Removing lead buildup

[C.W.M.V.]

I post here because i cast my own bullets-but that isn't working so well for me.
What do you use to alloy the lead with?
And what do you use to remove heavy leading?
Thanks!

[J-cat]

Do you understand the relationship between bullet diameter, alloy hardness, velocity, pressure, and chamber dimensions?

[gunboat]

Your post is not very clear as to exactly what your problem is -- care to elaborate a bit?

[C.W.M.V.]

My alloy is too soft and now my barrel is badly leaded, what's the easiest way to remove the lead and what are you all using to make you bullet alloys harder?

[bruce381]

go over to the "cast Boolits" web site they have a sticky I think for newbies.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php?

bruce

[bruce381]

basicly size boolits .001- .002 over the bore diameter , I use wheel weights and LARS BAC lube and have no lead in 38, 357, 41, 44 and 45 acp pistols.
look on the cast boolits site they will have all you answers for you.

bruce

[gunboat]

+1 to bruce381 -- cast boolits is probably best for you -- The lead alloy is not necessarily too soft, your bullet size, lubricant, powder choice or powder charge may be incorrect for the alloy you are using --
I do not care to guess what you are shooting, what alloy you are using and so on --

[J-cat]

My alloy is too soft and now my barrel is badly leaded, what's the easiest way to remove the lead and what are you all using to make you bullet alloys harder?

How do you know your alloy is too soft? Unless you have all the other factors in check, alloy hardness is the last thing you should be worrying about.

[C.W.M.V.]

How do you know your alloy is too soft? Unless you have all the other factors in check, alloy hardness is the last thing you should be worrying about.

Because its not really an alloy

Its pretty much straight lead. I figured if i kept the velocity slow enough if wouldn't be a big problem-oh how wrong i was. Ive been using 200rn LSWC sized to .452 for my 1911. COL 1.125, using 3.6 gn's of Clays powder (I think dont have the data handy) for a muzzle velocity of +/- 760fps, and federal 150 primers.

Ill check out castboolits, thanks.

[J-cat]

You can run soft lead up to 1000 FPS without leading if your gun is dimentioned correctly and the bullet fits correctly. Making the alloy harder will not stop leading if the bullet is undersized for the chamber and barrel and the pressure is too low.

[C.W.M.V.]

You can run soft lead up to 1000 FPS without leading if your gun is dimentioned correctly and the bullet fits correctly. Making the alloy harder will not stop leading if the bullet is undersized for the chamber and barrel and the pressure is too low.

Ah I see-Slug the barrel then?
I should also try a little bit higher pressure then too. My loads are very low pressure.

[mif_slim]

I been casting for a while now and the last few months I been casting pure lead. The lead is so soft I can bend it with my fingers with hardly no resistance. I cast it and I've shot it thru my 40SW. from 850-950fps its perfect. My usual "hot" loads at 1100fps will lead the barrel if I use the soft cast bullets.

Just load light and you should be okay, thats if your bullet/bore is correct.

[J-cat]

Ah I see-Slug the barrel then?
I should also try a little bit higher pressure then too. My loads are very low pressure.

What are you shooting? In whatever case, you need to know your barrel groove diameter. In revolvers, you need to know the cylinder throat dimensions. In autos, you still need to know the chamber throat dimensions. Your bullet needs to be no less than .0005" than your largest number: For exambple, if your barrel slugs .451" and your throat is .453", then your bullets should be no smaller than .4525".

Lead bumps up under pressure, but only about .001" at the most and you need about 30000 PSI for that. Soft lead cannot hold up under that much pressure, only about 20000 PSI. Therefore, .0005" under is all you can afford.

We need more information: what gun, load, etc.

[C.W.M.V.]

Shooting forom RIA officers model 1911. Current load is 200gn LSWC, 3.6gn Clays, ~760FPS.

[pepsi2451]

What kind of lube are you using? I have been casting .452 Lee 230gr tumble lube bullets and lubing with Lee liquid Alox. I found that the lube works better if I lube them, let them dry and then lube them again, it seems to fill in the little grooves better. I was using 4.5 grains of bullseye and only lubing them once and I was getting a little bit of leading. After I dropped the charge to 4.2 and started lubing twice I don't get any more leading. I'm using whatever lead I can get my hands on from wheel weights to fishing weights and shooting them out of my RIA 1911.