cast bullets?
- Thread starter mihasic
- Start date
Now, I don`t cast my own bullets....But I`m inclined to think that firing a cast bullet in .308 would result in a heavily leaded barrel in short time....And would be a b**ch to scrub out....
- Location
- Kumankissmyass, BC
bullet barn
He's "the Man" for buying cast from.
I highly recommend him.His handle here is the same as his name.
What's the deal with leading of barrels? How big a problem is that and how frequently do you have to clean to scrub out the lead? Also is special cleaning materials required?
I could see trying cast bullets in both my .405 Win and my two .45-70's.
I could see trying cast bullets in both my .405 Win and my two .45-70's.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
If the prices are too high for cast bullets, perhaps try casting your own. I personally found the Bullet Barn Prices are very fair considering the smelter costs, electricity, gas to gather lead, molds etc. If you are a target shooter and use hundreds each weekend, it is hardly worth going out to buy everything. my 2 cents worth.
Demonical et. al. ; Leading should be almost non existent with a properly prepared (no copper fouling), and smooth bore , proper bullet fit and correct bullet lube and a developed load. Anytime I see any sign of actual fouling it is an indication something isn't right with bullet fit or lube although some guys make the error of using max jacketed bullet loads with the first cast bullets they get their hands and also ignore the other necessities. They have problems. If you shoot black powder you will have to clean powder fouling often, lead very rarely. With smokeless powder I regularly shoot several hundred cast bullet rounds at 1900- 2000 FPS with no lead fouling. A couple of passes with a patch and Ed's red and the barrels are left shiny. Actually simpler than removing copper.
When you do get lead fouling from poor bore/load preparation it is not particularly difficult to clean out using strands from a copper Chore Boy scouring pad wrapped on a bore mop. There are chemical methods as well involving mixes of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
Consider that there are club 22's that fire thousands of rounds without any bore cleaning at all and retain first class accuracy and the bullets are all pure lead or close to it.
When you move into center fires and higher velocity it is necessary to use better lube than the 22's and pay more attention to bullet fit, load development and components.
Are cast bullets accurate? I keep a target on my gun safe shot with one of my 35 Whelens. The group consists of 3 , 5 shot groups. Each 5 shot group used a different powder, and each was at a different velocity ranging between 1600 and 1950 FPS. The 250 grain bullet was the same in each load. Total 15 shot group size for the one big hole is 1.2 inches shot at 100 yards.
It doesn't happen like that all the time and that is the fun of it. Change lubes, modify alloy content, alter alloy hardness, try powders you've never considered for jacketed bullets, use or don't use over powder fillers. Working with cast bullets is as demanding as building loads for competive bench rest events but you have greater control of the components used and a lot more partcipation in their construction and preparation. Buying cast bullets off the shelf is just a start and that is not meant critically of the products offered by commercial casters. There is a limit that any of them face in providing sizes, alloy content and hardness or their production line would be so variable as to slow it to a point of poor economy.
Any one interested should sign in at the castboolits/gunloads forum as there is a fantastic source of experienced knowledge there. If there's been a problem they've had it and usually solved it.
When you do get lead fouling from poor bore/load preparation it is not particularly difficult to clean out using strands from a copper Chore Boy scouring pad wrapped on a bore mop. There are chemical methods as well involving mixes of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
Consider that there are club 22's that fire thousands of rounds without any bore cleaning at all and retain first class accuracy and the bullets are all pure lead or close to it.
When you move into center fires and higher velocity it is necessary to use better lube than the 22's and pay more attention to bullet fit, load development and components.
Are cast bullets accurate? I keep a target on my gun safe shot with one of my 35 Whelens. The group consists of 3 , 5 shot groups. Each 5 shot group used a different powder, and each was at a different velocity ranging between 1600 and 1950 FPS. The 250 grain bullet was the same in each load. Total 15 shot group size for the one big hole is 1.2 inches shot at 100 yards.
It doesn't happen like that all the time and that is the fun of it. Change lubes, modify alloy content, alter alloy hardness, try powders you've never considered for jacketed bullets, use or don't use over powder fillers. Working with cast bullets is as demanding as building loads for competive bench rest events but you have greater control of the components used and a lot more partcipation in their construction and preparation. Buying cast bullets off the shelf is just a start and that is not meant critically of the products offered by commercial casters. There is a limit that any of them face in providing sizes, alloy content and hardness or their production line would be so variable as to slow it to a point of poor economy.
