is lead really that dirty?

[hairtumor]

I am going to get into reloading, mainly 45acp. I have ben pricing supplies on the internet. Lead cast bullets seem to be the best price but everybody says they get your gun really dirty

[ElvenSoul]

Yes Lead is all evil! Now shut up and eat your mercury poisoned fish, and Monsanto Poisoned Vegetables!

[five.five-six]

meh, not that dirty and lead cleans a lot faster than copper

[hairtumor]

QUOTE=ElvenSoul;7959653]Yes Lead is all evil! Now shut up and eat your mercury poisoned fish, and Monsanto Poisoned Vegetables![/QUOTE]

[kuletchi]

Yes, but you can buy some slip 2000 carbon killer and dwipes from dillon and your good to go.

[BigBronco]

.45 acp is a low velocity round you should be fine.

[r3dn3ck]

lead is not clean or dirty. It is a reasonably soft metal with good obturation characteristics so it fills rifled bores nicely. It does have a relatively low melting point so if you're stupid about it and try to treat them like jacketed bullets you'll get more severe leading of the barrel.

keep your loads less than hot rods.

I find that the powder I use and the amount has a butt ton more to do with how dirty my gun gets than the bullet I pick.

[Sheldon]

I have never had a real issue with lead bullets and have used them pretty much exclusively. I maybe lucky to never had a gun that leads up. The price pretty much sealed the deal for me early on. The commercial cast prices have now driven me to casting my own.......it's a lot of work and I would start buying commercial cast again in a heartbeat if prices were to ever drop back down to what I can tolerate....not likely!!

[peter95]

IBTL....

[incredablehefey]

not the correct place but, if you push the lead bullet too fast you will end up leading the barrel unless you use gas checks. I use non checked bullets in slower calibers just fine.

[GeoffLinder]

Lead bullets in .45 ACP is a very good thing. Low velocity = very low barrel leading. Lead bullets = cheaper than jacketed. Not all indoor ranges allow lead bullets as they create more smoke and lead vapor for the ventilator systems.

Outdoor ranges = no problems

Check with your local range if indoor.

[FX-05 Xiuhcoatl]

meh, not that dirty and lead cleans a lot faster than copper

yup you are right about cooper, I love barnes 3X bullets but hate cleaning my rifles after I use them.

[bruceflinch]

lead is not clean or dirty. It is a reasonably soft metal with good obturation characteristics so it fills rifled bores nicely.
I find that the powder I use and the amount has a butt ton more to do with how dirty my gun gets than the bullet I pick.

But that sounds dirty..

W231 is a fairly clean burning powder.
Unique & Bullseye= dirty gun.

[bumpo628]

Titegroup with lead bullets in my 45 practically closed the indoor range there was so much smoke. I switched to W231 and it was much better.

[Abenaki]

There is no reason that you can't push a plain base cast boolit 1400 fps, and have a lead free barrel!

Remember this....
Boolit fit is King.
Proper lube is Queen.
Boolit hardness is a ugly step child!

If a boolit is too hard it will cause just as many, if not more problems than a boolit that is too soft!

The 45 acp is very forgiving to load for. If you are gonna try shooting store bought cast boolits.... The thing to remember is... that most are too hard, and most use a crappy lube.

You may wish to visit castboolits.com, It is the best site on the net for such things.

Take care
Abenak