Reload question

[test drive]

Several years ago some buddies and I got into IDPA shooting we all had 1911's and eventually started to reload. We cast our own bullets from lead wheel weights in 45 caliber which worked great. Very little or no leading. So we tried it with 9 mm and the result was a lot of leading in the barrel. I'm going to say the reason why the 45 didn't lead is because it is a low pressure round and then 9mm being a high pressure round cause it to lead . I would like to reload 38 for a Rossi lever action rifle that I have but I'm scared it may cause heavy leading in the barrel. what are your thoughts on using lead bullets for 38 reloading for use in the 16-inch lever action do you think it will cause leading problems like with a 9 mm or act more like the low pressure 45?

 

[adcoch1]

If you use a good lube on the 38 bullets it should be fine. Remember though that cast needs to fit the bore right; being about 1.5 to 2 thousandths larger than the actual bore.

 

[Pat Riot]

Read this regarding lead and leading.
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm

 

[AJC1]

38 is lower pressure than 9mm in most cases and higher pressure than some 45. If you are going to cast your own 38 or 357 I highly encourage you to powder coat instead of lubricating the bullets. Powder coating is easy and cheap and doesn't require near the amount of equipment that conventional lubrication does. You should get a Lee sizing die to make sure that you're finished product is round and sized correctly

 

[AJC1]

https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precisio...=1&keywords=lee+358+die&qid=1601096004&sr=8-1

 

[Dudedog]

I shot a lot of lead out of one of my 9mms with no issues, bullet to bore fit is critical and 9mm bores tend to vary a bit....
So slightly large bore/small bullet = leading.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Cast your 9mm bullets with Lyman #2 lead (16 BHN) and you should be fine.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

That or drop them in cool water and let them sit for a couple weeks.

I don't have any experience with shooting bare lead bullets out of a rifle so I would err on the side of caution and probably powder coat them also.

 

[Lafitte]

I shoot a lot of lead bullets in a .38 rifle, both lubed and powder coated. Usually about BHN 12 or so, sized to .358. USE load data for lead bullets and you should have no problem. If you want to obtain jacketed bullet velocities then use jacketed bullets.
Lafitte

 

[George P]

^^^^^ Winner, winner, chicken dinnner

 

[mdi]

If you use a good lube on the 38 bullets it should be fine. Remember though that cast needs to fit the bore right; being about 1.5 to 2 thousandths larger than the actual bore.

Yep, bullet to barrel fit is #1, followed by a decent lube, and lastly BHN. You should slug the barrel and make sure your bullets are at least .002" over groove diameter. On my Rossi Puma in 44 Mag., I use bullets that are .433"+, and larger, that will still chamber...

There isn't a lot of differences when using cast in a rifle over a handgun, mainly using a lube that lasts through the barrel (leading near the muzzle indicates a lube failure, "running out" before the bullet exits.). I have a great, 240 gr RNFP I use in my Puma with loads to 1,500-1,600 fps..

 

[Cannibul]

Cast your 9mm bullets with Lyman #2 lead (16 BHN) and you should be fine.

That or drop them in cool water and let them sit for a couple weeks.

I don't have any experience with shooting bare lead bullets out of a rifle so I would err on the side of caution and probably powder coat them also.

Neither one of which will help if the bullet is undersized.

I've loaded 30k of 9mm with cast bullets this year. I cast every bullet. Alloy is a 12 BHN and coated with Hi-Tek. I shoot these through a variety of firearms. I size the bullets to .357 and have no leading.

The correctly sized bullet is more important than the hardness of the alloy. The 44 Mag was developed using a 11-12 BHN alloy.

9mm tends to give many reloaders fits when it comes to using cast bullets. It's almost always a undersized bullet causing the problem.