Lead or Coated projectiles ??

[Atlast357]

I am more curious about the popularity of loading and shooting
coated and FMJ etc or uncoated bullets.
There is a concern to avoid leading a barrel ,however with the cleaning
solutions available is that a major issue?
Is it accuracy one over the other ?
Comments ?

[bigedp51]

For practice I prefer plated bullets for cost and less work than cast and ease of cleaning. I was never satisfied with the weight consistency of my cast bullets and buying bullets made more sense.

My Glock .40 below with factory barrel likes Rainier plated bullets and I don't spend hours standing over a lead pot.



With plated and jacketed bullets the barrel is clean with one shot of foam bore cleaner and much easier to clean than using cast lead.

In 1982 a pot full of melting wheel weights exploded while I was sitting in front of the pot. Even after drying in the sun on my very hot asphalt driveway, water was still trapped under the weights clip causing the explosion. This was the last time I cast any more lead bullets and the fastest I ever jumped backwards. (it was very near the speed of light)

[HickFu]

I shoot lead in almost all of my firearms and have never had a leading problem. The leading problem happens when you put a lead bullet through your barrel that is too small or too soft of lead for the pressure in your firearm..

I have never gotten leading in my barrels but 2 years ago I found powder coating to be a fun and entertaining project to do to my lead bullets.... Now I dont have to lube them as the powder coating acts like a jacketed bullet and you can shoot them to just about the same pressures and speed of the copper condom ones.

Check out the cast boolits forum for more knowledge on this subject

EDIT: to bigedp51, sorry to hear that the tinsel fairy paid you a visit back in 1982... yes their can always be moisture hiding in those pesky Wheel weights but can be taken care of by a good blast from a weed burner or propane tourch... Do you still have the lead?

[Rover]

Nothing wrong with lead in pistols. Most people clean their guns way to often anyway, so no "extra" cleaning will be required. I shoot almost exclusively bare lead in my "practice" XD9, and it never gets much cleaning or attention, never an issue. Clean the barrel twice a year, put a drop of oil on it, and keep shooting. The exception, as mentioned above, is polygonal rifles barrels, but if you shoot enough, buying a new barrel for your Glock will still save you money in the long run.

Accuracy seems about the same, it's still me causing the misses, and not the bullets.

With rifles or magnums, you can load using gas checks to keep the heat away from the base of your bullet. It's just a little copper disk that presses on the bottom of the bullet, think of it as a partial jacket. My 30-30 loves bare lead, makes a great, soft shooting, plinking round.

One thing to keep in mind if you shoot indoors, lead is smokey. The lube rings cause a bit of a smoke cloud, and some range-masters don't like it, and some indoor ranges have terrible ventilation.

[CSACANNONEER]

I once shot close to 3000 rounds of my own cast bullets through one Kimber 1911s without any cleaning or signs of leading.

[mjmagee67]

If you want less chance of leading then use the Hi-Tec coated cast lead bullets form places like Bayou Bullet, SNS, or BBI. I've been using them for years and they just kick butt. They are cheap 6.2 cents for 124gr RN and more accurate than plated bullets like Xtremes. You just can't go wrong with coated bullets.

[koehn,jim]

I have been using cast lead in rifles and pistols for years and have not had a problem with leading. if the bullet fits the barrel and has the right coating or lube it is as good as a jacket at far less cost. I even use cast in my semi-auto rifles with no problem. There are many horror stories out there from people that do not know what they are talking about. By using a properly sized bullet you can get an oversize barrel to shoot very good groups, and save money in the process.

[Atlast357]

I have been using cast lead in rifles and pistols for years and have not had a problem with leading. if the bullet fits the barrel and has the right coating or lube it is as good as a jacket at far less cost. I even use cast in my semi-auto rifles with no problem. There are many horror stories out there from people that do not know what they are talking about. By using a properly sized bullet you can get an oversize barrel to shoot very good groups, and save money in the process.

OK for UWKs (us without knowledge)what are the parameters for properly sized
bullets. This is an interesting detail.

[TomReloaded]

With cast i had to clean lead out of my dies frequently. Had wax rings fall off or be damaged in shipping. Had big smoke clouds. Had leading with loads that were accurate in my gun. All of that went away with plated. Lead wasnt worth saving 5 bucks per thousand for me.

[Pablo5959]

OK for UWKs (us without knowledge)what are the parameters for properly sized
bullets. This is an interesting detail.

