Hard cast versus jacketed

[Guest reb4life]

I'm new to TGO and relatively new to reloading. I have been loading 9mm and 45 ACP using jacketed bullets however, the price of hard cast bullets is attractive. Other than price what are the pros and cons of each?

Thanks

[glockster157]

The biggest advantage of hard cast is lower cost and they can be as accurate as jacketed if they are cast well. You can shoot a lot more due to the lower cost. If you cast your own then you can really lower your cost. Some of the disadvantages are that they can leave lead deposits in the barrel(usually not at lower velocities), they can dirty your gun up and are smokier due to the lube, if you shoot on indoor ranges you must have adequate ventilation due to lead particles. The advantage of jacketed is usually better consistency between bullets, they usually leave the gun and barrel cleaner, you can push them to higher velocities without worrying about fouling your barrel.

One other option is copper coated bullets from companies like Ranier or Berry's. They cost less than jacketed but shoot very similar to jacketed as they have a thin copper coating on them. Only diadvantage is you have to keep your velocities down so no magnum loads.

Last thought, you should not shoot lead in guns with polygonal rifling such as Glock and HK. Builds up pressures and that type of rifling does not grip lead well....I know it has been done but it is not recommended.

[Guest reb4life]

glokster157, thanks for the advice. When you say lower velocities what are we talking <1000 FPS?

[glockster157]

I usually try to keep my lead loads down below 900. If I am shooting bullets I have cast myself out of harder alloys or heat treated, a different subject, I have pushed them way up there. But for the sake of this discussion let us assume store bought cast bullets. One thing to keep in mind with lead bullets is heavier is usually better. Your not going to get expansion out of a hard cast bullet and heavier is slower with high energy and better penetration. So with 9mm I try to use 147's so 900 fps is about max anyways. 38's about 850 with cast or 750 with swaged lead. 45's use 200 grainers to 900 and 230's to 850. 45 colts work well with the 250's and the 44 special/mags with 240/250's to 900 fps.

Don't confuse swaged lead with cast. The lead put out by Hornady and Speer are swaged lead, meaning that it is really soft lead wire that has been squeezed into shape and weight. Very consistent for low velocity loads but really soft.

[DWARREN123]

Most hard cast bullets I have used suggest they be kept below 1,000 FPS. Plated below 1,200 FPS.

Lead is fun and cheap if they are cast properly.

[Guest reb4life]

Guys, thanks for the advice. I'm not planning to do any casting myself just yet. I will buy from someone like Missouri Bullet Company or, are there other manufacturers you would suggest?

[strob2000]

Another thing to keep in mind with lead is diameter. Before ordering, you might want to slug your barrels with a soft lead slug and order your bullets .001 over the bore diameter. Lead is all I shoot out of my handguns and besides a little more soot from the lube, I don't see any disadvantages.

[Martin]

OK, I'm always up for some education, hear is another "teaching moment"( sorry, no beer ), this is the second time I have heard the term "slug your barrels", please could someone help me with this term and why this would be done.

Thank you.

Regards

Martin

[glockster157]

OK, I'm always up for some education, hear is another "teaching moment"( sorry, no beer ), this is the second time I have heard the term "slug your barrels", please could someone help me with this term and why this would be done.

Thank you.

Regards

Martin

What slugging your barrels means is, to take a piece of lead (usually a ball but I have used bullets) and tap it thru the barrel. You then measure it and size or buy your bullets .001" over that size. .358 in a .357 barrel for example.

You need to use a soft lead slug slightly larger than your barrel. I normally take a swaged lead bullet or a round ball, slightly swell it in a vise, lube it with bullet lube but any oil will do, place it in the chamber, then using a wood/aluminum/brass/etc dowel rod that is taped on both ends to close to barrel size, I tap it down the barrel.

[56FordGuy]

OK, I'm always up for some education, hear is another "teaching moment"( sorry, no beer ), this is the second time I have heard the term "slug your barrels", please could someone help me with this term and why this would be done.

Thank you.

Regards

Martin

Basically, you take a soft piece of lead and force it into your barrel. Force it back out and measure the diameter. That will be the actual diameter of your barrel.

[Westwindmike]

Here is a video on slugging a barrel.

[Martin]

Reb4life, sorry I didn't mean to hi-jack your thread.

Glockster, 56FordGuy and Westwindmike, I appreciate the sharing of knowledge.

Thank you.

Regards

Martin

[Guest reb4life]

No problem Martin. I'm glad to see the additional information.