Cast bullet 40S&W use in a S&W 610?

[cowboymocha]

Is this combination possible. I have had no luck loading anything with W-231 and 180 grain cast. Leading the first two inches of the barrel with velocities from 780 to 1075 feet per second. The four inches of the bore back from the muzzle are lead free. Bullet hardness is 18 and measures .401. Groups are great at the low end and high end and poor in-between. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[pberry]

I have been shooting hardcast lead 180gr tc for over a year now. Been through about 3000 of them. No lead in the barrel but each chamber throat leads a little. I get it out with out much trouble so I don't worry about it. I did lap my barrel before I ever fired the 610. It shines like crome. I learned to do that from shooting IHMSA with a 44 Dan wesson in the 1980's. Its more accurate and it doesn't lead. You have to be careful not to over do it.
Phil

 

[tdan]

Your bullets may be too hard to obdurate properly as they pass the forcing cone. At the velocities you mention, you should not get much leading with the right 180gr. bullet........assuming now that your chambers are lining up properly with the barrel. Does it also lead up in a similar fashion when that same cast bullet is loaded in 10mm brass?

 

[cowboymocha]

Tried the 610 today with cast 180 tc with BH-18 and 10mm brass rather than the 40S&W brass. There was less barrel leading with the use of the 10mm brass than when I used the 40S&W brass. Tried three different powders with bullet velocities about 975'/s. Best powder/bullet combo was Unique, with almost no leading after twelve rounds. Will lap the bore today after cleaning.

 

[sonny]

Your bullets may be too hard to obdurate properly as they pass the forcing cone.

At BHN11, you will get deformation of the bullet at 750 fps. So at your low velocities, you bullet is too hard. The bullet is too hard to obturate (expand and seal the barrel) once it hits the forcing cone. You would do well to use bullets at BHN 12 perhaps.
sonny

 

[TSQUARED]

I have only shot lead bullets at very moderate velocities in my 610 - ca. 725-780 fps. I use 3.4 to 3.6 gr. WST or American Select and 155 to 180 gr. lead bullets - no leading problems.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Don't have my M610 anymore!

I shot lead bullets exclusively out of my M610 6 1/2" barrel when I still had it. I shot them from 10mm cases at 40S&W velocities as well as standard 40S&W loads.

Most of my loads were with HP-38 and 180gr LTC bullets. All of them were purchased as I didn't have a mold at the time. I did have some 200gr LTC that I got from TVB. They shot well and didn't lead either. I don't think I had any problem with leading in any of my loads.

I also got some 180gr LRNFP designed for the 38/40 because I wanted my revolver to shoot rounds that looked like they belonged in a wheelgun! Had to seat them to the driving band and reduce the powder to keep the pressure down.

If I could have used it for deer hunting here in Indiana I probably would have kept it. Since I couldn't, I made room for something else in the safe!