CZ Shadow and shooting lead bullets out of it
- Thread starter JB
- Start date
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
No problems. Was just shooting lead 145grs Wolf bullets in mine today.
I still think good jacketed bullets are more accurate in it, but cost more.
I still think good jacketed bullets are more accurate in it, but cost more.
DRG 125 on a Shadow. No fouling issue, I clean it regularly, but not excessively.
IMHO the grouping is better than the plated ones I've used. The downside is that in most of the indoor matches, the organizers usually will not allow people to shoot lead (plated ok, jacketed ok) to minimize lead exposure to the ROs.
IMHO the grouping is better than the plated ones I've used. The downside is that in most of the indoor matches, the organizers usually will not allow people to shoot lead (plated ok, jacketed ok) to minimize lead exposure to the ROs.
I get them from Lawry Shooting Sports or from Hummason Mfg. Unfortunately I don't know if they ship or if there's any supplier in NS. I don't think DRG has a website either.
Doesn't the DRG .38 130gr have .358" diameter instead of .356"? These work fine in 9mm casings and barrel?
Cool! Good to know.
I shoot Ideal 121 gr home cast (bullets water dropped to increase hardness) from both my CZ 85 Combat and 75 SP-01 Shadow with no issue. Run them through a luber sizer to .3575. Seat depth is 1.111. These bullets are shaped like a Crayola crayon, so with amount of taper, they don't need to be deep seated like some other bullets when fired in a CZ. Best loads are either 4.1 Win 231 or 4.5 gr Unique.
Both shoot very well. At my 50 ft. indoor range, can't say that jacketed shoot any better.
One tip, if you shoot jacketed bullets primarily, give your barrel a very good cleaning before going to lead. Any copper fouling will act like a magnet to pick up lead.
Both shoot very well. At my 50 ft. indoor range, can't say that jacketed shoot any better.
One tip, if you shoot jacketed bullets primarily, give your barrel a very good cleaning before going to lead. Any copper fouling will act like a magnet to pick up lead.
Last edited:
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
I hear good reviews about the DRG bullets, but it seems you have to pick them up locally.
Wolf bullets are local to me so I will try their 135grs slugs. I'm thinking .357 diameter too.
So far the Wolf and Hornady 124grs FMJ's are grouping better and to point of aim @ 25 meters at my club.
They have a Ransom rest and I plan to do some tests soon with the Shadow
Wolf bullets are local to me so I will try their 135grs slugs. I'm thinking .357 diameter too.
So far the Wolf and Hornady 124grs FMJ's are grouping better and to point of aim @ 25 meters at my club.
They have a Ransom rest and I plan to do some tests soon with the Shadow
Around here cast lead bullets were only cheaper than the cheap Berry's plated bullets for a very short time when I got into reloading. But the batch of 500 cast lead I did loaded fine, shot fine and produced noticeably tighter groups consistently than plated or jacketed. So all in all I'd say good cast bullets are a match for the very best results from any jacketed and better than most from a CZ.
Brian Densmore Firearms in Middle Musquodoboit. All his prices are taxes included and a box of those bullets are $47. I bought his last 10 boxes a month or so ago, but he should have more by now. He will courier anything to you, or you can pick it up there. It took me about 45 mins from Bedford to drive there.
Drove up one Sunday morning and he showed me the ins and outs of the Lee Classic Turret press that he put together the night before and my reloading career began. He also has an outdoor range for test firing.
- Location
- Aaaaaadmontin AB
I dunno how true it is but the rule of bum that I heard is that if you are shooting cast lead faster than 1000~1200 FPS...cast them very hard, and use gas checks. I personally wouldn't shot cast lead at full power levels with a 9mm. Lead is a complete b***h to get out.
I must be the only one having problem with mine. I cast my own with the lee 356-125-2R, sized to .356, lubed with a mix of wax and vaseline under 6gr of HS-6. They work perfectly in my Norinco NP-29 and Norinco NP-22 with minimal leading but won't chamber in my Shadow. I then bought the lee TL356-124-2R, which again work perfectly in both my Norinco but were keyholing with the shadow if sized to .356 and leading the barrel a lot. They were lubed with liquid alox. If I don't resize them and apply 2 generous layer of alox and shoot them with 5.6gr of HS-6, they work ok in the shadow, but nothing spectacular. I just powder coated my last batch and sized them to .356, but haven't tried them yet. I hope they will shoot better since it cost so little to cast your own. The rule of thumbs with cast bullet is to size your bullet .001 over bore dimension. I might also try to "beagle" my mold to cast larger and size larger to see if my shadow likes it. Lots of good information on castboolits website.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
I use DRG 135 gr. in both my CZ 85 Combat and CZ 75 SP01 Shadowline. Last year, with the wax lube removed, I started applying a single coat of Epoxy. Accuracy seems to be better, and cleaner barrel. Bullseye, W231, Titegroup are the ones I use.
Last edited:
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I'm going to start this as well. I cast for .357 mag and 45/70.. might as well do 9mm too. Is the advice to go with a heavier bullet like a 147 to make PF at a lower velocity?
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Technically, yes. But results varies. Some shooters prefers snappy recoil from a lighter bullet and more powder. The heavier the bullet, you will have to load your powder lighter if you are planning to stick within a specific Power Factor. But shooting major under a lighter bullet, your only option is to load more powder. Don't take this word alone. Follow manufacturers suggested load for specific caliber. Over-charging might cause unsafe conditions. Always start from the lowest suggested charge and work your way up.
The power factor is calculated by multiplying bullet weight (in grains, 7,000 to the pound) by muzzle velocity (in feet per second), then dividing by 1000.
Stay safe!
The power factor is calculated by multiplying bullet weight (in grains, 7,000 to the pound) by muzzle velocity (in feet per second), then dividing by 1000.
Stay safe!
