Pitdog02
Member
Ive never reloaded myself but it seems whenever I buy reloads they are alot smokier than factory ammo. I am just wondering why? Thanks Dale.
Smokey reloads?
- Thread starter Pitdog02
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bmcgilvray
Member
It is primarily due to the bullet lube on the cast lead bullets.
OP
Pitdog02
Member
Does factory ammo have different lube? I just ordered 1000 rds from Mastercast and I am hoping they are not as smokey as other reloads I have had in the past.
DonD
Member
I think bmcgilvray got it right. I'd suspect you're comparing factory jacketed rounds or factory lead rounds with dry lube to reloads with lube on them. All my .357 ammo with lubed SWCs smoke, JHPs do not. Don
duckloads
Member
I shot a bunch of Mastercast 45 Colt reloads. They were reasonably priced and accurate enough. They only drawback was they leaded my forcing cone. Bad. I had to make a scraper out of a piece of copper water pipe to clean the forcing cone.
As for the smoke? My own reloads are pretty smoky. If I shoot all six quickly and the fan at the range is on slow speed, then I'll pretty much smoke up my station.
As for the smoke? My own reloads are pretty smoky. If I shoot all six quickly and the fan at the range is on slow speed, then I'll pretty much smoke up my station.
oldRoger
US Veteran
I agree bullet lube, at least mostly; some powder seems to me smokier,for example Bullseye, than factory.
I think the coated bullets, the so called “black bullets” are less smoky, but also more expensive.
I think the coated bullets, the so called “black bullets” are less smoky, but also more expensive.
pinkymingeo
Member
Due to leading problems, I tumble lube my commercial cast bullets in an extra coating of Alox. Not much leading, but on a calm day it looks like I'm shooting BP. I used to complain about the guys to my left with bottom feeders tossing brass all around me. These days I get my revenge, watching as they wait for the smoke to clear so they can slither on their bellies, looking for their empties. Shooting a smoky revolver is sweet, indeed.
TSQUARED
Member
When Star was in business their 38 cal 148gr LWC and 45 cal 185 gr. LSWCHP were lubed with a white moly based material which at target velocities were virtually smokeless. Alas Star is no longer in business.
DonD
Member
I should have added that the smoke produced by SWCs I'm shooting now have a sweet, pleasant scent to them. Don
mkk41
US Veteran
Some smoke is from lube , some from powder , some is lead dust/vapor. The older Alox made lots of smoke. Modern hard wax lube smokes less.
Some powders are sootier than others. Generally , most gunshow reloads are made with powders that give the most rounds per pound , ie , made as cheap as possible.
Bullets , the soft swaged lead bullets like Speer , Remington , Hornady will 'burn' on the base and throw lead dust in the air. So will hard-cast , but to a lesser extent. Another reason for gas-checks.
Airborn lead concerns on indoor ranges was the primary reason S&W originally came up with the Nyclad bullets. Safe on indoor range , effective on the street.
Some powders are sootier than others. Generally , most gunshow reloads are made with powders that give the most rounds per pound , ie , made as cheap as possible.
Bullets , the soft swaged lead bullets like Speer , Remington , Hornady will 'burn' on the base and throw lead dust in the air. So will hard-cast , but to a lesser extent. Another reason for gas-checks.
Airborn lead concerns on indoor ranges was the primary reason S&W originally came up with the Nyclad bullets. Safe on indoor range , effective on the street.
Reloader
Member
Could be a combo of bullet lube and Herco powder.. I had Herco do that all the time with my cast reloads...Like shooting black powder.
OP
Pitdog02
Member
Thanks guys, I kinda had all these bits of info. This thread clarified and helped me to understand much better. What I gather is enjoy the smoke and breathe deep, if your lucky you'll annoy someone who deserves it near you at the range.
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fredj338
Member
If your getting forcing cone leading, your bullets are likely too hard. A hard bullet at low pressure will not obturate to seal the bore. You get flame cutting along the rear sides of the bullet at the forcing cone. Most commercial cast are too hard for 15K-20Kpsi of mild 45Colt loads. I found this out shooting CAS. Started casting my own.
