18 BHN Lead in .357 Leverguns?

[COSteve]

I'm thinking of trying some lead bullets in my 357mag leverguns where I shoot two loads of 1,490fps and 1,825fps. I see Missouri Bullet Co sells some 'Ranger' 158grn versions for tubular magazines with an 18 BHN. I called but they aren't available. Anyone had experience with these bullets at these velocities with a powder like H110?

Specifically, I'm looking for both accuracy and leading issues. I'm not planning on hunting with them but rather for general plinking and longer range shooting (up to 300yds). I'm running low on my jacketed Zero bullets and they are out of stock on those so I'm thinking of trying Missouri's but I shoot a couple hundred at a time and don't want to deal with leading issues.

[AJMD429]

While the answers are flowing, how about the Ranier 'plated' bullets for such applications...?

[pdawg.shooter]

Size is king with cast. I have taken BHN 12/13 to higher velocities than you quote with good accuracy and no leading. First step is to slug your barrel and size .001/.002 over groove diameter. If the bullet is any undersized it will lead, regardless of the BHN of the alloy.

[Tycer]

Size is king with cast. I have taken BHN 12/13 to higher velocities than you quote with good accuracy and no leading. First step is to slug your barrel and size .001/.002 over groove diameter. If the bullet is any undersized it will lead, regardless of the BHN of the alloy.

In my Win 94 357s I run a water-quenched 207 grain plain-based wfn 1875fps with no leading because I follow pdawg.shooter's formula. I use LBT Blue soft for lube. This is a 1.85" OAL in 360 Dan Wesson cases and Lil'gun which is near H110.

[COSteve]

While the answers are flowing, how about the Ranier 'plated' bullets for such applications...?

I'm also considering them but Missouri Bullets are very attractively priced so I thought I'd find out what the experts here thought while I was at it.

[Chas.]

Missouri is what I mostly shoot and I've shot a ton of them, mostly .44. I haven't shot the particular bullet you're considering though. Since I don't have a .357 levergun, I shoot their Cowboy #11, 158gr. RN over 6gr. Unique. It gives me about 1150-1200fps and no leading in my Blackhawk.

Also, if there's another softer bullet that he currently casts that you like better, he'll cast it with 18 BHN if you ask.

In case anybody's interested, they also have their 405gr. .45-70 in .459 diameter. I asked Brad and he got in a sizer for that. Before, he only had it in .458. You have to ask for it though cause it's not yet listed on their website.

[retmech]

Steve--It depends on what level of accuracy you are looking for. My winchester 94 will usually put 7 to 8 of 10 shots into 3" at 100 yds and occasionally all 10 if I get lucky. That is using the Lyman "Keith" 358429 using wc820 which is pretty close to 296/H110 and that runs 1650 out of my gun. If that is a plain base bullet (no gas check) you might get lucky with the 1400 fps load but I have my doubts with the 1800 fps load. I don't get any leading with my load but once you get up in the 1400 fps range accuracy (consistent 100 yd 3" or less) is tough to come by with plain based cast IMO. You won't know till you try.

[gon2shoot]

Slug your barrel and see what fits. As said before, a good fitting bullet (boolit) will reach those velocities with a softer alloy, and give better expansion.

[blackhawk44]

Don't forget, even with a hard bullet, the bevel base designs can be a leading problem, particularly if less than bore diameter.

[Machado]

I cast Lyman's 150-grain #358477 and 170-grain #358429 to feed the .357 mag . Once I shot a pig with #358477 at ~1800 fps from my Puma; the bullet zipped through and I couldn't find it. The pig was killed quite dead, though, after running a ways. This bullet is too light for the 200-meter ram, and I use styrofoam gas checks with it. The 358429 is another story. I drive it at ~1600 fps; it drops the 200-meter ram easy and accuracy is better than the #358477's. I will not use it for hunting, though, since penetration is excessive for the meat I hunt. Both bullets are cast below 18 BHN and air cooled. My lube is a homemade concoction of beeswax, carnaúba wax, beef tallow and fine-powdered graphite. No leading so far; I've been using these bullets for over 20 years.
Antonio