Cast lead vs. jacketed loads?

[mtgianni]

I don't know but in my experience, lead bullets generally have a lower max charge than jacketed. Granted the jacketed are being pushed harder.

I just browsed the Accurate data online and it bears me out.

Accurate doesn't sell bullet molds and have a century or more experience with cast bullets. Lyman does.

 

[AlHunt]

Accurate doesn't sell bullet molds and have a century or more experience with cast bullets. Lyman does.

And so ... ?

 

[mtgianni]

And so they have a better understanding of what is possible with lead than a company that solely produces powder. Frequently one sees that higher velocities in handguns are possible with lead of the proper hardness rate than with jacketed. It is rarely shown by those who manufacture and or sell jacketed bullets.
You will never see a poster in an auto dealership explaining the superiority of their competitors vehicles either. If you want further reading, take up Veral Smith, John Linebaugh, older Ross Seyfreid articles and several casting boards. You will rarely see this opinion on the pages of current gun magazines.

 

[rockquarry]

And so they have a better understanding of what is possible with lead than a company that solely produces powder. Frequently one sees that higher velocities in handguns are possible with lead of the proper hardness rate than with jacketed. It is rarely shown by those who manufacture and or sell jacketed bullets.
You will never see a poster in an auto dealership explaining the superiority of their competitors vehicles either. If you want further reading, take up Veral Smith, John Linebaugh, older Ross Seyfreid articles and several casting boards. You will rarely see this opinion on the pages of current gun magazines.

From a long-time bullet caster... You're right, but the number of bullet casters is very small in comparison with handloaders in general. And handloaders in general is a very small number in comparison with the number of shooters.

Just not enough interest these days for articles about the finer points of casting. You'll still see occasional articles of a general nature but little by the real pros and they're not going to be writing entry-level cast bullet material anyway.

 

[LostintheOzone]

And so they have a better understanding of what is possible with lead than a company that solely produces powder. Frequently one sees that higher velocities in handguns are possible with lead of the proper hardness rate than with jacketed. It is rarely shown by those who manufacture and or sell jacketed bullets.
You will never see a poster in an auto dealership explaining the superiority of their competitors vehicles either. If you want further reading, take up Veral Smith, John Linebaugh, older Ross Seyfreid articles and several casting boards. You will rarely see this opinion on the pages of current gun magazines.

Higher velocities can be achieved with lead to a point. There is less friction with lead therefore less pressure generated by the cartridge using a lead bullet. Safe pressure is the limiting factor for all cartridges. The pressure limit is the same for lead but with less friction it is safer at a slightly higher velocity.

That wasn't the OP's question however.

Is there typically a difference in the amount of powder one would use for a lead vs a jacketed bullet?
I'm wanting to load some 100 gr RNFP bullets in .380, but none of my manuals have load data for a lead 100 grain bullet in .380. I'm using Win 231 powder.

The answer to that question is it takes less powder to move a lead bullet of the same weight as FMJ at a fixed velocity.

I would reduce my lead load by 10% but that may not be acceptable for some hardliners.

I've experimented with some powders without load data but then I've been reloading awhile. This won't be anywhere nearly as exciting.

 

[rays44]

IMO, the seating depth of the bullet has much more impact on pressure than bullet material. Very small differences in seating depth can drastically change pressures. This is where the bullet style makes the most difference.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

A simple point to consider:

Cast lead bullets, even those made of the harder alloys, are significantly softer than any jacketed bullet. They are accelerated more easily and develop much less friction in the bore, so both the maximum pressures and the pressure impulse curve are lower than any jacketed bullet (assuming the same load and firearm).

That said, those qualities come with some limitations. Powder selections (burning rates, charge levels, etc) must remain within the appropriate range to avoid some of the problems that jacketed bullets were developed to overcome (leading of the lands & grooves, excessive expansion of the bullet under initial pressure, melting of the bullet base caused by flame temperatures of the burning powder, etc).

Also, some firearms can cause problems with exposed lead bullets due to designs of the feeding mechanism (another obstacle that jacketed bullets provide some advantages for).

I've been casting bullets for 48 years and use cast bullets almost exclusively in most of my firearms. We just have to understand the strengths and weaknesses and work within the range of real possibilities.

The Lyman cast bullet manuals are an excellent starting point for anyone considering this.

Spot on! I started casting in 1972. Now I can feed every firearm I own with cast bullets except my .22 rimfires. I even pour #8 shot for my shotguns. So all I need is primers and powder.

To the OP. I shoot a cast GC'D bullet in my 30/30 at almost full power with no leading. Also shoot cast bullets in my carbines and Garands too. You could start with the mid load powder charge from a jacketed bullet of the same weight and go up or down from there.

 

[pantannojack]

I would not try to hot rod a 380 blow back pistol. From the AA Big Blue Book: "What's the point?" Load to reliable function. that's all there is.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't own a 380 but I do remember reading an artical many years ago where a lot of factory ammo and lead bullets were tested to see what loads worked the best.

Back then when the smoke cleared...........
one of the JHP loads that did well was the Remington 102 gr JHP load.

Since then there are probably lots of new ammo out there for the little 380 but back then it was the largest JHP made, at the time.

My old loading manuals only had a 95 gr lead bullet as the larget in that style of bullet, so things have changed a lot over time.

Today the little 380 with the new ammo is something to reckon with.