357.
I hope your not being condescending.

For proper fit.
You will need to slug your barrel with a soft lead slug.
I will cast a few bullets then squish them a little in the vice.
Tap it through your chamber and barrel with a brass rod.
Measure with a micrometer.
You want to size your bullets to .002 over slug size.

If you use alox lube, lube before and after sizing. It's easy, use a small container squirt a little Alox and roll them around for a bit.

Load mid range. To fast or to to slow will lead.

I like powder coating better.
The sizing and lube worries go away.

I can load 9mm for about .05rd and .44mag for <.10rd.

I met 3 guy at the range yesterday, 2 of them had a hand gun one was left out and was pretty new.

I loaned him my old W/German Sig and gave him 100 rounds to shoot.
Then I let him shoot the 92.

His buddy's ran out of ammo and this kid was having the time of his life.

Just watching that kid was defiantly worth the 5.00 cost and time I put in casting and loading those 100 rounds.

Pablo

[Atlast357]

Good info.
I use commercial bullets both lead and plated, mostly interested in the
leadiing aspect, so it would make sense to tap a commercial bullet though
and mic it.
Never knew that proceedure.
Thanks

[Pablo5959]

Good info.
I use commercial bullets both lead and plated, mostly interested in the
leadiing aspect, so it would make sense to tap a commercial bullet though
and mic it.
Never knew that proceedure.
Thanks

.357,
Not a good idea to use commercial cast for slugging a barrel
They are cast to hard. The sellers do that so the bullets make it through shipping and are still pretty.
You would be better off using fishing sinkers.

I wouldn't even shoot commercial cast.
They are to hard and to small.
A perfect recipe for leading.
Pablo

[Atlast357]

Pablo mentioned using Alox. Looks like that might just be the stuff
to try on my stash of lead 9mm and 38 cal.
Any suggestions about quantity to start ? Midway sells it at $6 for 4oz.

A side note: will there be any reason to add this to bullets that are already lubed ?
The more I read, Alox is applied on freshly cast bullets.

[Pablo5959]

.357
Here's a link for recipe for mixing The Alox and Johnson's paste wax.
It's a little long winded.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?67654-Tumble-Lubing-Made-Easy-amp-Mess-Free

This site will clear up all your questions.

Knowing what I do now,
Your .38 and .357 are GTG with Alox.

Powder Coating is a better option especially with your 9mm.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?240500-a-trick-for-tumble-powder-coating

With 9mm, all the planets need to be aligned and all the Texas cheerleader need to be cheering you on to get the right combo to not lead up your barrel.
There's just to much pressure. The gasses will blow by and leave you with some scrubbing to do.

There's a lot of good info over there.
Just remember you will be playing with 700degree melted metal that can blow up in your face if your not careful.

Hygiene and very good ventilation is a must. Or your Dr. Will be asking if you like eating old paint and you will get a nice pamphlet from the County.

Casting isn't hard at all but don't do it just to save $. It's needs to be a hobby that takes time and effort.

Good luck
Pablo

[HickFu]

357.
I hope your not being condescending.

For proper fit.
You will need to slug your barrel with a soft lead slug.
I will cast a few bullets then squish them a little in the vice.
Tap it through your chamber and barrel with a brass rod.
Measure with a micrometer.
You want to size your bullets to .002 over slug size.

If you use alox lube, lube before and after sizing. It's easy, use a small container squirt a little Alox and roll them around for a bit.

Load mid range. To fast or to to slow will lead.

I like powder coating better.
The sizing and lube worries go away.

I can load 9mm for about .05rd and .44mag for <.10rd.

I met 3 guy at the range yesterday, 2 of them had a hand gun one was left out and was pretty new.

I loaned him my old W/German Sig and gave him 100 rounds to shoot.
Then I let him shoot the 92.

His buddy's ran out of ammo and this kid was having the time of his life.

Just watching that kid was defiantly worth the 5.00 cost and time I put in casting and loading those 100 rounds.

Pablo

Pablo, you area a good man! watching a kid have fun is definitely worth a few bucks in lead and powder...

I like watching the reactions on peoples faces when I show up at the range with powder coated 9mm, 45acp, 44mag and 45-70 boolits looking like lipsticks. They dont believe that they will be accurate until I start shooting them and get clover leafs with the 45-70 at 100 yards