Shot some LEAD bullets from a revolver yesterday

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Rule3

Rule3

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When I first started out reloading with revolvers, 38 357 44 mag. Used a lot of regular lubed lead bullets. Kinda got away from them shooting semi autos in 9mm and 45acp using fmj and coated lead

Shot several hundred rounds of 357 158 gr LSWC and forgot just how damn messy they are! :barf:The smoke and soot on the gun, my hands and then cleaning the revolvers. What a PITA
At least the wind was at my back and blow the clouds away from me.

I have melted the lube off a bunch of 45 ACP bullets and powder coated them but to much work and then resize them.

Watch the for sale ads, as I am probably gonna sell all my MBC lead bullets!:what:
 
I quit using conventional lubed lead bullets also. The ones I still cast are lubed with a 50-50 mix of Lee liquid Alox and mineral spirits. It still makes a mess of my handguns but I don't have to choke on the smoke near as much.
It's not near as bad.
I quit using bevel based bullets from MBC completely, the ones I cast are flat based and seal in the bore better and with the alox they are a lot better than the conventional lube for smoke. They still smoke, don't get me wrong, but they aren't as bad.
Some members seem to be able to get bevel based conventionally lubed bullets to work, I never could. The smoke and dirt was enough to make me quit even trying to.
I'm probably going to get flamed for my post from the serious casters here but I have never been a serious caster so sorry if I offended anyone.
From what a lot of people here say, the coated bullets from MBC are the way to go if you want to buy from them.

There is nothing wrong with their bullets, It's just what your willing to put up with if you use their conventional lubed bullets.
Try their coated bullets, you will probably be happy with them.
 
When I shoot lead-lube bullets I like to shoot them outside. Indoors it starts looking like I am standing in the exhaust of a coal-fired power plant after 7 quick shots from the 686+...

Copper coated bullets are pretty much all I’ll shoot indoors anymore.

Stay safe!
 
tightgroup tiger said:
I quit using conventional lubed lead bullets also. The ones I still cast are lubed with a 50-50 mix of Lee liquid Alox and mineral spirits. It still makes a mess of my handguns but I don't have to choke on the smoke near as much.
It's not near as bad.
I quit using bevel based bullets from MBC completely, the ones I cast are flat based and seal in the bore better and with the alox they are a lot better than the conventional lube for smoke. They still smoke, don't get me wrong, but they aren't as bad.
Some members seem to be able to get bevel based conventionally lubed bullets to work, I never could. The smoke and dirt was enough to make me quit even trying to.
I'm probably going to get flamed for my post from the serious casters here but I have never been a serious caster so sorry if I offended anyone.
From what a lot of people here say, the coated bullets from MBC are the way to go if you want to buy from them.

There is nothing wrong with their bullets, It's just what your willing to put up with if you use their conventional lubed bullets.
Try their coated bullets, you will probably be happy with them.
Click to expand...

It's not just MBC bullets they are are a fine product and have shot thousands of them. It's any similar conventional lubed bullet. I have shot many other brands
Compared to jacketed,plated or coated they are just messy regardless of what powder used
 
Once my current stock of lead bullets is depleted I'll likely only keep shooting lead in 38spl. There is no need for my 9 and 45 to keep getting sooty. In the 38, they work so well, I'm not really inclined to change them.
 
If you get used to running only plated or JHP jackets, then FMJ's are kind of dirty to handle during loading. If you get used to any of those, then poly coated bullets are kind of messy in the gun and a little smoky. And if you get used to any of those, old-fashioned bare lead/lubed bullets seem roughly as clean as a tire fire in the process of being extinguished with used diapers.

Bare lead bullets are filthy.
 
ATLDave said:
If you get used to running only plated or JHP jackets, then FMJ's are kind of dirty to handle during loading. If you get used to any of those, then poly coated bullets are kind of messy in the gun and a little smoky. And if you get used to any of those, old-fashioned bare lead/lubed bullets seem roughly as clean as a tire fire in the process of being extinguished with used diapers.

