lead vs. FMJ vs. plated

[45user]

I am currently using Barry's plated but thinking about using lead for price.
What are the pros and cons of using each of the bullet type? Any special attention is needed on specific bullets when reloading? I have Dillon SDB set up for 45. Does anyone use lead for IDPA?
Thank you,
45

[f4tweet]

Yes, but not in a Glock barrel. I use Bear Creek 200gr SWC.

[joelogic]

If lead is $.05 and plated is $.07 it would take 8000 rounds to pay off your $160 storm lake barrel so you could shoot lead. Yes people shoot lead out of factory glock barrels. I was just talking to a buddy that shoots 2000 rounds per month so for him it would be worth it but I shoot maybe 1000 per year so plated or jacketed for me.

Lead
Pro, cheap
Con, toxic (yea yea yea, its not that toxic)

Plated
Pro, cheaper than jacketed
Con, Dunno.

[Rover]

I believe the shooters using lead at any given pistol match will far outnumber those using jacketed and plated bullets. Been through thousands of rounds of lead, in multiple calibers since getting into reloading, still no problems, and I still haven't cleaned any of my guns.

[ChrisXD45T]

it would take 8000 rounds to pay off your $160 storm lake barrel

Glocks are great, I have one, but they're not the only gun in the world. There are plenty of guns that shoot lead without changing the barrel.
I'll admit I did put a lone wolf barrel in my 34. It was $100 and my accuracy improved greatly; though I can't say if it's because of the barrel or my lead handloads.
To OP: Lead will generally give better accuracy at lower velocities and it's cheap. You load light and you save on powder and bullets.
Lead will make a mess of your barrel if you push it too fast or too slow though. But that's not much of a concern in 45acp. Get good hard cast lead; swaged is a little cheaper but it's too soft for most loads. That said I've had excellent results with Hornady swaged lead in 38spl.
If you decide to try lead I recommend Missouri Bullet Company.

[45user]

Thanks for your replies. So is there any drawback in using lead in your reloading dies? I've heard that some lubricant from lead can build up in your seating dies and can make difference in your OAL. How true is this when you use hard cast lead? It will be for 5" 1911s.
Thanks again,
45

[gottarollwithit]

For your 1911, it won't care whether you use lead, plated or jacketed.

Lead will likely have lube on it - the stuff can burn off and be dirty. Lead's also dirt cheap. If you're worried about dirtying your dies, you can always spray some solvent down it to wash out any gunk. Kinda doubt that'd be a prob though.

Plated... Plated is a little more expensive than lead swaged, but you don't have to worry about it having probs in polygonal barrels. Also no lube to burn... Plated is a good medium, but you can't push it to jacketed velocities. Rainier also touts plated to be super clean. Dunno if that's actually true though.

Jacketed... It's the most expensive, but it's got the most data on it and you can push it pretty hard. I like it b/c most factory loads are going to be with jacketed stuff and you can make almost exact replicas of factory loads.

[Fishslayer]

Lead is dirty. My Ruger KP90 started to malfunction after about 80 rounds or so of it. I was using Bullseye powder, too.
If you go with cast boolits try the Moly coated "black" bullets.

[mif_slim]

Lead is dirty. My Ruger KP90 started to malfunction after about 80 rounds or so of it. I was using Bullseye powder, too.
If you go with cast boolits try the Moly coated "black" bullets.

Depends on how you load and what type of lead bullets. I cast my own lead bullets, shot at least 8k...no issues.

[xxdabroxx]

i like my bullets like i like my women, black and strong. Errr, wait, that was coffee. Oh well, i shoot moly coated lead.

[Bug Splat]

I really like Moly coated bullets from Bear Creek. I've loaded and shot tens of thousands of them and other than a little more cleaning to do after each session its fine. Its cheaper to shoot and easier to find for me as my local shop always has a full supply of them.

[Rover]

Lead is dirty. My Ruger KP90 started to malfunction after about 80 rounds or so of it. I was using Bullseye powder, too.
If you go with cast boolits try the Moly coated "black" bullets.

I am by no means an expert, but I suspect 1 of 2 things may have happened. Either your bullets were too soft, or it was pushed too fast. I have noticed some leading at the top of the loading scale on my .44s, never pushed my 9mm loads as they're just for short-range plinking, but my 150yard .44 load will lead the barrel a bit, push it even faster and I can see it leading a lot.

[SCMA-1]

I'm switching back to lead after using plated for many years because of cost. The good thing about 45 ACP is that it's probably one of the easiest rounds to load; I have yet to find a load regardless of bullet that didn't shoot well in 45.

I'm buying bullets from this outfit now; their bullets are exceptionally hard and very inexpensive:

http://www.uniqueprecisionbullets.com/

Their bullets are so hard that I can even shoot 40 cal major with their 180 through my Glock 22's and accuracy is excellent with only a very slight lead residue.

[45user]

Thanks for the link SCMA-1.
Do these bullet pre lubed and ready to reload?
Thanks,
45

[45user]

Never mind, just read their homepage and the bullets are ready to be loaded.
Thanks,