Polygonal barrels

[jimboone]

Can guns with this rifleing shoot lead reloads? Looking at buying a H&K usp .45 and would like to shoot lead for financial reasons. Can this be done or do I need to stay with jacketed bullets.
Thanks

[5.56Geo]

Yes, you can. All gun mfg that use polygonal barrels will highly discourage it due to the rapid lead build up(liability issues). If you clean it after each range use and you only shoot lead and don't mix lead and fmj ammo each outing you will be fine. The problem happens when someone shoots 200 rounds of lead and has the barrel fouled up then shoots fmj ammo causing very high pressures, causing kabooms. The other issue with lead bullets is there is no standard in the lead amalgamation, some that cast their own bullets may use mostly lead causing a faster build up of lead. To be on the safe side I wouldn't shoot lead out of a polygonal barrel.

[Cowboy T]

Proper sizing and proper lube are big deals, just like with any other barrel, in order to prevent lead-fouling in the first place. Liquid Alox is a good way to help with the lubing issue. Most store-bought cast bullets use that really hard blue wax lube, which is not appropriate for typical handgun velocities (it doesn't work very well). The NRA 50/50 formula is much softer and much better. For proper sizing, just slug your barrel and measure with a micrometer, and then use cast bullets 0.001" above that. I know a guy who shoots his own cast "boolits" through his Glock all the time and doesn't get lead-fouling.

Another thing I've found is that you typically don't need that "hard cast" lead. What you want is proper obturation. For most situations, that means wheel weight alloy (BHN 12) or softer. If you're shooting 9mm or .40 S&W, fairly high pressure rounds, then straight wheel weight alloy is good. For .45 ACP, a mixture of half WW alloy and half "pure lead" is the ticket.

[joelogic]

That being said my usp shoots jacketed better than lead or plated.

[Bill Steele]

I shoot lead all the time out of my Glocks. I usually shoot a mag or two of jacketed at the end of each range session as it seems to clean what little lead might be in the barrel out, this makes cleaning easier. I do clean my guns after shooting them.

[r3dn3ck]

get an aftermarket barrel with conventional enfield rifling and you stop the problem from being a problem.

[Bill Steele]

get an aftermarket barrel with conventional enfield rifling and you stop the problem from being a problem.

I get the exact same amount of lead (which is very light), regardless of rifling style. In fact, the most leading I have experienced in recent months was pushing some 125gr LRN's through my Kimber 9mm Target at a little too hot a loading. A gun with traditional rifling.

I have never seen additional leading because it was a polygonal barrel.

[HighLander51]

I shoot Bear Creek 125 TC's on top of 4,0 grains of TiteGroup at 1.150 OAL out of my G17, G34 and G17L OEM barrels, and it makes a filthy mess just 200 rounds or so. Have to clean the barrels with the old hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar solution. The same load in BarSto barrels, or LoneWolf, is just a few passes with the brass brush.

Now my kid runs Bear Creek 230's out his G21, and it looks as clean as new after the match. Course he is running about 800pfs and I am running 1,200 fps plus. Makes a big difference.

[jimboone]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll look into a new barrel just to eliminate the possible problems. Just started reading Lyman's 4th edition cast bullet book and it does mention the causes of leading and how to prevent it.