Bare lead bullets are filthy.
Click to expand...
and revolvers are dirtier than semi autos, Cylinder gap, 5 or 6 cylinders, breach, barrel and of course possible lead, etc. Messy Messy Messy:)
 
Right, if I was to quit lead for dirtiness it'd be in revolvers, not semis.

But I'll never quit lead for revolvers.

I did just buy a G43 though and I'm pretty annoyed at the Glock/lead issue. I'm torn between buying a Lone Wolf barrel, and risking a G43 blowing up in my hands for a buildup of lead in their "special" barrels. I don't believe it will is the thing.

I have about 700 plated projectiles to shoot while I contemplate it.
 
wankerjake said:
Right, if I was to quit lead for dirtiness it'd be in revolvers, not semis.

But I'll never quit lead for revolvers.

I did just buy a G43 though and I'm pretty annoyed at the Glock/lead issue. I'm torn between buying a Lone Wolf barrel, and risking a G43 blowing up in my hands for a buildup of lead in their "special" barrels. I don't believe it will is the thing.

I have about 700 plated projectiles to shoot while I contemplate it.
Click to expand...
Many folks claim to shoot lead out of Glocks and have no issues, I have a few "token" Glocks and just shoot fmj in them if and when I shoot them. I would not spend money on another barrel, just keep it clean and don't fire a gazillion lead bullets through it. Why replace a barrel, just use coated lead or fmj.?
Glocks are great once you replace the trigger, sights, barrels and every other "upgrade" part on them:rofl:
Kinda like Ruger 10/22's
 
I don't use cast bullets due to the (slight) mess from handling them during loading. Dies get dirty and need frequent cleaning, too. Or maybe I am just a neat freak (my wife would disagree). :) Nothing wrong with the performance of cast bullets, though. I prefer plated for most loads, but I do prefer jacketed bullets for one revolver that just does not like plated bullets.

Rule3 said:
and revolvers are dirtier than semi autos, Cylinder gap, 5 or 6 cylinders, breach, barrel and of course possible lead, etc. Messy Messy Messy:)
Click to expand...
Yep. Shot 50 rounds of ammo through my Heritage 22 revolver, and my the fingers on my left hand were black, from rotating the cylinder to reload. Lots of residue on the cylinder from the cylinder gap.
 
Yeah I don't like to use them either. Most of my volume shooting tends to be at pistol matches and when shooting regular lubed lead if we had a shooting position that required more than 2 shots, by the time I was on shot 3 or 4 there was a noticeable smoke cloud that was slowing me down. Not dramatically, but when you're on the clock waiting an extra 1/4 second to shoot isn't good.

I've mostly switched to the coated lead bullets myself (at one time mostly Bayou Bullets, but I've been shooting "The Blue Bullets" more for a while now). They are only slightly more expensive and don't have the smoke problem.
 
Arkansas Paul said:
I can load 1k rounds of .44 magnum or .45 Colt using my own cast bullets for less than $100, so I'll deal with a little smoke and soot.
And I don't mind the smoke at all.
Click to expand...

I can have 1k of coated 45 Colt bullets delivered to my front door for $100, without obtaining lead from some place and no mess with melting, casting, sizing lubing and cleaning up and NO smoke.
But of course if you are in to all that fun, then go for it.
 
mgmorden said:
I've mostly switched to the coated lead bullets myself (at one time mostly Bayou Bullets, but I've been shooting "The Blue Bullets" more for a while now). They are only slightly more expensive and don't have the smoke problem.
Click to expand...
No smoke, but the Hitech coated bullets have a distinctive smell to them, smells like burnt electronics to me. As someone that has been in electronics most of my life, it really got my attention the first time I shot them. :)
 
Toprudder said:
No smoke, but the Hitech coated bullets have a distinctive smell to them, smells like burnt electronics to me. As someone that has been in electronics most of my life, it really got my attention the first time I shot them. :)
Click to expand...
Yes. they have a "odor" but not that bad/ Ever shoot some of the foreign 22lr? Cordite or similar smell.
 
