Okay this is up for discussion! Is tungsten truely worth the extra price? Cant i punch the same with lead? I understand smaller profile maybe easier punchin but if someone doesnt have that money to spend doesnt lead do the same job?

http://siebertoutdoors.com/Terminal-Tackle_c23.htm          Very affordable here.

 

Yes its worth the investment.  You'll want the smaller profile and it'll make your punchin' that much easier.  A 1oz lead bullet is gigantic so anything bigger than that for lead is a no-no for me.  If you tie your knots properly you really shouldn't lose any tungsten except for an occasional bite off from an species that are capable by you.  I have yet to lose a tungsten punch weight.  Tungsten is eco-friendly too..

Yes you can punch with lead & it aint any harder to do than tungsten.

I've been punching before most guys knew what tungsten was!

Oh & you can do it with a jig

I use 1 oz lead bullets (skirted too) with no problems.  It is rare that I need more than that.

Lead is just fine.  I have some tungsten bullet weights that I use for t-rigging but I will not use them for punching.  I want tungsten to transmit what is on the bottom when I am dragging or hopping a bait.  Just my 2 cents.

One of the other benefits of tungsten is its hardness.  If a big bass takes your bait and gets the weight in his mouth, his teeth are going to catch the softer lead and slow down your hook set.  This could lead to poor penetration.  With the smaller, harder tungsten, this isn't a problem.   That said, people were using lead for decades before tungsten, they still caught plenty of fish.  Only you can decide if tungsten is worth the money, it is for me.

One of the other benefits of tungsten is its hardness.  If a big bass takes your bait and gets the weight in his mouth, his teeth are going to catch the softer lead and slow down your hook set.  This could lead to poor penetration.  With the smaller, harder tungsten, this isn't a problem.   That said, people were using lead for decades before tungsten, they still caught plenty of fish.  Only you can decide if tungsten is worth the money, it is for me.

That's a good point.  I heard Denny Brauer mention this while he was fishing Falcon for the Strike King show.  But....you can cut this down some by using powder painted lead bullets too.  Powder coating is pretty hard itself, as far as paint goes.  I use standard black on all of mine for punching.  Still, it's a valid point as we all see those teeth marks in our lead weights.

Look around. You can find some cheaper tungsten than you find in stores. It also matters what cover you are punching into.

http://www.alleystungsten.com

One of the other benefits of tungsten is its hardness.  If a big bass takes your bait and gets the weight in his mouth, his teeth are going to catch the softer lead and slow down your hook set.  This could lead to poor penetration.  With the smaller, harder tungsten, this isn't a problem.   That said, people were using lead for decades before tungsten, they still caught plenty of fish.  Only you can decide if tungsten is worth the money, it is for me.

Sorry man, not buying that.  If this is a problem then it is the person setting the hook or the rod.  It isn't the weight.

Sorry man, not buying that. If this is a problem then it is the person setting the hook or the rod. It isn't the weight.

Yelp! Plus the tungsten can blow its mouth open!

Well just ordered some hand tied punchin rigs, lead weighted, 3 3/4oz and 3 1oz, ready to do some punchin!

Yes you can punch with lead & it aint any harder to do than tungsten.

I've been punching before most guys knew what tungsten was!

Oh & you can do it with a jig

That's it, perfectly said.

Wonder what tungsten company Denny is sponsored  by. Teeth grabbing lead

Wonder what tungsten company Denny is

sponsored by. Teeth grabbing lead

Denny uses a lead Jig!

He be retired to Texas

Lead will work just fine. Lead is going to be a bigger profile than tungsten, but that won't make any difference to the fish. Punching is reaction strike fishing anyways. The only thing the bigger profile is going to hurt is that it might catch some extra grass going down.