Does anyone here shoot cast bullets (lubed to powder coated) in a model 442? I'm trying to avoid a bad mistake here.

Thanks,
Ed

I shoot homecast Lee TL148gr lubed with ALOX regularly in mine for hand-saving practice over 3 gr HP38. No issues.
I suppose if you had an undersized bullet you could make it lead the barrel.

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Science plus Art

That is indeed good news, Sir.

I shoot these Acme cast/coated bullets in my 642. The coating costs very little extra and is less likely to lead than other solutions.

No problems so far.

I have been doing it since 2005. My own 160 grain wadcutters cast from a NOE -360-160-WC mould or factory loaded targer 148 grain wadcutter ammo.
I don't think I've shot any jacketed bullets through it....no problems to date...just clean it as you would normally .
Gary

I shoot both 125 and 158 gr RNFP bullets cast from wheel weights in my 642, if that counts. No issues at all for me. And with a sub-2" barrel, it's not like leading is going to be an issue anyway. Meaning, there won't be much to scrub out.

I am not too sure what kind of BAD Mistake you are referring to

Are you talking about Gun Show remanufactured ammunition? Or are you referring to your own hand-loads?

Shooting hand-loaded cast bullets through handguns has been going on for centuries.

Properly cast, sized and loaded ammunition is totally fine in all Smith and Wesson revolvers.

I would stay away from Gun Show remanufactured ammunition no matter what the projectile

My oldest 442 was born twenty+ years ago and it has had countless 158 grain hard cast SWCs fired through it over the decades.

I am an old guy who has been casting and shooting 'em in Smiths since the early 60's. To put this in perspective, my most modern Smith revolver is a 696.

Now I keep reading about Smith's electronic discharge barrels and jumped to the obviously erroneous conclusion that they don't play well with cast bullets. I am very glad to be corrected.

Maybe progress isn't so terrible after all.

Thanks,
Ed

Powder coated bullets should not cause leading in any gun. Generally lead loads are less pressure than jacketed loads and lead will have less friction going down the barrel. It is possible that shooting regular lead bullets will result in a leaded bore, but as long as you clean it out it won't hurt anything.

I shoot a lot of soft cast and even some hard cast wad cutters out of my vintage "J" frames from Buffalo Bore. My brother has a 442 and he shoots with me all the time, practically the same ammo. The "J" frames are the pistols we practice with most because we carry them a lot. We've never had any leading issue in our barrels. I usually just finish the range session shooting a couple cylinders full of copper jacketed plinking ammo. It seems to get any lead residue out of the rifling. I believe his 442 is rather new too. I wouldn't worry about it as there are plenty of safe solvents that will rid the rifling of any left over residue. Enjoy your pistol!