Switching to lead bullets

[age_ranger]

What are the benifits/drawbacks to reloading using lead bullets instead of FMJ. After comparing the price of 1000 bullets, it's a pretty good savings. Anything special about them? I've heard lubing them is essential. Is it a pain to do or worth while? I use a turret press, not a progressive, so I'd place them individually during reloading.

Also, what bullets do people use? Reccomendations?

[Mike1951]

Benefit would be cost savings.

Drawback would be excessive leading.

Keep in mind that pistols with polygonal rifling (Kahr, Glock, etc.) strongly warn against using lead bullets.

Apparently, the lead accummulates to the point of raising pressures to dangerous levels.

[age_ranger]

After how many rounds would this occur? Any idea? I'd probably use it for IDPA and shoot about 100-200 rounds max per match.

[Mike1951]

If your gun has conventional rifleing, it just becomes necessary to more throughly clean the barrel. The are products like the Lewis lead remover. I have also heard that regular scouring pads can be cut into pieces and drawn through the barrel to remove leading.

I don't have the knowledge to recommend shooting lead through a polygonal rifled barrel.

[RKirby]

Another thing to consider is that cast lead bullets are not permitted at some indoor ranges.

Might be worth checking into before you spend your money, especially if you shoot your IDPA matches at an indoor range.

[nuparadigm]

AR -
You didn't say if you were shoting a Khar or a Glock (polygonal rifiling). If you are, then the comments above apply. My summary of them is to stay away from lead in a polygonal barrel. For FMJ's, my best source is Magnus bullets off the UPS truck from Mid South at:http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

That being said, there is a local indoor range which routinely rents Glocks and sells his own LRN reloads to shoot in them. He told me that he wasn't concerned about potential Kabooms from the LRN's. In my case, I'll keep my distance.

With standard rifiling (and loaded to modest fps) lead will work just fine out of your weapon. The Lewis Lead Remover (or the Hoppes equivalent insturment) should be used every couple of hundred rounds.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Another disadvantage to cast bullets is the added smoke from the bullet lube and the need to clean your dies every 50 to 100 rounds, depending upon how "clean" the bullets come from the provider. Some do a good job of keeping the bullet lube in the grease rings, some get it all over the bullet.

Chas.

[pistolchamp]

I shoot jillions of cast lead bullets in my Glock 17, 21 and 24 with zero problems. Virtually no leading and easy enough to clean. I don't try to blast them downrange as fast as possible, this is practice or match ammo, not self defence or hunting ammo.

Usually running in the 900 to 1,000 fps range, they work great, save a bit of money and are very accurate, especially in my Glock 24 with the 21 also very, very good. The 17 in 9m/m is okay and doesn't lead the barrel, but, accuracy (maybe my load) isn't the best in this gun.

I also shoot 9m/m lead reloads in my Kahr PM9 for practice and they work very well with excellent accuracy in this gun.

Just don't believe everything you hear, try it and if you like it okay, if not don't do it. I like it a lot and even won the San Antonio Glock match in 2001, unlimited class, using my Model 24 and 180 grain lead bullets over 5.5 grains of WW-452AA powder. I know its been discontinued, but, I have some and I like it, several others powders work well also.

[CaptDave]

"Some people have also postulated a relationship between the use of cast lead bullets and kB! (Kaboom = catastophic failure), arguing that buildup of lead in the chamber can lead to pressure buildups as well. The jury seems to be out on this one as a direct causation, but lead build-up will sometimes cause a round to not fully chamber, and as Glocks can discharge with the action not completely locked up ("out of battery," [see Annotation #4]), this can lead to a catastrophic failure."

This excerpt - and some pretty nasty photos of a couple of Kb!'s are from "The Gun Zone" @ http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html

[KRM45]

You might try plated bullets too. They are less expensive than jacketed rounds, and should not cause the problems associated with cast bullets.

[CaptDave]

I usually "sing the praises" of Precision Bullets http://www.precisionbullets.com/ - they are polymer coated lead, so no lube and the related smoke, can shoot in my USP's polygonal barrel w/o worrying about the lead issue, are reasonably priced - and the price includes tax and shipping - priority mail at that!

However, after placing my most recent order a couple of days ago, I received an email thanking me - and letting me know they were running three weeks behind...

[Houston1944]

3 weeks is good. I am still waiting for an order to complete with Penn that I placed Nov 9. I received my 45acp bullets in Jan but the 45 / 454 bullets are not shipping until later this month.

[age_ranger]

Thanks for the replies. I'm shooting a Beretta PX4 and the lead or plated bullets might work out. Might have to check into the plated bullets. I'm picking up bullets right now at $4.50/100 for FMJ but the lead are even cheaper.

The plated bullets are more expensive than what I'm paying for FMJ, so I might just stick with the FMJ......

[dukalmighty]

I cast my own bullets with either lee bullet molds or my cast master bullet maker if i use the lee molds i tumble lube with lee alox lube if i use the cast master i use a star lubrisizer,to lube and size.My bullets cost me whatever the lead cost as in wheel weights or other types of scrap,i can produce a bullet for about a penny a round I also have a shotmaker if i ever set up will crank out shot for whatever price of lead costs me but i guarantee it will be about 1/2 what cabelas wants