Type of bullets for Magnums

[Whistling Moon]

I haven't started reloading yet but have been doing as much research as I can. I shoot revolvers a lot, and want to reload in .357 and .44 Mag but from what I get from Berrysmfg.com, using lead, lead coated, or even plated bullets should not be used in magnum loads, though this is the only site I've really seen that warns against that. Other posts on here mention LSWC, but is that at the expense of extensive fouling?

The cheapest bullets I've found are the coated lead ones from Precisionbullets.com, though they are only offered in auto calibers. Is it truly a bad idea to fire plated bullets in magnum? If I must use jacketed (I presume that semi-jacketed would work just as well) what would be a good cheap site to get these from? If I can use plated or lead, under what circumstances?

 

[Jesse Heywood]

This is one of the questions that have a lot of answers. There are a lot of possibilities.

I've been shooting some 357 mag loads with lead. Not the hottest, but listed at just over 30,000 CUP with 18 BHN bullets lubed with Rooster Jacket on top of the vendor applied lube. Little to no leading in the bore.

Plated bullets. I have no experience there.

Jacketed I have shot a lot of in the past. They are more expensive. Due to the cost and limited availability I switched to lead.

A recent thread mentioned zero bullets. Jacketed and lower cost. Tempting.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=537011

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you use the correct lead bullet, correctly lubed and at the correct pressures you will get little to no leading at all. Many reloaders actually use too hard a bullet and cause leading. Like Jesse, I have been using lead bullets for a long time now and I see no problem at all even in Magnum ammo. Most times when a hard cast bullet leads a barrel at high velocities it's because it runs out of lube. A well made and lubed bullet will not lead your barrel. Besides, even if you do get a little leading whats the big deal, just clean it out...

You can shoot a 12 BHN bullet up to ~1200 fps although I usually keep them at or under 1000 fps. You can push 18 BHN bullets up over 1400 fps and the really hard 21 BHN bullets like sold by Oregon Trails can be shot very fast even from a Carbine. (sometimes up to 1800 fps) I've shot a 18 BHN 165gr bullet in a 30-30 up to 1600 fps with no leading but they have a good deep lube groove...

 

[Walkalong]

Yep.

Lead is your best "cheap" bullet for magnum velocities. Most plated bullets don't like to go much more than 1200 to 1300 in revolvers before accuracy starts to suffer.

As ArchAngelCD posted, leading is not an issue with the right size and hardness lead bullet, assuming your revolver throats are OK for lead.