|
|
07-02-2009, 10:53 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,654
Likes: 15,661
Liked 7,682 Times in 2,744 Posts
|
|
FMJ vs LEAD
will FMJ bullets cause considerably more wear on the bore and forcing cone of revolvers (i.e. S&W models 686 & 64) vs. lead bullets?.
__________________
There's nowt so queer as folk
|
07-02-2009, 11:00 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 8,164
Likes: 3,637
Liked 5,215 Times in 2,176 Posts
|
|
Yes, but don't lose any sleep over it.
Few people besides the silhouette shooters (who pour endless rounds of HOT jacketed loads through) ever wear out a handgun barrel, and the rest of the gun is usually worn out anyway.
Rifle barrels are a different story due to more powder and higher pressure, but I have seen old military rifles with no rifling left for several inches in front of the chamber still shoot 3 or 4 inch groups at 100 yards.
|
07-03-2009, 12:19 AM
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,360
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,157 Times in 7,409 Posts
|
|
Elmer Keith wrote that jacketed bullets would wear out a barrel in 5,000 rounds. But barrels were softer then, and corrosive priming may have been a culprit.
|
07-04-2009, 08:51 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
|
I surely have put more than that through my 28-2 and she still shhots better than I can hold.
|
07-04-2009, 09:51 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
|
|
About 10K through my 639, probably more. Never liked lead because I hate cleaning guns.
|
07-05-2009, 08:52 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: S.E. USA
Posts: 1,941
Likes: 0
Liked 63 Times in 37 Posts
|
|
I'm not sure where you begin experiencing significant barrel wear with jacketed bullets, but it is far north of 10,000 rounds. It just isn't anything to worry about anyway! If a barrel wears out, just have another one installed. It isn't a big deal.
|
07-05-2009, 06:00 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,654
Likes: 15,661
Liked 7,682 Times in 2,744 Posts
|
|
Thank you, everyone, for your helpful information.
__________________
There's nowt so queer as folk
|
07-05-2009, 09:30 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,615
Likes: 642
Liked 6,884 Times in 2,551 Posts
|
|
Cleaning the leaded barrels sucks, so I avoid them.
|
07-07-2009, 10:34 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 24 Posts
|
|
I have heard people say:
1) Shooting FMJ ammo wears out a barrel more quickly than lead.
2) Shooting lead wears out a barrel more quickly than FMJ, because you have to work harder to scrub the lead out of the barrel.
Not sure which I believe.
However, I have shot many many thousands of rounds of FMJ without ever having a problem.
__________________
Aaron Terry
|
07-12-2009, 01:48 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
I never had any problem with leading in my barrel but then I load my own. Of course it goes without saying a FMJ is usually loaded hotter than lead. Lead is also a heck of a lot cheaper too. I suppose if I'm just shooting a box of rounds once in a while I'd prefer FMJ. I usually like to shoot several hundred rounds a week so lead is the way to go for me. It comes down to economics. Do I need to spend $25/box to put holes in paper or can I get by with spending $55/500 rounds to do the same thing? Now store bought lead round ammo does seem to be loaded hot though and I have had leading problems with that. In that case I'd spend a little more for the FMJ.
Bottom line is, if you like to shoot, load your own. You'll probably see your accuracy increase by loading your own as well. I know I have. Don't know why though. Up front cost is maybe $500. But after that you'll easily make it back in no time by loading your own.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|