If you shoot lead bullets w/ wax/grease lubes, you are going to get some smoke. Certain powders will smoke more than others. You can't compare them to jacketed factory ammo.
mkk41
US Veteran
I wouldn't go that far. Airborn lead can kill ya in many ways. Breathing it is the slow way. Thanks to the tree-huggers and EPA , many commercial indoor ranges are getting tested , and shut down. Lead bullets also vaporize some when they hit the steel backstops. Most indoor range exhaust fans were just drawing lead contaminated air out and discharging it to the outside atmosphere , resulting in lead contamination of surrounding soil and ground water. Some new ranges use a combination of water and Hepa-filters to remove most of the lead from air drawn from the indoor area.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
The perfect solution to your smoky loads!
I have the perfect solution to those loads that smoke a lot and those that are bothered by it. Actually, I have two. In your loads start using Johnson's and Johnson's Baby Powder for a propellant or convert all of your firearms to squirt guns.
You will never have the problem of dirty guns, smoke in your eyes and you will be politically correct in almost every faction of your life!
Smoke is part of an explosion (read really fast burning) that takes place in a confined area. It is worsened with lead bullets for all of the reasons stated above, lead, lube and powder. The only way to get away from it is to not shoot. Are you willing to do that? I'm not. I'm going to shoot.
Shooting cast lead bullets is the cheapest way for me to get the enjoyment out of my hobby that there is. I cast and shoot my own bullets. I do it to have more range time and to keep costs down. Is there smoke? Yep. Does it bother me? At times. When I shoot inside with inadequate ventilation it does. I limit those times. Shooting outside? Nope.
Even with my casting, and I have my blood checked regularly for lead, my lead levels have gone DOWN in the last few years. That is both while I cast my own bullets AND shot competitively every week indoors. Go figure.
Got a little burr under my saddle about this. Sorry if it comes across harsh. Put things in perspective.
I have the perfect solution to those loads that smoke a lot and those that are bothered by it. Actually, I have two. In your loads start using Johnson's and Johnson's Baby Powder for a propellant or convert all of your firearms to squirt guns.
You will never have the problem of dirty guns, smoke in your eyes and you will be politically correct in almost every faction of your life!
Smoke is part of an explosion (read really fast burning) that takes place in a confined area. It is worsened with lead bullets for all of the reasons stated above, lead, lube and powder. The only way to get away from it is to not shoot. Are you willing to do that? I'm not. I'm going to shoot.
Shooting cast lead bullets is the cheapest way for me to get the enjoyment out of my hobby that there is. I cast and shoot my own bullets. I do it to have more range time and to keep costs down. Is there smoke? Yep. Does it bother me? At times. When I shoot inside with inadequate ventilation it does. I limit those times. Shooting outside? Nope.
Even with my casting, and I have my blood checked regularly for lead, my lead levels have gone DOWN in the last few years. That is both while I cast my own bullets AND shot competitively every week indoors. Go figure.
Got a little burr under my saddle about this. Sorry if it comes across harsh. Put things in perspective.
oldRoger
US Veteran
In the good old days, indoor range ventilation wasn’t much – one complete air change a month I think, little or no ear or eye protection, soft dark brown something for bullet lube, Bullseye for powder, lead was Lyman # 2 diluted about four times with soft lead.
Lots and lots of smoke, good thing no eye protection, cause there was a whole lot of eye rubbing going on.
Wasn’t much better outside, lots of shoots had people elbow to elbow and no separator between shooters.
We all survived and thrived.
All of that said, lots of bullet lube now doesn’t smoke as much and some powders are cleaner. I sort of like to reduce the smoke enough so I don’t have to wait too long between shots. But it never even occurred to me that anyone would not shoot because of the smoke. Tell me it ain’t so Joe?
Lots and lots of smoke, good thing no eye protection, cause there was a whole lot of eye rubbing going on.
Wasn’t much better outside, lots of shoots had people elbow to elbow and no separator between shooters.
We all survived and thrived.
All of that said, lots of bullet lube now doesn’t smoke as much and some powders are cleaner. I sort of like to reduce the smoke enough so I don’t have to wait too long between shots. But it never even occurred to me that anyone would not shoot because of the smoke. Tell me it ain’t so Joe?
