New reloader with "newbie" question

[WDN41]

A new reloading kit (Lee 1000 Pro) is on it's way to me thanks to my thoughtful kids. Ihave been tryimg to figure what I need to get started
and have so far acquired 1000 small pistol primers from winchester.
I will be reloading 9mm and .380 to start.
My question is bullets. Lead cast bullets seem to be available in my area (don't plan on handling that process by myself) at what appears to be a reasonable price, compared to copper plated factory made bullets. I'm intrerested in the pro's and con's comparing the two types

Any other advice that you care to share would be welcome

[poefernando]

Lead bullets is okay. Just hard to clean barrel after couple 100 rounds. Buy the best smokeless powder if you tend to shoot a lot of lead and a good cleaning kit for your barrel

[kengotit]

also DO NOT load MAX load using lead bullets because of the lead fouling in the barrel. i usually shoot about 100 rounds depends on the fouling before cleaning my barrel, Shooters choice solvent works great cleaning lead fouling

[CSACANNONEER]

Depending on the load and lube, leading can occure or be a non issue. I've run 3000 rounds of .45acp through a 1911 with ZERO leading. Just changing the lube, I've had lead build up in 50 rounds though. You need to find out what works for you, in your gun, with your loads.

Give me a month or so and I'm going to try to offer reloading classes along with helping out at the soon to be Calguns reloading club.

[Bill Steele]

A new reloading kit (Lee 1000 Pro) is on it's way to me thanks to my thoughtful kids. Ihave been tryimg to figure what I need to get started
and have so far acquired 1000 small pistol primers from winchester.
I will be reloading 9mm and .380 to start.
My question is bullets. Lead cast bullets seem to be available in my area (don't plan on handling that process by myself) at what appears to be a reasonable price, compared to copper plated factory made bullets. I'm intrerested in the pro's and con's comparing the two types

Any other advice that you care to share would be welcome

Lead works fine.

There are a few details when loading lead that is different than plated or jacketed. With lead bullets size matters. If you get bullets that are not fit welll to your bore, no matter what load you use, you will get leading. I you get the proper bullets for the size of your bore, you will likely get very little leading.

As others have pointed out, even if you do get a little leading, you can clean it out really easily. I just clip a little off a copper choreboy pad, wrap it on my bore brush and viola, clean bore.

YouTube slugging a bore for how to determine proper bullet size for your barrels.

Good luck, have fun.

[Mtn folk]

Lead can be tricky to get it where it doesn't foul your barrel. Don't try it in a glock with the poly rifling. Lead should be .001 to .0015 larger than your groove diameter. You need the right BHN and psi combo to minimize fouling.
If just starting out, I would say go jacketed first. You are going to have your hands full with that. Once you gain experience, try some lead.
A microlon treatment in you barrel helps with fouling and cleaning. All my guns get it after break in.

[bruce381]

lead will smoke more than plated or jacketed.

For a newbie look for plated or jacketed you will have enough to lean without trouble shooting leading, or accuracy problems.

lead will shoot fine it MUST BE SIZED 1-2 thousands OVER THE GROVE diamieter of you guns to seal properly and reduce gas cutting/ leading from being undersied.

A cast boolit like to be squished down as it enters the throat if not it will gas cut and lead, then accuacy goes out the window.

Unfortunatly MOST commercial cast boolits are sized to a jacketed dia.
and are too small, example a 45 acp jacketed is .451 cast should be .452.

9 mm maybe jacketed at .355 or so cast should be .356.

So lead will work but do not overwhelm yourself yet start with jacket or plated and get you machine running good and safe, then you can go to the cast side.

bruce

[the86d]

Shoot lead if you want, personally I don't like my kid touching them.

If you are worried about leadding, then make sure to clean out that barrel after every-so-many with some follow-up mags of (plated... later, or) Factory FMJ. Issue resolved.

[Mtn folk]

Nah, that lead exposure thing is over rated. I've been clamping split shot sinkers to my fishing line with my teeth for years and I'm ok ok ok ok ok!

[Bill Steele]

lead will smoke more than plated or jacketed...bruce

That is a really good point.

One day at an indoor range I occasionally shoot at their ventilation system was slightly compromised. As it happens, I was shooting one of my lead loads that really smokes the very same time.

During one part I kind of sensed things had quieted down, nobody was shooting. I leaned out from the line to see why everyone had quit and everyone was looking at me. Finally one guy yelled in a kind of plaintive tone, "I can't see my target!"

That was an exaggeration for sure, but it kind of did look like someone was shooting black powder. Pretty dense.

Not a deal breaker perhaps, but something to consider.

[the86d]

That is a really good point.

One day at an indoor range I occasionally shoot at their ventilation system was slightly compromised. ...

Ventilation systems always compromise when you shoot at them...

[Bill Steele]

Ventilation systems always compromise when you shoot at them...

I have no doubt that WAS why the ventilation was so poor that day. It wasn't me though, really, no, not me, honest...

[pdq_wizzard]

I will add, I have found that in my gun .357 work best (again in my gun) Also every 9mm I have shot lead out of will start to lead the barrel if the loads are pushed much above 1100 FPS I try to keep my just under 1k fps and there is no leading.

[Bill Steele]

I will add, I have found that in my gun .357 work best (again in my gun) Also every 9mm I have shot lead out of will start to lead the barrel if the loads are pushed much above 1100 FPS I try to keep my just under 1k fps and there is no leading.

I had Beretta 92FS that needed .358", anything smaller ID and it would lead terribly. It slugged at .357".

The funny thing is it was one of my most accurate 9's when shooting .355" jacketed.

[WDN41]

newby questions

Thanks a lot for all the replies.
I've been noticing there are a few more newbies like me here,
and I am taking advantage of the free education.