Lead question

bones507 · Post by **bones507** » Mon May 19, 2008 3:36 am

Greetings
I am thinking of getting a 45 Colt or a 44 mag in lever action, i already have one in 357. Question is i have always ben under the impression that lead shot in revolvers so long as it is hard and kept under say 1000 fps wont cause leading, or shouldnt. How do you shoot lead rounds thru a rifle that wont lead up the barrel as they mainly start out a lot faster than any pistol.
Ive got a Ruger Blkhwk and have been shooting jacketed rounds thru it in 45 Colt but its tough to get a good crimp as im using 230 gr hardball so im going to go to lead and i thought i have the pistol i might as well get the rifle also. So what brand and load do most guys shoot in 45 Colt thru thier Lever gun ?
Just trying to get some ideas going guys.
Thanks

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:05 am

I use gas-checked cast bullets in both the .30-30 and .38-55. No leading to the 2000 fps range.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:21 am

There are several factors that help cast bullets perform well without leaving lead in the barrel. The most important being proper fit with the bore. Followed by quantity and quality of lube and the right bullet alloy for the task at hand. The addition of a gas check will help out too, but is not necessary for all loads. Generally you will want a bullet about .002" over bore size. A bullet that is undersize for your bore will lead no matter how slow it's pushed, or how much lube you put on it. First thing to do is slug your bore and find out what size bullet you need.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:35 am

TedH wrote:There are several factors that help cast bullets perform well without leaving lead in the barrel. The most important being proper fit with the bore. Followed by quantity and quality of lube and the right bullet alloy for the task at hand. The addition of a gas check will help out too, but is not necessary for all loads. Generally you will want a bullet about .002" over bore size. A bullet that is undersize for your bore will lead no matter how slow it's pushed, or how much lube you put on it. First thing to do is slug your bore and find out what size bullet you need.

What Ted sez. I use cast bullets in all my rifles up to and including the 30-30 at 2,200 fps. Here are some things I've found ...
1. I use plain base, soft cast (BHN 8 to 13) bullets up to 1,500 fps with no leading provided the bullets are tight to the bore.
2. I can use soft cast, undersize bullets up to 1,200 fps with no leading provided I use toilet paper filler
3. For velocities over 1,500 fps (my 30-30 and my 25-20) I use a gas check cast bullet for no leading.

Cast bullets are great .... i.e., cheap like Borscht. You can shoot all day for practically nothing.

Gryphon Black · Post by **Gryphon Black** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:36 pm

And as for the crimp thing, This my recommendation.
The Lee Factory Crimp works a little different than the standard roll crimp, and allows a smooth bullet to be used. It'll bite down on a smooth bullet as tight as any roll crimp on a bullet with a cannelure or groove.
The bullets I use are from Rainier Ballistics. They are swaged soft lead and then copper electroplated to seal in the lead. They act like medium hardness plain lead bullets, and you don't get the lead dust in your lungs. They shoot well, too. They're all smooth sided, so the Lee Factory Crimp makes it easy to work with them. If you're not ready to cast your own, they are the best option I know of. You can push 'em medium fast velocities without blowing 'em apart, and they don't leave the jacket behind in the barrel cuz they are not jacketed, they're electroplated. And cuz they have that copper skin, they let you widely vary your speed w/o leading up the bore.
The other thing about the Lee Factory Crimp is they adjust with a knurled knob, turn it with your finners. No wrenches.

Gryphon

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:48 pm

I've shot 44mag rifle loads up to 1600fps, with Laser Cast bullets, and experienced no leading........no gas checks either.

bones507 · Post by **bones507** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:24 pm

Thanks for the info. Do you have to lube the bullets yourself or do they come pre-lubed ? Same with the gas checks.
I wanted to get into casting but the old lady threw a fit saying she didnt want me melting that stuff in the backyard, i would get sick, blah, blah...
I figure i will ease into it sooner or later. lol
Who would the best manufacturer of lead rounds be ? laser cast ?
I have some from Hunters Supply in 38 cal 158 swc and have used Hornady 158 and 148 also but only in revo and loaded low using 231.

KCSO · Post by **KCSO** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:29 pm

Shooting lead in a 45 Colt 92 I can push it to 1450 with no leading fairly easily. First i do a chamner cast and then I size the bullet as close as I can to the throat. In this case I size a Lee 250 rnfp to 453. I cast this bullet from 1/2 and 1/2 wheel weight and lino for plinking and high round count days and for hunting the bullet is cast from straight wheel weight. The straight wheel weight bullets will lead slightly at around the 20th round or so but for hunting they expand well and will go clear through a deer.
In 44 magnum I have pushed plain base lead slugs to 1550 with no problems and have gone over 1800 fps with gas checked bullets. The key seems to be havng the throat as full as possible and be 2-3 thou over bore diameter. I had one 44 mag Puma that had a full 432 bore and I had to lap out a sizing die to 434 before I lost the leading.

Hardness of the alloy is no substitute for a properly fitting bullet. I can shoot a soft lead 1-40, slug at 1250 all day in the 45 Colt with no leading if the bullet fits.

gon2shoot · Post by **gon2shoot** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:31 pm

+1 to the above.
Slug your bore, bullet fit will help much more than hardness in reducing leading.
I run about 1350 fps. because thats what works in my gun.

bones507 · Post by **bones507** » Tue May 20, 2008 1:33 am

Over my head and abilities. I will stick with jacketed, less problems.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Tue May 20, 2008 3:18 am

bones, I know what you mean, although I'm starting to get it.

I'm too cheap to shoot jacketed at silhouette targets. If I go back to just regular shooting I might go with jacketed. I'm trying some of those copper plated, too.

I always heard it was velocity that caused leading, not sizing. Now I hear different. I got a little leading with a 1300-1400 fps load, but that may have been from copper fouling. Have to shoot more and see.

I was also told a fast powder can cause leading, because the heat of the explosion starts to melt the base. Slower powders run cooler, and may not melt the lead.