What is the downside of shooting cast bullets?
- Thread starter BUGUDY
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No "problems" you should be aware of necessarily, as any you could come across may or not present them as such.
Speeds: You're not going to push cast bullets as fast as their plated or jacketed counterparts due to leading in your barrel in most cases. I load 124/125 RN cast as my primary shooter in a CZ-75B 9mm, and it LOVES them. I keep the velocities below 1200fps, which I'd do anyhow... but whereas a jacketed bullet won't care if it's going 1250+ a lead one most likely will leave lead in your barrel.
Feeding: Some guns won't feed cast bullets. Problem? I guess, but the same is true of different nose profiles of jacketed bullets so this is relative.
Accuracy: In many instances you'll find certain cast loads are more or less accurate than jacketed loads. Uniformity is a little harder to maintain with cast bullets but, again like any bullet type, different guns and loads will shoot certain bullets better. This is not a "cast particular" thing.
Rifling: Supposedly polygonally rifled barrels don't like cast lead. Glocks, for instance. I don't own any poly-rifled pistols, so I can't speak personally, but I've heard people say they work fine as often as I've heard otherwise.
Porting: Don't shoot cast bullets in a ported gun, if you own one. I DO shoot cast lead in a ported 44mag (Taurus), and over time I do have to do a little extra cleaning. But it's not cut into the bore itself, unlike many types of porting. In general if your barrel is ported you should stay away.
Other than (all) that, you shouldn't have any real problems if you know how to check for proper feeding and know how to safely work up loads in a particular gun. Good luck!
Speeds: You're not going to push cast bullets as fast as their plated or jacketed counterparts due to leading in your barrel in most cases. I load 124/125 RN cast as my primary shooter in a CZ-75B 9mm, and it LOVES them. I keep the velocities below 1200fps, which I'd do anyhow... but whereas a jacketed bullet won't care if it's going 1250+ a lead one most likely will leave lead in your barrel.
Feeding: Some guns won't feed cast bullets. Problem? I guess, but the same is true of different nose profiles of jacketed bullets so this is relative.
Accuracy: In many instances you'll find certain cast loads are more or less accurate than jacketed loads. Uniformity is a little harder to maintain with cast bullets but, again like any bullet type, different guns and loads will shoot certain bullets better. This is not a "cast particular" thing.
Rifling: Supposedly polygonally rifled barrels don't like cast lead. Glocks, for instance. I don't own any poly-rifled pistols, so I can't speak personally, but I've heard people say they work fine as often as I've heard otherwise.
Porting: Don't shoot cast bullets in a ported gun, if you own one. I DO shoot cast lead in a ported 44mag (Taurus), and over time I do have to do a little extra cleaning. But it's not cut into the bore itself, unlike many types of porting. In general if your barrel is ported you should stay away.
Other than (all) that, you shouldn't have any real problems if you know how to check for proper feeding and know how to safely work up loads in a particular gun. Good luck!
snuffy
Member
From your question, I have to assume you're going to buying commercial cast lead bullets. That can be a problem in and of itself. Some commercial cast bullets are of good quality, some are NOT! Then comes the fit of that bought bullet. The fit in the bore is THE most important issue to avoid leading and getting an accurate load.
I've been casting my own boolits for over 40 years. Getting them to shoot accurately is a work of art. Lead alloys have to be uniform, sizing has to be matched to the barrel.
Don't let me scare you away from trying it. You may get a good load right away. If you do, buy a bunch of the same bullet, as well as the rest of the components!
Buy your bullets from this guy:
http://www.dardascastbullets.com/ - owner's name is Matt.
You'll have a hell of a time finding a nicer guy, better quality bullets, or better prices. You have any problems he'll happily walk you through it. Matt's alloy is consistent, and has been for years. He uses no wheelweights or other scrap metal, has one supplier. Blah blah blah, he can talk him up better than I, but I can tell you they sure shoot in cal's I've used - 9mm, 44cal, and soon to be 45cal. If you need them sized differently, he'll do it for you (say .357 in 9mm rather than .356) but as said I've had no problems.
As to checking feeding - the easiest way to see if you'll have feeding issues is to take the barrel out of the gun and slide a loaded round into the chamber. It should seat fully without the bullet's profile digging into the rifling at all. If it does you need to seat deeper. If you need to seat extremely deep (<1.100 w/ 9mm for example with a RN) you'd be best off going with another bullet.
If you chamber easily, then load up a clip of them and (carefully) manually cycle the gun by racking the slide. If the gun hangs up you may have feeding problems, the same check as with any bullet type.
http://www.dardascastbullets.com/ - owner's name is Matt.
