I have acquired 500 .356 hard cast bullets with a brinell hardness of 18. How fast can they be pushed without leading the barrel of 5906. They are 125 gr. and will be used with either unique or bullseye powder....Thanks for any opinions. I never load outside the loading manual guideline.
9mm hardcasts
- Thread starter deanodog
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I use 125 gr bullets from mastercast.net. I was loading them with WW231 at about 1000 fps and had no leading. I switched to Universal and wanted to bump up my load a little.....I went a bit too far and found that at 1150 fps I now am getting tumbling bullets due to leading. I'd say to keep them under 1050 or so and you should be fine.
K96771
US Veteran
I recently used some Missouri Bullet Co product that matches that description. I used 3.6 gr. of Bullseye, but I recently saw 3.2 mentioned somewhere in another thread. I didn't like the lead 9mm. Gunked up my dies, bulged the case, were smokey, and had to be seated to an OAL of 1.11 to feed properly in my 5906. I've decided to stick with FMJ.
RidgwayCO
Member
Speer #14 says to use a maximum of 5.8gr of Unique with their 124gr GDHP (plated) bullet. Bullseye is not listed with this bullet.
I don't have any Bullseye, but I've loaded some Dardas 125gr LRN cast lead bullets using Unique. With a COL of 1.140", Fiocchi brass at .750", CCI 500 primers, and a light crimp using a LFC die, 4.3gr of Unique produced 925 fps out of my Beretta 8000F Cougar (3.6" barrel), while 4.7gr of Unique produced 985 fps. I'd have no problems going up to 5.0gr or so of Unique for about 1050 fps out of the Cougar. I'd expect another 50-70 fps from these loads out of the Beretta 92FS (4.9" barrel). In your gun, start low and work up slowly, looking for pressure signs as you go.
As to whether any of these loads will give you leading in your barrel, only you can determine that. In my guns leading hasn't been noticeable. But I haven't pushed them very hard either.
My PD duplication loads are 124gr FMJ-RN encapsulated bullets from Hornady and Montana Gold pushed to over 1100 fps. These duplicate my carry loads (124gr Speer GDHP) very well, at a small fraction of what the Speers cost.
I don't have any Bullseye, but I've loaded some Dardas 125gr LRN cast lead bullets using Unique. With a COL of 1.140", Fiocchi brass at .750", CCI 500 primers, and a light crimp using a LFC die, 4.3gr of Unique produced 925 fps out of my Beretta 8000F Cougar (3.6" barrel), while 4.7gr of Unique produced 985 fps. I'd have no problems going up to 5.0gr or so of Unique for about 1050 fps out of the Cougar. I'd expect another 50-70 fps from these loads out of the Beretta 92FS (4.9" barrel). In your gun, start low and work up slowly, looking for pressure signs as you go.
As to whether any of these loads will give you leading in your barrel, only you can determine that. In my guns leading hasn't been noticeable. But I haven't pushed them very hard either.
My PD duplication loads are 124gr FMJ-RN encapsulated bullets from Hornady and Montana Gold pushed to over 1100 fps. These duplicate my carry loads (124gr Speer GDHP) very well, at a small fraction of what the Speers cost.
586L-Frame
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I've been loading 3.6gr Bullseye with 124gr LRN bullets.
586L-Frame
586L-Frame
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
With a BHN of 18 the bullet should withstand any safe load in 9mm.
One consideration that is seldom mentioned: faster burning powders can have significantly higher flame temperatures which can cause some melting of the base of lead bullets, which results in lead streaking in the barrel and (if not fully cleaned out) build up at the chamber throat resulting in chambering problems and potential headspace issues.
I always use and recommend powders in the middle of the burning range with cast bullets, and load only to the pressure/velocity that provides reliable function of the weapon. There is no need to use any machine at maximums all the time.
One consideration that is seldom mentioned: faster burning powders can have significantly higher flame temperatures which can cause some melting of the base of lead bullets, which results in lead streaking in the barrel and (if not fully cleaned out) build up at the chamber throat resulting in chambering problems and potential headspace issues.
I always use and recommend powders in the middle of the burning range with cast bullets, and load only to the pressure/velocity that provides reliable function of the weapon. There is no need to use any machine at maximums all the time.
Freischütz
Member
Hello - bullet to throat diameter fit is important or you will have leading. Unfortunately harness won't save you if the bullets are undersize.
9mm pistols have extremely variable bore, throat, and chamber dimensions. My P.38 requires .357 bullets, and two Steyr M1912s want .359. With "9mm" you never know what you'll find.
9mm pistols have extremely variable bore, throat, and chamber dimensions. My P.38 requires .357 bullets, and two Steyr M1912s want .359. With "9mm" you never know what you'll find.
bluetopper
Member
My Lee manual has some real hot loads in it compared to others.
It lists 4.9gr of Bullseye for the 124gr cast bullet. I have some loaded up and will try them this weekend in my Dan Wesson 9mm 1911.
I had them loaded up before I looked at the Lyman manual which lists 3.5gr............BIG difference.
It lists 4.9gr of Bullseye for the 124gr cast bullet. I have some loaded up and will try them this weekend in my Dan Wesson 9mm 1911.
I had them loaded up before I looked at the Lyman manual which lists 3.5gr............BIG difference.
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TSQUARED
Member
I have never been able to successfully get more than ca 900 fps out of a lead bullet in 9mm without leading. If you want to use lead in a 9mm the best bet is a 147 gr bullet and W-231 powder. The W-W 14th Ed reloading manual lists 3.5 gr. W-231 as max for the 147 gr. lead bullet at 905 fps and 32700 psi - this load has been used by several shooters in our area and performs well.