Rule3 said:
I can have 1k of coated 45 Colt bullets delivered to my front door for $100, without obtaining lead from some place and no mess with melting, casting, sizing lubing and cleaning up and NO smoke.
But of course if you are in to all that fun, then go for it.
Click to expand...

I'm talking about less than $100 for 1k loaded rounds.
And yes, I'm into all that fun.

But hey, that's not to disparage anyone who isn't.
We all have different likes and dislikes.
Neither is wrong, we just like different things. That's what makes the world go around.
 
I might be one of the old guys that love steel revolvers and lead bullets .>>So cleaning up after a some range time is not the end of the world.. Take the Cap and Ball in the picture . that is smoke and dirty clean up time . I love it . Cleaning a 357 /38 or a 44 is super easy .
 
Arkansas Paul said:
I'm talking about less than $100 for 1k loaded rounds.
And yes, I'm into all that fun.

But hey, that's not to disparage anyone who isn't.
We all have different likes and dislikes.
Neither is wrong, we just like different things. That's what makes the world go around.
Click to expand...

Yes, some folks like casting. But this was not about cost. Even so, all my components are from years ago, so add a whole extra $20 for 1k of primers and powder (if that much) ;)
 
Rule3 said:
When I first started out reloading with revolvers, 38 357 44 mag. Used a lot of regular lubed lead bullets. Kinda got away from them shooting semi autos in 9mm and 45acp using fmj and coated lead

Shot several hundred rounds of 357 158 gr LSWC and forgot just how damn messy they are! :barf:The smoke and soot on the gun, my hands and then cleaning the revolvers. What a PITA
At least the wind was at my back and blow the clouds away from me.

I have melted the lube off a bunch of 45 ACP bullets and powder coated them but to much work and then resize them.

Watch the for sale ads, as I am probably gonna sell all my MBC lead bullets!:what:
Click to expand...
If I shot "several hundred" lead bullets, I expect I too would have some cleaning to do. I shoot mostly revolvers, but including a semiauto in an outing makes the ammo go a lot faster. That volume in a revolver is going to make a gun due for cleaning. Put it in basic tear down on a newspaper, spray with Ballistol, including bore, and come back in a couple hours.
 
I swore off lead bullets earlier this year. Then the range I shoot at decided to unload all of their reloading supplies. I made them an offer I couldn't refuse on all of their 38cal bullets. Now, along with a bunch of coated bullets, I have about 1000 lead ones. It will be a good way to use up the Unique I have left.
 
PistolPete45 said:
I might be one of the old guys that love steel revolvers and lead bullets .>>So cleaning up after a some range time is not the end of the world.. Take the Cap and Ball in the picture . that is smoke and dirty clean up time . I love it . Cleaning a 357 /38 or a 44 is super easy .
Click to expand...

I agree, but I'm retired and have the time clean my guns. The bigger issue for me is leading in the barrel.

I started powder coating my cast bullets for 44 Mag, 38 Special and S&W 500. Smoke is not an issue in my backyard range, but the PC rounds save a lot of time cleaning the lead out of the barrel. I switched to plated for 9 MM and 45 ACP because I could never find that magical charge that doesn't leave lead in the barrel.

For me, it also depends on the gun- my Uberti replica Colt Walker is always a mess after shooting, even with black powder substitute, but it is just as much fun to watch someone else shoot it as shooting it myself so I don't really mind cleaning it and the flames coming out of the barrel and the big clouds of smoke are just part of the experience of shooting a period piece.
 
rjbmjb said:
I started powder coating my cast bullets for 44 Mag, 38 Special and S&W 500. Smoke is not an issue in my backyard range, but the PC rounds save a lot of time cleaning the lead out of the barrel. I switched to plated for 9 MM and 45 ACP because I could never find that magical charge that doesn't leave lead in the barrel.
Click to expand...

The only caliber I've ever had a serious issue with leading in was 9mm.
I have given up. I shoot plated and jacketed with that caliber. I sold my mold.
Leading was so bad for me, two magazines and I was basically shooting a smoothbore.

For .44 mag, I recently bought a 310 grain mold that is gas checked. Love it. No leading at all even with max loads.
 
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