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Old 05-30-2011, 09:42 AM
Jamie Jamie is offline
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Starting my info gathering for my trip into reloading, aside from the health aspects, (searching turned up plenty of info on that), any concerns or preferences regarding actual shooting? At present, I'm looking at reloading 9mm, .38 special with .45 down the road, (when I can afford to buy one). Obviously, lead seems more affordable, which is one of the main reasons to reload I guess, (although I'm sure I'll 'eat' the savings by shooting more, maybe THAT'S the main reason for reloading)
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Old 05-30-2011, 10:28 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Actually, there are three reasons to reload. The two you mentioned AND just to enjoy the hobby itself. There is nothing like developing that "special" load for "your" firearm all by "yourself". Nothing like it, unless, it is taking game with those loads!

You will not really save much money as you have stated. You will shoot more.

Only one caution on shooting lead, and really, it is a caution for shooting period. Do as little as possible indoors, lead bullets especially. It is the vaporized lead that makes the safety issues come to the forefront. Since there is lead in the primer themselves, you need to watch this especially.

Casting or shooting lead outdoors is not a problem, unless you are sucking on your hands as you participate in these activities.

I was shooting hundreds of bullets indoors each week and my lead level went to 32ppm. I stopped shooting indoors but still shot lead and did my casting. Blood level went down to 25ppm pretty quick.

FWIW
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Old 05-30-2011, 10:34 AM
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Jamie

You can save a lot of money on bullets if you cast your own. The savings is still there if you buy bulk cast bullets, just not as much. And you are right, any savings is usually used up by shooting more. That's a good thing, right?

Most 9mm's can be made to shoot well with cast, as long as the bullet is cast fairly hard, and sized to the barrel. Some guns have tight chambers, and slightly oversize bores, and can have chambering problems with slightly oversized bullets sized to the bore. Some 9mm's just seem to lead the bore no matter what. Sometimes using bulk 9mm FMJ bullets is the easy way out.

The 38 spl. and cast bullets go together like coffee and doughnuts. A cast semi-waddcutter at about .358 will handle 95% of what you need done with a 38. If you have a gun with throats that don't match the bore, using hollow base waddcutters almost always results in an accurate load. The same pretty much applies to the .45 in either revolvers or semi-auto's, though with no throat diameter concerns on an auto, almost any lead bullet sized about .001 over bore will work well.

Larry
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Old 05-30-2011, 10:53 AM
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I load jacketed in the 9mm and lead in everything else.
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Old 05-30-2011, 12:32 PM
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I hadn't planned on casting my own, (although with my nature it'd probably happen eventually), was looking through catalogs, checking prices, seemed a bit cheaper to buy lead bullets. Had some concerns on 'leading' the barrel, seems more an issue with the 9mm because of muzzle velocity I guess.
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Old 05-30-2011, 01:32 PM
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Buying lead bullets is way cheaper than buying jacketed,or even plated.

You will not have leading problems if the bullet is sized right and despite what some say, if it is the correct hardness for the velocity you are shooting.

I use a softer 158 gr LSWC for 38 Spl target than I do for 357 Magnum. Same bullet but one is 12 BHN hardness and one is 18 BHN.

The 9mm are 18 BHN also. I shoot a lot of these and they are very accurate and no leading problems at all,

I have no problems with leading, yes the barrels get dirty, but most is from the lube and I clean my guns anyway.

Maybe a few more patches are used but no big deal.
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Old 05-30-2011, 03:50 PM
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I use Berrys Plated bullets on the indoor range with 38 Special. They work fine. Use FMC in the 9MM. I load lead for use outdoors & hunting.
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Old 05-30-2011, 04:28 PM
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I have a question? I would think that jacketed bullets would wear a barrel bore faster than lead only, right?
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Old 05-30-2011, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 27145 View Post
I have a question? I would think that jacketed bullets would wear a barrel bore faster than lead only, right?
Yep, in about 3 lifetimes of normal use. If you shoot competition, it may be one lifetime.
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Old 05-30-2011, 06:48 PM
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Quote:
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I have a question? I would think that jacketed bullets would wear a barrel bore faster than lead only, right?
Jacketed bullets will wear a .45 ACP match barrel out in 5000 rounds. I have about 100,000 (correct figure) rounds of full house loads through one of my 1911's with NO fall off in accuracy.

