Bullets for reloading-lead not jacketed-questions

[oldman10mm]

been reloading since the 70s',back then it was only 38sp,357M,44sp,& 44M. Now I'm at 9mm,38sp,357M,40S&W,10mm,41M,44sp,& 44M. The questions only apply to the revolver cartridges. I've always used jacketed bullets except for when I was reloading 38sp with Speer 158 SWC Lead for a police shooting league. My bullet supply in jacketed bullets is immense. I would like to start loading low power/medium power SWC bullets for plinking/target. I'm not looking for load data concerning powders. I don't cast and I don't see casting in the future.
I see bullets available with terminology as 'hardcast',meaning what ? Uncoated bullets,coated bullets,plated bullets,anything to stay away from ? Any brands to stay away from ? Any barrel leading/cleaning problems ? Any size dia. to specifically avoid ? I'm not interested in lubing/sizing prior to use. My jacketed bullets will/would be used for high power/nuclear loads.

 

[ChuckS1]

"Hardcast" is a marketing term and is pretty much meaningless. A properly fitted lead bullet will not lead the bore at any reasonable velocity. I shoot lead bullets exclusively in all my revolvers and pistols and have yet to have any leading issues. You should check the diameter of your bore and cylinder mouths for the correct fit, but in your case I would buy whatever the seller has in stock. Nine times out of ten they'll be fine. If they're just plinking rounds, you won't see any significant difference, especially if the range is less than 25 yards. At that point, you're just out there making noise, not really any serious shooting.

 

[M1A]

I have used Missouri Bullet for some years now for all my non-mag loads. Also been reloading this since the 70's.
Missouri Bullet Company

I used Matt's bullets too for some .38 S&W. More $$$.
Matts Bullets

I get no leading from either.

 

[Snowninja]

I'll vouch for Missouri Bullet Company as well.

 

[grayrat]

Cast Bullets

I've had good luck with Oregon Trail and Acme cast bullets in my 44 special and 45 acp. I've also tried Polly Coated Acme's which has looked encouraging, but I have not shot that many of them yet.

 

[rwsmith]

Hardcast bullets can be HARD....

Cast bullet of 15 brinell or higher can be bought from casters which are suitable for high power loads. Speer and Hornady bullet are SWAGED bullets and very soft which makes them suitable for low power loads because of leading. They have a dry lube that is suitable for target loads. Though they can be mass produced by machinery, they still ain't cheap but quality is very high.

The Hy Tek bullet coatings are GREAT. Much better than old lube in groove in a lot of ways.

Some outfits supply swaged bullets that may not be as perfect, but cheaper.

 

[STCM(SW)]

One way is find a buddy who does cast.
He could make any bullet with any of several molds on hand.
I do this for some guys I know and the cost is they bring me some lead alloys only because I enjoy casting.

 

[Peak53]

Its not iron clad, but generally speaking softer bullets go with lower pressures/velocities. Anything labeled cast or hard cast is harder and probably suited for higher pressures/velocities. I have gone to Missouri Bullets exclusively for lead. They offer softer bullets in the 12-13 Brinell hardness and harder in the 18+ Brinell range. In my experience, I have found the softer SWC style bullets with the Hy Tek coating to be excellent in velocities up to 1200 fps, and maybe beyond, in 38/357/44 special/9 mm with NO leading. Spend the marginally extra money on the coating, it's worth it. On a slightly different path, I have also found the Speer swaged 148 grain hollow based wadcutters to be the cats meow for absolute accuracy in 38 special at target velocities. I don't think MBC offers a swaged bullet.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

For cast bullets in my 36, I like Acme Bullet Co.(notice my avatar?) 158 gr SWC
38 CAL 158 Grain SWC

 

[springer99]

been reloading since the 70s',back then it was only 38sp,357M,44sp,& 44M. Now I'm at 9mm,38sp,357M,40S&W,10mm,41M,44sp,& 44M. The questions only apply to the revolver cartridges. I've always used jacketed bullets except for when I was reloading 38sp with Speer 158 SWC Lead for a police shooting league. My bullet supply in jacketed bullets is immense. I would like to start loading low power/medium power SWC bullets for plinking/target. I'm not looking for load data concerning powders. I don't cast and I don't see casting in the future.
I see bullets available with terminology as 'hardcast',meaning what ? Uncoated bullets,coated bullets,plated bullets,anything to stay away from ? Any brands to stay away from ? Any barrel leading/cleaning problems ? Any size dia. to specifically avoid ? I'm not interested in lubing/sizing prior to use. My jacketed bullets will/would be used for high power/nuclear loads.

I've been using cast/lubricated bullets almost exclusively in 9mm,38Super, 38Spl, 41Mag, 44Mag and 45ACP for years now and feel that bullet fit is the most important thing to remember. A "hard cast", 15-22 brinell cast bullet will still lead your bore if it's undersize. In most cases, even going .001-.002 over bore size won't be a problem and can reduce any bore leading to a minimum. The cast bullets I've been using tend to range from 8 to 12 brinell. FWIW, I've been using .357sized bullets for all my 9mm,38Spl, and 38Super loads to good effect, and tend to go 200-500rounds between bore cleanings.

Accuracy is very subjective, depending on what results you expect, but I would rate well cast/lubed bullets right up there with jacketed, and you can push them just as fast as jacketed in the calibers you list. I never had much luck using any plated bullets in the accuracy department. They will put holes in targets though, as long as you aren't too particular about where that hole appears. Coated bullets are a newer technology that I've recently ordered and want to try, but they seem to be even better than traditional cast. MBC does have a good selection to choose from and I've had good luck dealing with them and others.

 

[oldman10mm]

Thanks for the responses. My main concerns were 'barrel leading' and what to avoid. Seems like the responses indicate leading will not be a problem. I went into my stash of non-jacketed bullets that I've recently accumulated over the past recent years. They're only in the 38/357 realm. I've got Extreme 158SWC & 125FP plated?(I'm going to assume they're plated as they are of a 'shiny gold appearance),Center Fire Bullet Casting in 158SWC & 130LFP-lead with an applied lube ring,and Mastercraft Bullet Co. 100DEWC-lead with an applied lube ring. From responses,they seem to be OK. I'll get some coated bullets in 38/357. I've got nothing in the 41/44 caliber,so I'll acquire varieties in those at the shows,as every week I hit the shows here in northeastern Ohio.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The 158gr SWC bullet is ok for target/plinking but...........

a soft "Swaged" 148gr HBwc bullet will expand to your barrel with light
target loads and may give you better groups at short ranges.

Different primers and amount of crimp on the 158gr loads will change results as much as your powder in your coming loads.
Have fun.

 

[fredj338]

Everything you push down the bore fouls it, it's just to what degree. Proper fit is more important than alloy or bullet lube. If you dont want to bother slugging bore & cyl throats, go big. A bullet 0.001" larger than jacketed is a minimum. You'll never go wrong going with the largest dia bullet available.
All my revolvers ever see are lead bullets, for decades now. Your rev throat will last longer, accuracy will be as good as you can ask if the bullet fits & is loaded correctly. The newer coated bullets are still a lead bullet, but with no grease/wax lube. So less smoke, less crud left in the gun. I am casting & now coating my own, but lots of good commercial casters out there. Missouri, sns, bayou, penn, two-alpha, many good guys making both conventional & coated.