Lead Bulllets

[The Viking]

Is it ok to shoot lead bullets through the barrel of a S&W M&P 2.0 9mm?

 

[gunny4053]

Yep, no problem. The M&P's have traditional lands and grooves as opposed to the polygonals used in Glock barrels. Like any firearm shooting lead, just pay attention to the bore and keep it clean.

 

[Mike-AK]

Keep in mind the most important thing when shooting cast bullets is sizing them to your barrel. Slug your barrel and size the bullets about 0.001” over. The second most important thing is choosing the right alloy. A BHN around 12-15 should be plenty hard for 9mm. The third most important thing is the right lube. You want something soft enough to flow at the pressures of the round you are firing, but not so soft that it will melt and flow before firing at high ambient temperatures. NRA 50/50 works nicely.

 

[mtgianni]

Consider powder coated for the 9mm. It does away with the lube issues that can be problematic for the non caster.

 

[gunny4053]

Consider powder coated for the 9mm. It does away with the lube issues that can be problematic for the non caster.

Good point here. If you're reloading and considering shooting lead, the coated offerings are great. I recently discovered the coated bullets, and when shooting them I've found my bore to remain reasonably clean.

 

[Autonomous]

^^^ And your reloading dies stay much cleaner!

 

[Alk8944]

Yep, no problem. The M&P's have traditional lands and grooves as opposed to the polygonals used in Glock barrels. Like any firearm shooting lead, just pay attention to the bore and keep it clean.

Lead bullets can be fired in any barrel type!!!!! This was an excuse Glock used to explain case head failures that were the result of a too deeply cut feed ramp resulting in a weak portion of the case being un-supported.

Only the earlier Glocks had this problem and it has been corrected now for several years. The rifling type has never been a problem! Glock is not the only company to use polygonal rifling, just the only company that claims lead bullets are a safety issue.

 

[.45mtngun]

For my 9mm and .40's I use Berry's 124 grain round nose plated in the 9mm's and 165 grain flat nose plated in the .40. Very accurate and easy to keep the barrel's clean. I have heard that the plated bullets shoot very well as compared to lead out of the Glocks with their different rifling. All my other hand guns use cast bullets that i cast. Hope this helps.
Jim

 

[RMFnLA]

+1 for plated.

I’ve been using X-Treme’s 124 gr. flat nose with excellent results in my 9mm Shield.
Also the Berry’s 124 gr. round nose, also with excellent results.

 

[gunny4053]

Lead bullets can be fired in any barrel type!!!!! This was an excuse Glock used to explain case head failures that were the result of a too deeply cut feed ramp resulting in a weak portion of the case being un-supported.

Only the earlier Glocks had this problem and it has been corrected now for several years. The rifling type has never been a problem! Glock is not the only company to use polygonal rifling, just the only company that claims lead bullets are a safety issue.

Breath dude! The OP ask if he could shoot lead, if it makes you feel better, I'll change my response to a simple "Yes".

I shot Glocks for well over 30 years and understand all the complaints associated with their use including the no lead, unsupported chambers, brass to the face, .40 kabooms, you name it. If you want to get right down to it, there's not one firearm manufacture that endorses reloads, and of those with polygonal rifling, none endorse the use of lead. There must be a reason.

So, short answer, yes you can shoot lead in an M&P.

 

[Buzzzer]

H/K also uses polygonal rifling but there is a more gradual flow of the rifling from the throat into the barrel. It's not abrupt like the older Glocks.

I've been using coated lead in my M&P for a little while now. If you reload (OP) double check the bullet itself. The first time I loaded the coated lead bullets for mine I adjusted to the cartridge OAL. The rounds would not chamber all the way and the slide would not go fully forward (what a frustrating range day that was). I didn't realize that the lead bullets' (RN), at least the ones I was using, diameter fattened out much faster than FMJ's. I ended up seating the bullets deeper for a shorter OAL (still within spec) but now they cycle fine. I think after these are done I'll go back to FMJ's. I hate having to adjust dies for different bullets with the same cartridge when it's just target/training practice. Just lazy I guess...

 

[gunny4053]

I've been using coated lead in my M&P for a little while now. If you reload (OP) double check the bullet itself. The first time I loaded the coated lead bullets for mine I adjusted to the cartridge OAL. The rounds would not chamber all the way and the slide would not go fully forward (what a frustrating range day that was). I didn't realize that the lead bullets' (RN), at least the ones I was using, diameter fattened out much faster than FMJ's. I ended up seating the bullets deeper for a shorter OAL (still within spec) but now they cycle fine.

I had the same issue. Initially OAL was set to 1.155" and I had the same issue. I reset the OAL to 1.135" and they feed like a champ in all my 9mm's, accurate too.