FMJ vs hard cast lead

[SFCRangerDoc]

So I have a late 1912 S&W .38 that was handed down to me by my grandfather and I'm trying to extend the life of the gun as far as possible. It was a service piece for both my Great grandfather, my grandfather, and his brother. Its a solid shooter but as any service piece its got some wear including some pitting in the barrel. I'm trying to figure out if there is any benefit to shooting SWC Lead bullets out of it instead of FMJ's. Of course there is the dirty factor of shooting lead but past that am I really getting any benefit?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

First of all, your gun was designed for lead bullets...lead round nose. While it will shoot jacketed or plated bullets, less wear will occur with lead bullets. I believe the lead used was around 10-15 Brinell which is what you get with cast wheel weights or range lead. Hard cast is harder at 18-22 B. I don't get much leading with my cast WW bullets. Semi-wad cutters are lead so they work like the LRN WRT the rifling. If you want more info on cast lead bullets, there are some good articles by Glen Fryxell here.

 

[SFCRangerDoc]

Oh sweet, thanks! This looks like an interesting page. I'll check it out!

 

[DWalt]

At the time that revolver was made, virtually all revolver bullets were lead. Actually, for a long time afterward, they remained lead. Keep in mind that S&W did not heat-treat the steel of its civilian revolvers until late 1919. Therefore, it's best to use only standard velocity lead bullet loads. Full wadcutter target ammunition is to be preferred and will result in minimum wear and tear to your old revolver. For many, many years, the old standby target shooter's load in .38 Special has been a 148 grain full wadcutter bullet and 2.8-3.0 grains of Bullseye powder.

 

[Alk8944]

To add a bit to what DWalt said. S&W began heat-treating cylinders, with no other change, in Sept 1919. The use of Nickel steel for barrels and cylinders began post WWII, probably later 1950s. The earlier steels were more susceptible to wear than the Nickel steel, particularly the barrels.

You can expect a barrel life with the older guns of something like 15,000 rounds with jacketed bullets. With cast Lead bullets and normal cleaning barrel life is virtually forever. Your decision.

 

[SFCRangerDoc]

To add a bit to what DWalt said. S&W began heat-treating cylinders, with no other change, in Sept 1919. The use of Nickel steel for barrels and cylinders began post WWII, probably later 1950s. The earlier steels were more susceptible to wear than the Nickel steel, particularly the barrels.

You can expect a barrel life with the older guns of something like 15,000 rounds with jacketed bullets. With cast Lead bullets and normal cleaning barrel life is virtually forever. Your decision.

Lead bullets it is! Seeing this was a service piece that has god knows how many rounds through it I want to keep it as nice as possible. I'll keep my FMJ's for Home defense! I have been very happy with this little gun. It shoots quarter sized groups at 7-8 yds all day long! Not bad for a snub nosed 102 year old gun!

and yes..it was cut down by LAPD armorer in the 50's for concealed carry by my grandfather who was undercover at the time!

 

[jtcarm]

I doubt you could shoot out the rifling in your lifetime even with jacketed bullets, but cast would be gentler.

Besides that, you want to keep loads light, which is best done with lead boolits.