So much for this leading myth

[BillBro]

I found a decent deal on some 158gr SWC and some 148gr DEWC, both .357" but they're pretty hard at a stated 21bhn but for the price thought I would try them and see how they performed in both 357 and 38spl pressures.

Well today I shot 100 each and this is the bore after pulling 1 Hoppes soaked patch, 5 or so passes with a nylon brush and two dry patches,







People always talk to you at a range asking this and that and almost without fail when I show them what Ive loaded and am shooting I always get the same reaction, even from other revolver shooters about how they would never shoot lead bullets in theirs, ruins the bore and youll never get it out. I get so tired of hearing it. Crazy.

Bear in mind that some of those 38 loads were LIGHT! Like 650fps and still no leading. Im happy. I know its all about the sizing but 21bhn at 583fps and no leading? I wasnt trying to load them that light but thats what my crazy chrino showed for 4.5gr of A5? It should have been about 800 or better especially out of the 5" barrel.

 

[M29since14]

Can't worry too much about gunshop/range commandos and their opinions on much of anything. Great looking stocks on your 627. Very nice!

 

[BillBro]

Thank you good sir, made by my hand.��

 

[rockquarry]

There are enough changeable factors involved with the use of cast bullets that no "rule" or procedure is 100% firm in every instance. Isolated exceptions notwithstanding, it's pretty safe to say that fit is considerably more important than hardness.

 

[BillBro]

Youre correct, size (fit) means more than just about all else.

 

[Muley Gil]

You must talk to some rather young revolver shooters that don't want to shoot lead bullets. I started reloading in 1973 & have shot mostly lead bullets over the years-home cast, swaged, and commercial cast. Sure, I've encountered leading, but a little elbow grease (and sometimes a Lewis Lead Remover) took care of it.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Great grips (nice work) and great gun, one of my favorites.

 

[deputydon]

I've cast straight wheel weights for years & run them thru a Lyman sizer/lubricator. Rarely had leading problems unless I tried to push them too hard. I also have a Lewis lead remover that cleans up leading in a couple of passes. YMMV

-don

 

[DWalt]

You must talk to some rather young revolver shooters that don't want to shoot lead bullets. I started reloading in 1973 & have shot mostly lead bullets over the years-home cast, swaged, and commercial cast. Sure, I've encountered leading, but a little elbow grease (and sometimes a Lewis Lead Remover) took care of it.

Mercury is by far the best lead remover. Provided you can find any. I have about a 4-ounce bottle of it, but I don't use it often. And when I do, it's always outside, and with great care. It is not anywhere close to being as toxic as some would have you believe.

 

[__steve__]

Shot couple dozen MB 400 gr cast crushers through the snub .500 S&W with loads hovering around the published H110 maximum. Finished with a single jacketed load to clean it out, but barrel was unleaded - almost spotless, and these weren't even GC'd furthermore had Brinell of just 18!

On the other hand I have shot a different brand 500 gr cast, they were GC'd at midrange pressures and I immediately noticed they had horrible accuracy after just a few, looked down barrel (safely of course) was almost like I shot grey crayon's out of there. Still haven't shot the rest.

 

[GypsmJim]

What's this "leading" y'all talk about?

I shoot home made lead boolits in every rifle and handgun I own. I make them for free with fully amortized lead. I wouldn't even consider using a jacketed bullet. Way to expensive.

Leading is all about bore diameter, boolit diameter, lead hardness, lube quality, driving them too fast withot gas checks, etc., etc.

I will admit I bought store bought bullets 50 years ago and they leaded my barrel. Started casting my own in 1975. Haven't cleaned a leaded barrel ever since.

 

[BillBro]

Ive talked to all ages I think, maybe not to either extreme and nobody shoots them. Personally Ive only recently began shooting lead myself and am liking them alot. I shoot both but lead bullets are quickly becoming my prefered type, more chances to customize to each gun, hundreds of styles and weights, hardnesses and so on, and I dont even cast my own.

Thanks for the kind words ProtocallDesign, it is a great gun.

Apparently all I need to clean this revolver after 200 lead bullets is a patch. Ive shot as many as 400 through my M29 and it was almost spotless and ad far as I could tell accuracy didnt suffer a bit. Ive learned alot about choosing the right lead bullets here and on the Ruger Forum and want to thank all.

 

[DWalt]

Generally, with proper lead alloys and properly sized bullets, leading will not be much of a problem if MVs are kept below about 1100 ft/sec. The Lyman cast bullet handbook discusses the topic of bore leading extensively. Lead bullets with gas checks can be driven faster.
I have a Winchester Model 94 which will experience bore leading with about any lead bullet even at low velocities. I think it has a very rough bore.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Only way I can afford to shoot my big boomers is with my cast bullets. Started casting in 1972 for my 9mm BHP. Now I shoot cast in every center handgun I own and some rifles. i also shoot cast in my M1 carbines and Garands. Never clogged a gas port and never will. That's an old wives tale.
I keep about a ton of wheel weights on hand.......AND I will never run out of bullets!

 

[glenwolde]

People don't talk to me at the range. Thank God.

 

[AJ]

You must talk to some rather young revolver shooters that don't want to shoot lead bullets. I started reloading in 1973 & have shot mostly lead bullets over the years-home cast, swaged, and commercial cast. Sure, I've encountered leading, but a little elbow grease (and sometimes a Lewis Lead Remover) took care of it.

I too, started reloading in 1973. Probably 90% of the reloads I have shot over the years were cast by myself. I started out reloading because it was much cheaper than store bought ammo. Now it seems the store bought is cheaper than the reloaded ammo.

 

[bob1956]

I've been lucky to pick up a couple Lewis lead removers at gunshows over the year's. I don't think they still make them but one time thru the bore and lead is gone!

 

[BillBro]

Whenever I do see some leading I just use the Choreboy on a brush method and it goes away.

 

[stansdds]

I am another one who has had little issue with lead bullets. I shoot commercially cast lead, BHN usually quoted as being around 18. Biggest issue I have found with cast lead is the residue from the lubricant. Given the cost difference between jacketed and cast lead, a little more time cleaning the handgun is a whole lot less expensive than jacketed bullets.

 

[rockquarry]

Whenever I do see some leading I just use the Choreboy on a brush method and it goes away.

This works as does the Lewis Lead Remover, but for most leading, I started using the Brownells Doube Tuff bronze brushes several years ago. When experimenting with loads and alloys, you'll inevitably get leading with some recipes but hopefully you'll work past the leading problem altogether.