Just wondering what molds you guys are using, and also what alloy mixture you are using, tips, tricks etc...best lube etc.. I was interested in the LEE 120gr flat point bullet, has anyone tried it? I currently have a 6 cavity LEE 125gr RN and these seem to work really well. I have mainly been using an all wheelweight mixture and quenching them in cold water. When I load them in 9x19, (about 1050-1075 fps)they work reliably, accurate, and not leading the barrel too much. I either size with the LEE .356 sizer, or on my Lyman sizemaster with hard lube. I shoot IPSC, and for practice and local matches I mainly shoot open division and my loads are a fair amount hotter, and I do get a fair amount of leading in the barrel, accuracy still remains good though. I guess what I am getting at is maybe I should go to a harder bullet, or maybe a heavier bullet for the open gun- 147gr? Is there anything in the area of 135gr worth trying?
9mm bullet casting
- Thread starter alphamike
- Start date
I do not cast for 9mm but the 125 gr RN does work well. I use to shoot these a few years ago when I had a 9mm. I presently cast for .38/.357. I use WW with 2% 60/40 solder added for mold fill out. I use felix lube & then tumble in LLA. I let them sit about 24 hours before I shoot them. My bullets are testing 12 BHN same day as casting & 14 BHN after 24 hours. You say that you are getting some leading, I would try a softer bullet first not a harder one. The bullet has to be the correct (or close to) the proper hardness so it can obturate to seal the bore. I shoot my .357 to just over 1600 fps using my method with no leading at all. That same method should work in your gun as well. Changing your bullet weights will not help your leading. It is all in your alloy or improper bullet fit.
I forgot to mention that I use Lee molds & I'm very happy with them. Check your Lee sizer. I have a Lee .358 & it was sizing my bullets to .356 which was too small for .38/.357. I had to open it up a bit. If your sizer die is sizing smaller than it should you will get leading.
I forgot to mention that I use Lee molds & I'm very happy with them. Check your Lee sizer. I have a Lee .358 & it was sizing my bullets to .356 which was too small for .38/.357. I had to open it up a bit. If your sizer die is sizing smaller than it should you will get leading.
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I use an RCBS 2 cavity mould. It casts a 125 grain bullet using wheelweights and 8 ounces of solder per batch of wheelweight lead. It casts a conical bullet which feeds really well in all my 9's and others I have reloaded for. In terms of leading it isn't usually an issue if I use a decent lube. It will lead up a bit after about 500 rounds but accuracy hasn't been affected.
Don't know if this helps if you are looking for a heavier bullet but just thought I would throw it out there. How fast do you have to go to make major?
Don't know if this helps if you are looking for a heavier bullet but just thought I would throw it out there. How fast do you have to go to make major?
Doesn't matter which lead bullet you use in your Open gun, you will have deal with leading in the barrel and comp, and smoke. There's no way to avoid it. They can be very accurate and work well for practice, but just be prepared to do a lot of cleaning and you should be fine.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Was never successful at making cast bullets work in my 9's whether home or commercial. Leading was always an issue. Except at powder puff loads which was fun for plinking but not much good for anything else.
Tried water quench, various lubes. Just didn't work in my HG's when speeds got to interesting/normal levels
Will not play with linotype to harden the bullets as I have no idea where to find it, don't want the hassle, and if it adds alot of cost - may as well go to my solution.
plated bullets.
I found the 40S&W to be the smallest cal I could reliably make cast at home using ww and water quenching. The 45ACP shot wonderfully with just air cooled slugs.
I used the tumble lube Lee bullet designs as I refuse to go through sizing and such.
Jerry
Tried water quench, various lubes. Just didn't work in my HG's when speeds got to interesting/normal levels
Will not play with linotype to harden the bullets as I have no idea where to find it, don't want the hassle, and if it adds alot of cost - may as well go to my solution.
plated bullets.
I found the 40S&W to be the smallest cal I could reliably make cast at home using ww and water quenching. The 45ACP shot wonderfully with just air cooled slugs.
I used the tumble lube Lee bullet designs as I refuse to go through sizing and such.
Jerry
I know I will be corrected by members of our cast bullet fraternity, but in my humble opinion, cast lead bullets lose thier charm as the velocity appoached 1000fps. Varying bullet hardness, heat treatment, lubes, and gas checks are all just efforts to alleviate the obvious. At that speed and temperature, lead bullets smoke, foul, and lead the barrel more than the higher volume pistol shooter will want.
All these weaknesses may be overlooked by the magnum revolver shooters, who shoot a tad fewer rounds in a range session. For an IPSC shooter, or anyone who shoots a lot indoors, plated or jacketed is definately the way to go.
All these weaknesses may be overlooked by the magnum revolver shooters, who shoot a tad fewer rounds in a range session. For an IPSC shooter, or anyone who shoots a lot indoors, plated or jacketed is definately the way to go.
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Oh heck....I'll correct you Canuck 
LOL
On my last outing before I moved from Alberta, I went through aproximately 1000 cast 44 mag rounds in my Ruger Redhawk revolver without cleaning. All were made with straight wheel weights, being driven by 12 grains of Unique powder. I still have a trace of the remains of the blister on the first joint in my right thumb. Anyway.....it produced no leading at all. The usual black crud in the barrel, but that's it. After a quick swab with some Hopps no 9, everything was shinny again. No lead in the rifling at all.
Now, that being said, the 44 only goes around 800 fps with that load. I'm not sure what velocity a 9mm is traveling at since I don't own one.
I drive my 30-30 cast bullets pretty hard without any leading, but they're gas checked.
LOLOn my last outing before I moved from Alberta, I went through aproximately 1000 cast 44 mag rounds in my Ruger Redhawk revolver without cleaning. All were made with straight wheel weights, being driven by 12 grains of Unique powder. I still have a trace of the remains of the blister on the first joint in my right thumb. Anyway.....it produced no leading at all. The usual black crud in the barrel, but that's it. After a quick swab with some Hopps no 9, everything was shinny again. No lead in the rifling at all.
Now, that being said, the 44 only goes around 800 fps with that load. I'm not sure what velocity a 9mm is traveling at since I don't own one.
I drive my 30-30 cast bullets pretty hard without any leading, but they're gas checked.
In the past I had decent results with the bullets I was making, accuracy was good, but the barrel leaded up bad. I was using the LEE 125gr RN mold and was sizing it to .356 in my Lyman sizer. From what I have been reading, I should try .357" or even .358" as it may contribute to less leading, I was always under the impression that bullet hardness was the culprit, and never really gave much thought to trying different sizes. For practice and local small matches I intend to shoot cast in all of my guns, and I would like to get this leading problem under control, or to as much of a minimum as I can get. Am I also doing something wrong by queching my bullets into a pail of water? Should I just drop them out on a towel like most people do? I appreciate all of the input, thanks!
IPSC Open Division guns will shoot a 124 grain bullet to 1380 and 1400 fps. Lead gets messy at those speeds. Typical 9mm load for IPSC with the same bullet will be 1050 to 1100-ish fps., so still pretty messy in most guns. For general plinking it can be whatever will cycle the slide reliably.
The vast majority of leading problems are caused by bullets that are too small. Sizing to .356" is generally too small, I size to .357", and sometimes even .358" for 9x19mm, I have no leading with my water dropped WW alloy bullets. If you can chamber the loaded round without problems then the bullets are not too big to shoot. The best "sizing die" is your barrel.
