cast bullets vs. jacketed bullets

[Herk30]

I have a friend that wants me to help him reload some 41 mag rounds, but he wants to wait until he gets a hold of some jacketed bullets. He has all kinds of cast bullets that he got with the gun and die set, but he'd rather not use them. He doesn't really have a reason why, and I guess I don't have a reason one way or another. Do cast bullets leave the barrel dirtier than jacketed? Other than being cheaper, are there any pros or cons to cast bullets?

 

[dagger dog]

Cast bullets shoot just as accurate,they are prone to leading IF you don't follow certian criteria. With the proper sizing,hardness and lube they are great in revolvers and auto pistols, especially for hunting when the velocities are kept within the hardness range of the bullet

Hardness of the bullet plays a factor in the fit of the bullet to the revolver throat or pistol barrel leade, if the bullet is too hard it won't obturate (bump up in size) and seal in the throat-chamber, then the hot gasses will blow by the base of the bullet and cause the molten lead to accumulate in the barrel causing problems.

Gas checks or very hard bullets can stop this and let you drive the bullets faster.

It's a whole "nother" word in cast" boolits" !

 

[FROGO207]

I am not sure with the 41 MAG but in other calibers there is often a difference in propellants used between cast and lead projectiles. That lack of on hand propellant and any inexperience with loading lead bullets might be a reason to hesitate in trying the lead bullets at first. In my time reloading I find lead is LOTS more inexpensive to reload but there is definitely a greater learning curve to get the loads where you want them. You do know most of the fun is the load development don't you? I like it when I am one with the bullet.

 

[rcmodel]

Cast bullets will not wear out a barrel in a lifetime of shooting.
Jacketed bullets will.

rc

 

[RandyP]

My fav local indoor range prohibits bare lead ammo, so I stay with plated or jacketed in everything I reload.

As to wear? If I could ever afford enough jacketed ammo to wear out a pistol barrel I could surely afford a new barrel (or pistol for that matter).

 

[LiveLife]

There's a new free cast bullet book pdf released by Glen Fryxell - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=615067

It is a comprehensive resource book, especially for shooting cast bullets in revolvers and covers what causes leading/how to prevent leading (Chapter 7), bullet hardness (Chapter 3), lubrication (Chapter 5) and gas checks (Chapter 10).

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

Cast bullets will not wear out a barrel in a lifetime of shooting.
Jacketed bullets will.

rc

What about plated bullets? Since I use Berry's in my 9mm's and lead from MBC in the wheel guns.

 

[Ol` Joe]

The 41 originally was offer with a jacketed "hunting" load and a lead "police" loading. Keep the leads speed down around 1000 +/- fps and you will have a great all around load for it

 

[CraigC]

Some people just have a really weird aversion to cast bullets that never seems to be based in reality. As if they have this magical ability to take all the fun out of shooting. Convincing them that cast bullets are very little trouble, do not plug your bore with lead and are actually very effective on game is about like convincing Nancy Pelosi that guns are not evil.

 

[rcmodel]

And if they had started shooting revolvers 50 years ago, they would shoot factory lead, or reload lead, or they wouldn't shoot.

That's about all there was for sale back then.

Believe it or not, jacketed revolver bullets are a fairly recent innovation.
For better or for worse!

rc