I think I need some input. Please..

[Big C]

First,I am New to this forum or any forum for that matter and I am New to reloading only been active for about a year. I have in the 2 months started casting my own bullets.

I have been shooting cast bullets for a few years now in .38 , .40 , .45 acp , .45LC. I am currently casting .45 acp.

the mold is a lee 6 cavity .452/228gr. RN
using Lee Liquid alox

Hardware
S&W 4513tsw
R.I.A 1911 Government
Metro Arms 1911 Government
all cycle and shoot beautifully

Springfield XDS 3.8
SpringField XDM 4.5
Springfield XDM 5.5
all the barells are leading very bad. im lost.

all have been shot using the same lead I do not know the hardness up to this point it has worked in all my guns. lead make up is mostly wheelweights.

Any Ideas on why the Springfields are leading so bad ?

[CSACANNONEER]

Change your lube. I use mixed lead, have never checked hardness, use Jake's red lube in a heated Star lubesizer and have shot 1500 rounds between cleaning my 1911 without any leading.

[Bill Steele]

The only time I have ever had "really bad leading" is when the bullet was not sized properly to the barrel. Have you slugged the barrels that are leading to determine the size required?

[tankerman]

Have you considered using a gas check?


What powders are you using (and what are the charges)?

[Big C]

No I have not slugged the barells that is a good idea.

and as i said i am new to casting can i put a gas check on any bullet or do i have to use a bullet that is made for a gas check?

as far as changing the lube goes I have thought about that and admitadley I am using the liquid alox because of the price and I have had no problems shooting as much as i want through either of my 1911's or the S&W.

[Big C]

I am using 6.8gr of Unique

[Bill Steele]

You can put your own gas checks on a plain base bullet, also there is a guy that will make custom gas checks for plain base bullets.

Having said that, I know no one that puts gas checks on a .45ACP bullet.

I would start with getting sizing right. For lube Alox has always worked pretty well for me, if a bit messy to work with...

[Big C]

Thanks for the replies I am going to start with slugging the barrells. and go on from there.

[mjmagee67]

Bullet too small for the barrel, my guess. Or polygon rifling?

[XDRoX]

No poly on XD's.

A faster powder would probably fix the leading problem if you don't want to use better lube or buy a bigger mould. The bullet is obviously too small for the XD's. A faster powder will force the bullet to form to the barrel quicker creating a tight seal that may fix your leading problem. It's sort of a ghetto fix, but it does work. Unique is pretty slow. It would be easy to find a faster powder. I'm sure BE wouldn't lead.

If you want to buy a larger mould that would be best, but then the bullets may not work in your other guns. Are you sizing the bullets right now? If you are then don't size them for the XD's. That may also fix your problem.

Remember, when it comes to preventing leading, size is king. Lube, powder, and hardness matter, but not like size.

[Big C]

Thanks I am currently working on the problem i will post results thanks again.