Revolver leading question

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Question: Shooting cast bullets only.

Generally, do revolvers build up more lead in first 2 inches of rifling than semi-autos due to the bullet having to "jump" unsupported into the throat?

My last centerfire handgun (Norc 1911a1) did not lead the barrel at all in 1000 rounds fired, yet my Ruger SRH leads the barrel noticably after only 50 rounds.. Velocity is below 1000 fps and I'm using quality hard-cast bullets sized at 0.432". I slugged the bore, its bang on 0.429".

Any thoughts on this apprieciated.
Cheers!
 
That's were most of the lead accumulates, i don't know if I'd call it leading if it isn't problematic. That is where the bullet starts squeezing down if it's gonna', if your throat is not perfectly aligned with the bore, expect more of the same.
 
If your cast bullets are properly set up for your revolver, including the correct hardness (or softness), diameter and with good lube, there is no reason for leading.
What you are describing is the classic symptom of bullets that are either:
- too hard, so that they don't expand slightly to fill to the bottom of the rifling grooves (obdurate is the term). This allows gas to cut the bullet and deposit lead on the barrel
- too small in diameter, and doesn't fit the throat of the chamber. The ideal is a bullet diameter that matches the throat diameter, which ideally is slightly larger than bore diameter. This results in the bullet being constantly squeezed down and prevents gas cutting.
- mismatch in throat diameter and bore diameter, as described above.
You don't say what kind of revolver, calibre, nor what kind of cast bullets you are using. I would guess some commercially cast, with hard blue wax lube, in a standard diameter for your calibre.
If it is set up correctly, you should have little or no leading.

As I posted I saw the other information. As you are shooting a .44 Magnum, are you shooting full house loads, or milder ones?
 
Its a 7.5 inch Ruger Super Red-Hawk in .44mag, 240grain "DRG" Cast bullets with the blue lube ring at under 1000 fps which is nice and mild.

I've been using up the last of some Alliant Greendot which is a pretty fast powder for a heavy bullet/long barrel combination- do you think this may be causing the gas cutting?
 
A rough barrel will likely lead. And by rough I don't mean it looks rough to the eye, as you examine the bore. Rather, if it was one of the last ones cut before they changed the tool, for example, it will likely be rough, if examined under a microscope.
There has been lots of discusion on this, over the years. I have seen literature suggesting shooting 300 to 500 jacketed bullets, before trying cast bullets. The best way seems to be to lap the barrel, using a very mild abraisive.
I have seen it suggested to use a very mild abbraisive, like Bon Ami, mixed in something that would make it adhere to bullets, and fire some of those.
I have tried some, if not all, of those things over the years, but make no recommendations, whatsoever.
 
My Ruger Redhawk with a 5.5" barrel doesn't lead at all. I'm shooting 240gr round nose over 10 grains of Unique. I don't know what velocity they're at as I don't have a cronograph. It sounds like you're doing everything right. Try slowing them down and see what hapens. If that cures it, you've got a sizing problem, which it sounds like you're ruled out......or, a lead too soft problem.......or, like Bruce said....the barrel is acting like a file. There really isn't much else it could be that I can think of.
 
I am not sure that it is the Green Dot powder that would cause any gas cutting; no more so than any other bullet. You might want to compare your cast bullets' diameter with your chamber throats. A quick and easy way is to drop a bullet (not a cartridge) into the chambers and see if they fall through. If they fall through without a hitch, then they are probably too small. If they catch up (a sliding fit), they should be OK.
 
I am also using DRG bullets with a red lube ring in 45 colt, finding if they go over 1000fps then there is lots of leading.I checked my bore it is gd and seems to be perfect for
.452 leads.I loaded up some 454 and they were a little hot for the cast bullets and they made a mess of lead in the muzzle break and even tumbled wont do that again.I am wondering could it be the bullets?

I am going to hand push a lead threw the barrel then get the mic out and see just what the size is coming out.
 
Problem solved. Same recipe, diameter:
I cast some "tumblelube" bullets from wheel-weights using a cheap Lee mould, mixed up some kids crayons and candlewax- rolled them around in a hot pan, dried and loaded..
Blew 50 down the pipe last night and guess what? No leading!!
Seems it was a lube issue all along..
 
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