Cast Lead bullets and barrel leading How Fast?
Many years ago I used commercial lead bullets in my reloads and got terrible barrel leading above 1000 FPS. Recently I was loading some very high quality, commercial cast bullets (no gas check) and E-mailed the factory and asked them how fast I could push them without barrel leading. The factory recommended no faster than 1500 FPS. Can anybody confirm this? I am loading for a .44 magnum.
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Depends on lube, bullet, if a gas check is used, velocity, lead hardness, etc. I shoot a lot of cast bullets, both pistol and rifle. I generally cast them to approximate #2 alloy hardness. I regularly shoot these at about 1400 fps with gas check with no leading, using Lee liquid Alox. I have pushed them to 2000 fps no trouble, again with gas check. No worse leading than usual.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
I just switched to the Lasercast bullets and found they seem to be remarkably good when it come to not leading up the barrel. 0 -
Alot of it has to do with how good the bore of the rifle is. A smooth mirror bright bore will take more speed than even a slighly rough one. Gas check bullets I have one rifle I can get 2300 in no problem. Another with the same bullets and lube I get leading at 1600. No gas checked, I have a friend who shoots a 9x21 race gun at 1500 no problems. I shoot 9x19 at 1350 with bullets cast out of straight wheel weights and some tin added for castability-very hard both pistol bores have been firelapped though to polish them. The only lube I use is Lee liquid alox. After shooting it is hard to tell if you were shooting lead or plated.
A man with a gun is a CITIZEN, a man without a gun is a subject.0 -
Jonk's right. The answer is....it depends.
General rule of thumb: if you use a good hard lead (Lyman #2 alloy, linotype metal, straight wheelweights) and stay sub-sonic (less than 1100 fps) you're in good shape.
This works great for .45 ACP, since most loads are subsonic, anyway. And most people who go with "hot loads" use jacketed bullets.
.44 Mag is a whole 'nuther basket of fish....and if you're buying your lead bullets, you don't know how hard they are.
Sooooo.....for target/plinker loads, you're probably OK with lead. Anything faster, go with a gascheck or jacketed bullet.0 -
I recently purchased some lead 240 gr bullets that were stated to be good up to around 1400 without leading. Since I don't plan on going near that fast, this really shouldn't be an issue. I also suspect that most shooters aren't likely to do a whole lot of rounds in an average 44 Mag session [:D]
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
This is from Laser Cast's home page.
CUTTING-EDGE PERFORMANCE, LAST-CENTURY PRICE
Oregon Trailr guarantees your satisfaction unconditionally. As shooters, we have absolute confidence in Laser-Cast r bullets, the confidence you need when your shot has to count. Whether you're pressing off X?s at a Bullseye match, hunting something that can eat YOU or knocking bowling pins into the next ZIPcode, we have a match-proven Laser-Castr bullet to give you the winning edge. Shoot The Real Silver Bulletr and set a new performance standard for yourself!
As always, your satisfaction GUARANTEED or you money back! ?
No leading, even at jacketed velocities
Slick Silver Bearing Alloy yields highest velocities of allExtreme accuracy
Laser-Castr performance at ordinary cast bullet prices.
[8D]
ATF0 -
Need a web site address for the laser cast bullets please. Thanks, Mike
Michael A. Calvert0 -
Thats an amazing claim by Lazercast. Bought an inexpensive chronograph will work up loads and see how fast I can go without leading. Thanks everybody for the information. 0 -
I use National Bullets copper coated lead bullets.You can push them as hard as a jacketed bullets and with no leading at all.
It's All Crapola!!!0 -
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Ran my first box of 240 Lead (bullets are by D&J) with 8.4 grains of Unique--enjoyable shooting. No real issue with leading of barrel per se. However, the mag-na-port comp issued enough smoke to cover the red insert on my S&W. Next time up, I'll do two boxes and wipe the front sight!
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0
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