You'll have a hell of a time finding a nicer guy, better quality bullets, or better prices. You have any problems he'll happily walk you through it. Matt's alloy is consistent, and has been for years. He uses no wheelweights or other scrap metal, has one supplier. Blah blah blah, he can talk him up better than I, but I can tell you they sure shoot in cal's I've used - 9mm, 44cal, and soon to be 45cal. If you need them sized differently, he'll do it for you (say .357 in 9mm rather than .356) but as said I've had no problems.
As to checking feeding - the easiest way to see if you'll have feeding issues is to take the barrel out of the gun and slide a loaded round into the chamber. It should seat fully without the bullet's profile digging into the rifling at all. If it does you need to seat deeper. If you need to seat extremely deep (<1.100 w/ 9mm for example with a RN) you'd be best off going with another bullet.
If you chamber easily, then load up a clip of them and (carefully) manually cycle the gun by racking the slide. If the gun hangs up you may have feeding problems, the same check as with any bullet type.
zxcvbob
Member
With the right bullet fit and lube, you can push them *way* beyond 1200 fps. I have a .30 Carbine revolver and it doesn't lead at 1700 fps (and I'm not sure why
) But you're seldom going above 1150 anyway with a 9mm and probably never with a .45ACP.
ReloaderFred
Member
I have a load for my .45-120 Sharps that is right at 2,100 fps with a lead, gas check bullet. No leading at all, but it took some time and experimentation to get it right.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hope this helps.
Fred
I wrote a longer post, but deleted it in favor of this: You aren't going to push properly sized bullets for your gun fast enough in 9mm or 45 acp to have leading problems because of speed. Any leading you experience could be corrected. Solutions would depend on the cause of the leading, but would come down to a better fitting bullet (larger diameter), or lead hardness better coordinated to your peak pressure (leading can occur both in too soft lead and too hard lead).
there are an aweful lot of us using them, for them to not work. the downside's are feeding issue's, which is just a matter of finding what your gun likes.
my biggest complaint is keeping an eye on over all length when reloading, lube or fine shavings of lead can accumulate in the seating die, this is more of an issue of not paying attention than anything, but the problem does exist much more so that w/ jacketed bullets.
leading is well addressed here, so i will not comment further
my biggest complaint is keeping an eye on over all length when reloading, lube or fine shavings of lead can accumulate in the seating die, this is more of an issue of not paying attention than anything, but the problem does exist much more so that w/ jacketed bullets.
leading is well addressed here, so i will not comment further
jjohnson
Member
No Down Side
I think all the 'down sides' have been listed. The question is: Is it worth it to you? Maybe it is. I'm getting pretty close to casting my own after reloading nearly 40 years. It'll take some of your time, and you'll have to buy equipment, so you may never cost justify it - but, kinda like black powder, it's a personal choice. You don't REQUIRE a reason. My guess is you'll have some fun dabbling.
I've been happy so far to buy from small business casters and, in a pinch, from the distrubutors.
I think all the 'down sides' have been listed. The question is: Is it worth it to you? Maybe it is. I'm getting pretty close to casting my own after reloading nearly 40 years. It'll take some of your time, and you'll have to buy equipment, so you may never cost justify it - but, kinda like black powder, it's a personal choice. You don't REQUIRE a reason. My guess is you'll have some fun dabbling.
I've been happy so far to buy from small business casters and, in a pinch, from the distrubutors.
Bit more learing curve in getting good loads with lead bullets.
Downside to cast bullets is leading if you don't use the proper load for the hardness of the lead or finding a bullet that's not too hard for the velocity you intend to shoot.
Not good for polygonal barrels like those found in HK"s and Glocks.
Some indoor ranges do not allow exposed lead bullets.
Downside to cast bullets is leading if you don't use the proper load for the hardness of the lead or finding a bullet that's not too hard for the velocity you intend to shoot.
Not good for polygonal barrels like those found in HK"s and Glocks.
Some indoor ranges do not allow exposed lead bullets.
jcwit
member
After you get your casting down pat and the load worked up and the OAL set the only thing I've found is the cast shoot dirter because of the lube. Maybe its just my lube but I always clean my guns after a day at the range anyway.
I planned on buying cast bullets to start. Sounds like there is enough to figure out just reloading the cast. As far as bullet sixe. I only saw two choices for 45acp, and I believe two for 9mm. So, if I get the right size of the two, and the right powder behind it, bullet set properly, I should be good to go. Correct?
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
I shoot cast boolits 90% of the time. As far as I'm concerned there isn't a down side.
The Dove
The Dove
jcwit
member
BUGUDY--I see no problem, maybe some tweaking down the road now and then.
jjohnson
Member
Good to Go?
Well.... it's a tad more complex than THAT, but there's a whole lot of us handloaders out here who still have all our fingers and both eyes,
so it can't be all that hard, can it?
