Loading plinking ammo for either 9mm or .40S&W there is not a tremendous savings when using jacketed bullets. I see hard cast bullets for sale for about half or less and that would make it well worth my while to reload those calibers. I just don't know what kinds of problems cast bullets present as far as feeding and leading goes. I would probably just be loading round nose bullets for practice. I currently fire about 400 rounds a month but would shoot a lot more if I could afford it.

I have run lead in most of my autos, just keep them out of the Glocks with the poly-rifling. Bullet nose shape may also give some feeding issues. You pretty much just have to load some a give it a try because there are a lot of variables. I have'nt run into any issues with any of mine but I prefer revolvers.

Mike "DUKE" Venturino burns cast lead in his machine guns.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I just tested 400 rounds of hard cast lead bullets in my M&P 40 last Sunday without a problem. 200 rounds of 175 gr SWC and 200 RNFP (38/40 bullet). 99% of what has gone through my Kimber 1911 has been 200 gr LSWC, again without a single problem.

Simple answer, NO.

I use them in every semi handgun caliber. Except my HK which has poly rifling. Some folks still do in their Glocks and HKs but that is whole other debate.

You will notice the guns are "dirtier" but that is from the lube.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Well, now that's what I was hoping to hear.

yep, i have been shooting lead i cast in all my guns including glocks, just clean them good before shooting high pressure loads. i cast up 500 40s this week lube with lee liquid alox and not a problem. i have been shooting lead for over 35 years.

I use both 155 and 175 LSWCs' in my 40s', a 105 LSWC and 122 LTC in 9mms'. Thousands down the tube with just a little extra smoke and cleanup.

The only problem is you will spend more time shooting. Maybe a little more time cleaning also, but well worth it.

I run many hundreds of cast bullets through multiple semi-autos each year. I actually find plain wheelweights just fine if I use Lee Liquid Alox for the lube.

And that's how money is saved by loading your own. If you do enough searching you'll find better deals on FMJ bullets too. Good quality lead bullets are as accurate as jacketed so don't think there only good for plinking.

I shoot lead in all my practice ammo. For social work, I use premium JHP ammo.
Years ago, Guns&Ammo had an article which proclaimed that you could shoot the lead fouling out of a bore by using jacketed ammo as the last few rounds before you went home.

That was back in the '70's, and I never followed that advice, nor have I seen it lately.

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Fuego

hard cast are fine in autos ... if they weren't you wouldn't find any to buy in 9MM 40 cal or 45 auto specific designs.
the only flies in the ointment are with polygon rifled barrels, gas operated autos, and the occasional argument encountered with ported barrels and compensators.

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it just needs more voltage