Lead vs FMJ

[kcheung2]

Another question. Does bullet diameter vs bore diameter only effects accuracy (and some pressure if the bullet is too big)? Because my local range only goes up to 200 yards (185 meters) and trying to shoot sub 1moa is the least of my concern.

Since you're asking if using the wrong sized projectile is acceptable, I'd assume even an approximation of accuracy is not a consideration. In that case you could put little rocks in there instead & shotgun it, then certainly pressure is not an issue.

Or like Mongoose said before me, do some research, understand the fundamentals, and do it right.

[ironhorse1]

If all you want to do is plink then by all means try some cast lead bullets and be sure to get them with gas checks.

I have never shot coated bullets in a rifle but they can be purchased in the correct diameter for your rifle.

Missouri bullet company offers a .311" Hi-Tek coated bullet in a couple of different weights.

It's a lot of fun to shoot reduced loads and cast bullets are the best choice.

irh

[Abenaki]

If you haven't had the experience yet, just be aware that removing lead from a barrel can be a PITA.

Removing lead from a barrel is not that hard.

Take a bronze brush of the proper diameter for your bore. Take some 100% copper pot scrubber like "chore boy" and wrap it around the brush. A couple of passes down the bore should do the job.

Just make sure that it is 100% copper. Not some copper plated stuff.
As that could damage the bore.

If your goal is to shoot lead boolits out of your gun....go for it!
Just remember that there is a learning curve. It may take some playing around with stuff to get things right. But you can do it.

Now get your self over to the castboolits forum and learn all that you can.

Abenaki

[mrbigsteel]

...the general idea is to load about 10% less powder for lead bullets because of different characteristic potentially producing higher pressure. I was wondering if this was true...

Yes, less powder for lead than for FMJ according to the loading manuals I have read. My understanding is that this is because lead bullets obturate (expand) in the bore more than FMJ when fired. Thus they seal gasses better.

[JagerDog]

No cast boolits in rifle sage here, but IME cast bullets designed for rifles at "standard velocity" (gas checks, etc.) cost more than jacketed.

I shoot a lot of molly coated lead in pistols. I'm careful to keep the velocity down in pistol caliber carbines.

[tonyjr]

I only use FMJ .
My desert eagles are magnums are lead gets into the gas chambers .
I / we shoot from 22lr [ plated ] 25 acp to 50 AE - 243 to 30 caliber in rifles . Lead and coating/lube gets into all parts
Leading up of barrels was a problem .
We were spending more time cleaning than reloading .
If you buy cast lead mite be a little cheaper , but sizing takes time and coated bullets also leave gunk in gas chambers

[RiskyBusiness]

I only use FMJ .
My desert eagles are magnums are lead gets into the gas chambers .
I / we shoot from 22lr [ plated ] 25 acp to 50 AE - 243 to 30 caliber in rifles . Lead and coating/lube gets into all parts
Leading up of barrels was a problem .
We were spending more time cleaning than reloading .
If you buy cast lead mite be a little cheaper , but sizing takes time and coated bullets also leave gunk in gas chambers

Powder coated cast shoots fine in my DE

[tonyjr]

RiskyBusiness
I was given some [ 5 ] powder coated for 50- yellow nephew for 44 they left
yellow stuff in gas chamber .
One of the guys at range had red coated - he did not like either and said try
red stuff in gas chamber .
I don't know what brands the coatings were or how hard the lead was .
Not worth it to me to set up a coating system or buy coat bullets and find out
they leave stuff in gas chamber .
I / WE don't really shoot them that much anymore . they did leave a little in the
barrels

[RiskyBusiness]

couldve been loaded beyond recommended FPS, maybe too small in diameter that let gas squeeze by and burn some coat, pc was not cured, there could be dozens of reasons but yeah ive seen minimal streaks of coat down my barrel. Gets cleaned up with one run of a boresnake and CLP. Never had lead problems tho.

[kramynot]

This...

The first thing that you need to know about shooting cast boolits, is to forget all of the old wives tails about it from people who have never done it.

99.9% of all my hand gun shooting is with cast boolits.

You do not need gas checks. I shoot full magnum loads in 357 and 41 mag with out gas checks. I even use powders like H110. I get no leading. None, zilch, nada!!!

Never forget that with cast boolits size is king, lube is queen, and hardness is a ugly step child!!!! In other words do not get hung up on hardness. infact, to hard of a boolit can give you leading problems.

May I suggest that you get the Lyman cast bullet hand book. And you really need to visit www.castboolits.gunloads.com

I need to warn you that shooting cast boolits is a rabbit hole that has no bottom. You may even start casting your own.

Take care
Abenaki

Definitely agree: 1) get the Lyman book and 2) go over to castboolits.com. There is a subforum there about shooting cast in old military rifles. Lots of good info there.

I cast and load for everything from .32acp up to 577/450 Martini-Henry. For the mosin, I've been casting and loading 155 & 180 gr bullets. As Abenaki said, if you get the size right and lube it up, there's no problem with leading. All of my bullets are primarily old wheelweights with some junk lead (scuba weights, fishing weights, etc.) mixed in. I gas check all my rifle bullets because I don't know how hot I'm going to load them, but typically I load light.