Any one interested should sign in at the castboolits/gunloads forum as there is a fantastic source of experienced knowledge there. If there's been a problem they've had it and usually solved it.
DEMONICAL said --- What's the deal with leading of barrels? How big a problem is that and how frequently do you have to clean to scrub out the lead? Also is special cleaning materials required?
I could see trying cast bullets in both my .405 Win and my two .45-70's.
I have shot a lot of cast bullets over the years, in 38, 357 and 44 mag revolvers, in Marlin 44 magnum as well as various 30 calibres. Have had very little leading of the barrels. Also, no problem in removing any that did collect, just using bronze brush and common barrel cleaners.
I am now shooting cast bullets in a new Marlin 45-70. I am mostly using 420 grain gas check and just love them. Very accurate when loaded light, or when loaded to a real thumper. Even the flat base (no gas check) seem to work very well, and not enough lead in the barrel to stick in your eye.
Cast bullets in the Marlin's, both 44 mag and 45-70 highly recommended. (By me!)
I could see trying cast bullets in both my .405 Win and my two .45-70's.
I have shot a lot of cast bullets over the years, in 38, 357 and 44 mag revolvers, in Marlin 44 magnum as well as various 30 calibres. Have had very little leading of the barrels. Also, no problem in removing any that did collect, just using bronze brush and common barrel cleaners.
I am now shooting cast bullets in a new Marlin 45-70. I am mostly using 420 grain gas check and just love them. Very accurate when loaded light, or when loaded to a real thumper. Even the flat base (no gas check) seem to work very well, and not enough lead in the barrel to stick in your eye.
Cast bullets in the Marlin's, both 44 mag and 45-70 highly recommended. (By me!)
I can just add to what others have said....a cast bullet that is of the right dia., cast with the right alloy, and lots of a proper lube should not lead barrels in a .308 or any other barrel at up to the 2600fps. mark. Top accuracy may be reached at a lower velocity however, my most accurate cast bullet loads for the .308 are at around 1900fps., with no leading and very little recoil. My experience has been that, the bigger the bore size, the more vel./accuracy you can squeeze out of plain base cast bullets. The .308 works best with hard cast gas check bullets, but make 'em the right size or you'll have probs.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Leading can be an issue with some combinations of soft lead in particular, and speed.
The gas check helps a lot, as well as a good lube, but plain base bullets can be driven quite fast out of a 45-70.
Most rifles I have shot have their most accurate cast loads in the 1900 fps range, or less.
There's a bit to learn with cast. Soft lead has it's uses too.
The gas check helps a lot, as well as a good lube, but plain base bullets can be driven quite fast out of a 45-70.
Most rifles I have shot have their most accurate cast loads in the 1900 fps range, or less.
There's a bit to learn with cast. Soft lead has it's uses too.
Cast bullets are great! (Although the AR experts say not to) I shoot them out of my handguns and AR (both 9mm and .223) all the time with no leading. 9mm SWC's out of an AR is S-W-E-E-T! Going to start casting .308 once I get the mold.
As mentioned, leading is only a problem with the wrong load, wrong sized bullet, wrong alloy or wrong lube or any combination of those. Lots of people shoot other caliber lead with a gas check out of long guns all the time. Handgunners swear by lead bullets. Plus they let you shoot a lot more, too!
Going to start casting .308 once I get the mold.As mentioned, leading is only a problem with the wrong load, wrong sized bullet, wrong alloy or wrong lube or any combination of those. Lots of people shoot other caliber lead with a gas check out of long guns all the time. Handgunners swear by lead bullets. Plus they let you shoot a lot more, too!
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Ditto on what has been said about shooting cast in rifles. My list includes my LE #4 in .303 Brit, SKS, M-14 and my .30-06 Husquavarna. The latter, with a scope, regularily shoots my 311291 cast bullets into groups of less than 1/2" at 100 yds. Great fun and very inexpensive.
While I cast my own from WW, I would recomend Bullet Barn. Service is great and prices are right if you don't want to cast your own.
Take Care
Bob
While I cast my own from WW, I would recomend Bullet Barn. Service is great and prices are right if you don't want to cast your own.
Take Care
Bob
Thank you, guys.
As for Bullet Barn - I don't know whether it's right or not, but their cast bullets are more expensive than Hornady 308 100gr plinkers at Wholesalesports. Given that I want bullets for practice, I can't accept it. So, the only way left is to cast my own ones. What about Lee moulds - can one live with them, or should I look for more expensive Lyman or RCBS?
Thank you.
