused by lead bullets or shot, I have not, to date, seen any discussions on the consequences of using lead bullets on any board nor in print. (All this mess over lead shot and bullets is just shear BS, IMO, but who's asking me??? )

Has anyone seen anything about a state environmental or game agency trying to ban lead bullets?

[ArizonaRanger]

ICM I saw something several years ago about that but nothing ever came of it,I like you feel that the lead shot scam was just that...a scam
I have "known " Don for several years and he builds a quality product and he will stand behind it.
The are notoriusly easy to build accurate loads for,something that can't be said for the Barnes X altho I havent tried the TSX.
Don ran into a tornado several months ago and all the stuff was set back for almost two months,and guess what evryone whose orders were affected got extra bullets,I don't think other companies would do that.
He is an honest straight forward kinda guy and doesn't throw you a line,when he talks about his products you can tell it is from someone who knows his business.
Jack

[GroovyDon]

Comparing a custom made "100% turned" bullet to a swaged bullet is like comparing apples to lemons. Although they are both bullets there are distinct differences.

With a custom made turned bullet they are all "concentric". That can't be said for a swaged bullet. Accuracy with a "balanced" bullet is higher then a swaged (stamped out) bullet.

Measure the distance from the base of any swaged bullet to the start of the ogive and one will automatically see how inaccurate the swaging process is versus a custom made turned bullet.

Our prices are the lowest in the industry for a 100% turned bullet.

Our EXP bullets are designed to lose their petals (at high velocity), producing for maximum internal trauma, allowing the back of the bullet to drive on through for a bleeder hole. If one were to check an exit hole versus an entrance hole on big game animals one would easily see what the exit hole facilitates bleeding much better then the entrance hole.

Our bullets are designed for maximum penetration. I defy any manufacturer in the USA to prove that their bullet (of the same design and purpose) provides for more penetration then Groove Bullets.

The Grooves in Groove Bullets are a proven design in obtaining a very accurate hunting bullet. The grooves also allow for increased velocity by producing less pressure and adding additional powder.

Another by-product of the Grooves is less copper fouling.

Should anybody have questions about Groove Bullets I invite them to visit our web site and/or Forum to gather additional information by users of Groove Bullets.

Have a good one and safe hunting.

Don

[Tackdriver]

Hello There
Somehow those remind me of GS Custom bullets that I have seen pictures of. Those were solid copper too, as I recall.

Do you have any plans to make bullets for the smaller calibers?

[texasshooter]

Don,

I am looking forward to the 6.5mm, 6mm and .22 caliber groove bullets.

[1st cav sgt ret]

I also would like a 6.5(between 125-130 gr)and a 358 225gr simular to the 338

[GroovyDon]

Tackdriver said:

Hello There
Somehow those remind me of GS Custom bullets that I have seen pictures of. Those were solid copper too, as I recall.

Do you have any plans to make bullets for the smaller calibers?

Tackdriver,

I hear this a lot. There is a huge difference between a Groove Bullet and a GS bullet. To the naked eye the difference may not be apparent.

Groove Bullets have grooves cut into the outside diameter of the shank of the bullet. GS bullets have bumps sticking up to form the major diameter on the shank of the bullet.

Why does this make a difference?

It is next to impossible for a reloader to load a GS HV bullet close to the lands because the first bump is so far back. If one did get the first bump within .015" of the lands then there may not be 2 bumps left in the case for alignment. Even with 2 bumps in the case there may not be enough gripping power on the bullet to firmly hold it in place.

Because the Grooves in Groove Bullets are cut "into" the outside diameter Groove Bullets can be loaded close to the lands and still have plenty of surface area to grip the bullet and keep alignment.

You are correct that Groove Bullets are made from solid copper. I have no way of knowing if GS bullets are made from solid "pure copper" or not.

We have just introduced the 270 caliber EXP bullet.

We now have the following calibers on the market.

25
270
7mm
30
338
375

We have plans to introduce additional calibers very soon.

We are working on the 35, 366 and 408 calibers right now. Until all testing is complete we will not release them to the public.

Other calibers that are in various stages of development and testing are:
6mm
6.5mm
416
458

We will be introducing additional "types" of bullets in the near future as well.

Thank all of you for your questions and interest.

Don

[Bobcat]

Don,

Did you put the .224 on the shelf for now or drop it all together? I am whispering so my 22-250 won't hear this...

I was looking forward to a new hunting bullet. There are plenty of varmint bullets.....

Bob

[CoonDawg]

GD