You can get plenty of free advice here, and if you go buy the Lyman Pistol and Revolver Reloading Handbook, and have the gear & supplies, you can do it. You
don't have to invest a fortune to get started. And yeah, there's nothing wrong with reloading cast bullets you bought from somebody else.
Well.... it's a tad more complex than THAT, but there's a whole lot of us handloaders out here who still have all our fingers and both eyes,
so it can't be all that hard, can it?You can get plenty of free advice here, and if you go buy the Lyman Pistol and Revolver Reloading Handbook, and have the gear & supplies, you can do it. You
don't have to invest a fortune to get started. And yeah, there's nothing wrong with reloading cast bullets you bought from somebody else.
zxcvbob
Member
Bugudy,
You still haven't told us what guns you're shoot 'em with. If they are Glocks, you have to be a lot more careful -- it can be done, but I wouldn't risk it in a Glock unless it had an aftermarket barrel.
You still haven't told us what guns you're shoot 'em with. If they are Glocks, you have to be a lot more careful -- it can be done, but I wouldn't risk it in a Glock unless it had an aftermarket barrel.
I have a Beretta 92 and a RIA 45. I hope I didn't come off like "Good to go, no problem." I just meant that it sounded within my learning capabilities. I reload for my 223 now, so I have a small idea what I am getting into. And yes, down the road, I do intend to cast my own.
My finances are not what they used to be, one reason to shoot cast bullets, and with more time on my hands, the challenge of casting and shooting my own bullets would be something I could get into.
My finances are not what they used to be, one reason to shoot cast bullets, and with more time on my hands, the challenge of casting and shooting my own bullets would be something I could get into.
Mousegun
Member
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Lead poisoning is a potential problem if you don't take the proper steps to prevent it.
I know people that claim they cast bullets on the kitchen table. That is about as dumb as they come.
When doing mine, I either set up outside with a fan going behind me or in a compartment I made that has an exhaust stack and a very strong squirrel cage fan blowing the exhaust to the outside.
I know people that claim they cast bullets on the kitchen table. That is about as dumb as they come.
When doing mine, I either set up outside with a fan going behind me or in a compartment I made that has an exhaust stack and a very strong squirrel cage fan blowing the exhaust to the outside.
rickomatic
Member
The only "problem" I've run in to so far, is that I started casting my own, and now I spend even MORE money on shooting than I used to.
jcwit
member
Lead poisoning is a very SMALL problem with regards to handloading or casting. However I seriously doubt I'd cast bullets on the kitchen table. Regardless I doubt the wife would allow it in the first place.
I've cast and reloaded for 40 years now. Some of my casting is done outside and some is done inside, I usually cast in the 800 degree range which is not a high enough temp. to cause lead vapor.
I have my blood tested twice a year and have yet to have levels anywhere near to be conserned with.
I've cast and reloaded for 40 years now. Some of my casting is done outside and some is done inside, I usually cast in the 800 degree range which is not a high enough temp. to cause lead vapor.
I have my blood tested twice a year and have yet to have levels anywhere near to be conserned with.
Sport45
Member
The only downside I can think of is that it takes a little longer to clean the gun after shooting lead. The bullet lube and soot does build up more than you might be used to. Be sure to clean the extractor hook well because it likes to hide there.
Start with orders of 500 or less until you find the cast bullet your guns like. Then you can order 2000 or more at a time to save money.
Start with orders of 500 or less until you find the cast bullet your guns like. Then you can order 2000 or more at a time to save money.
snuffy
Member
No problemo
Who you calling dumb? That would be me!,,,--casting on the kitchen table, and I'm still alive and well after 40 years of it!
You state that as if it were a fact. If you belong to some tree hugging environmentalist bunch of wackos, they fear almost any chemical or heavy metal. The liberal media jumps on any fear to hype it up like it was fact. It's junk science. You've got as much chance of dieing of lead poisoning as you do of getting hit by a meteor! Don't forget your tinfoil hat and umbrella!
Who you calling dumb? That would be me!,,,--casting on the kitchen table, and I'm still alive and well after 40 years of it!
You state that as if it were a fact. If you belong to some tree hugging environmentalist bunch of wackos, they fear almost any chemical or heavy metal. The liberal media jumps on any fear to hype it up like it was fact. It's junk science. You've got as much chance of dieing of lead poisoning as you do of getting hit by a meteor! Don't forget your tinfoil hat and umbrella!
tbtrout
Member
I see two problems:
1. You will forget how to properly spell the word bullet.
2. You will spend more money shooting because the bullets are cheaper and you will want to get as much as you can for the same price as jacketed. So you will have to buy more powder and primers.
1. You will forget how to properly spell the word bullet.
2. You will spend more money shooting because the bullets are cheaper and you will want to get as much as you can for the same price as jacketed. So you will have to buy more powder and primers.
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