how fast can hard cast bullets lead your barrel. ive never really had a problem with it. but i clean my gun regularly. the buffalo hardcast 357 mags are stated to not signifantly led your barrel. since ive been reloading ive noticed that i can buy 500 rounds of hard cast in a box for 30$. this is a good deal i think but wonder why people have been warning me against lead bullets.
HARD CAST
- Thread starter lowe357
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Depends a whole lot on how smooth your barrel is, and the rifling configuration.
The Freedom Arms revolvers are EDM rifled (or at least were at one time...)> I have shot my own hard cast out of my 654 FA at clocked velocities of 1800 fps with no appreciable leading, and what lead there was came out readily with some Hornady One Shot.
No less an authority than Wayne Gibbs of Hensley and Gibbs told me years ago that if a cast bullet is of the proper hardness, is sized right, and has the right lube on it, a gas check is unnecessary for anything below 2000 fps. But getting all three of the above items can sometimes be very tricky, especially with commercially cast projectiles.
All I would recommend is to try them and watch for increasing smoke levels. That is indicative of either molten lead clearing the barrel or lubricant breaking down, and usually it is the lubricant.
No less an authority than Wayne Gibbs of Hensley and Gibbs told me years ago that if a cast bullet is of the proper hardness, is sized right, and has the right lube on it, a gas check is unnecessary for anything below 2000 fps. But getting all three of the above items can sometimes be very tricky, especially with commercially cast projectiles.
All I would recommend is to try them and watch for increasing smoke levels. That is indicative of either molten lead clearing the barrel or lubricant breaking down, and usually it is the lubricant.
It also depends on the alloy of the lead, the lube used, how it was produced and the powder choice.
I have pushed my non gas checked hardcast projectiles to roughly 1800fps in my 500 S&W.
I have pushed my non gas checked hardcast projectiles to roughly 1800fps in my 500 S&W.
MichiganScott
Member
Although the engineers are beginning to get it right, it is still difficult to get a bullet to expand at pistol velocities. That's one of the the reasons that the boutique bulleted ammunition is so expensive. There is no reason to spend top dollar on plinking ammunition.
Although I occasionally load cheap hollow points or solids for my handguns, the majority of my handloads contain either commercially cast or swaged bullets. After those rare shooting sessions that lead my barrels, I use a Lewis Lead Remover.
I have a well used M-28 with a barrel that feels like oil on glass when I run a tight patch through it. I can get away with pushing Speer swaged SWC's to near 1100 fps with little leading.
People that warn against using lead bullets in your handloads or commercial ammunition simply don't know any better.
Although I occasionally load cheap hollow points or solids for my handguns, the majority of my handloads contain either commercially cast or swaged bullets. After those rare shooting sessions that lead my barrels, I use a Lewis Lead Remover.
I have a well used M-28 with a barrel that feels like oil on glass when I run a tight patch through it. I can get away with pushing Speer swaged SWC's to near 1100 fps with little leading.
People that warn against using lead bullets in your handloads or commercial ammunition simply don't know any better.