When it comes to leading, if the pistol or revolver's dimensions are correct, the bullets of the proper alloy and diameter, there will be no leading.

I clean my revolvers every 300-500 rounds whether they need it or not (:>)). In my 1911's, the lube and powder build up in the action dictates when I clean (again, every 300-500 rounds). There is NO lead build up in the pistol or revolver barrels and they seldom get cleaned. Carbon and lube build up in the cylinder dictates when cleaning is necessary. I do brush the chambers in the cylinder out from time to time with a nylon bristle brush in between cleanings.

I shoot a variety of calibers (.32, .38/.357, .44 Special/Magnum, .45 ACP/.45 Colt, etc. Everything from mild to wild with no problems. I cast my own bullets and tailor the bullets to the velocity needs.

Dale53
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Old 05-30-2011, 06:54 PM
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I learned to "like" casting on Lee molds. Then I got my first brass Mihec mold. Now I "love" bullet casting. I'm at the point now that I don't care if it saves me money. I just love casting and loading my own.
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Old 05-30-2011, 09:25 PM
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Quote:
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I learned to "like" casting on Lee molds. Then I got my first brass Mihec mold. Now I "love" bullet casting.
Know what you mean. I've got 3 of his moulds.

Don
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Old 05-31-2011, 02:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie View Post
I hadn't planned on casting my own, (although with my nature it'd probably happen eventually), was looking through catalogs, checking prices, seemed a bit cheaper to buy lead bullets. Had some concerns on 'leading' the barrel, seems more an issue with the 9mm because of muzzle velocity I guess.
It's not so much vel as alloy & bullet fit. I shoot almost exclusively lead bullets in all my handguns, all calibers from 380 to 454cas. You can run a properly sized, & correct alloy for the pressure bullet, to 2000fps w/ little to no leading. Yes, buying them is cheaper & they work for many calibers, but you have no control over alloy or size or lube for that matter. Casting though is another hobby almost unrelated to reloading. Easily learned & done, but not for everyone.
Health hazards, only from shooting them indoors. I shun indoor ranges, but when I do I try to shoot plated or jacketed. There is little health risk. It's an EPA boogyman gone wild. I've been reloading, casting & shooting for 35yrs & I live in Socal, smog central, my lead levels are well under normal. Proper hygene is essential. Just wash your hands & don't eat, drink or smoke while shooting or reloading lead bullets.
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Old 05-31-2011, 02:26 AM
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In .38 Special I have been shooting 148gr HBWC over 2.7gr Bullseye for over 30 years. My favorite for this is my 8 3/8" Model 14-4.

In .45ACP I like 200gr SWC over 5.6gr Unique. Very accurate in my S&W M&P, My Springfield 1911, and my HK USP.

In .357, I like the Rainer 125gr plated lead over 8.4gr Unique. From a rest I get 2" groups at 50 yds from my 8 3/8" Model 27-2 If I do my part. My 7" 686-5 likes this also.

In .45 Colt, I like .255gr SWC over 8.0gr Unique. This works well in my 5.5" Vaquero, my 8 3/8" 25-5, and my 7.5" Blackhawk, and my Henry Big Boy.

In each case, you will see that I do not load a maximum load. I am striving for accuracy.

I always clean my guns after each session, and I try to get all of the lead out to maintain a clean bore. This has worked for me for over 40 years.
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1911, 357 magnum, 380, 45acp, 686, bullseye, colt, model 14, model 27, primer, springfield, vaquero

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