Ranger7541 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hi everyone I am new to reloading and also to the world of WB. Since you all have a lot of information on here I just need a little advice, are lead cast bullets worth using and do they gunk up barrels or even damage them? Also, any cleaning tips for barrels after being shot with lead cast bullets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mink Shoals Bandit Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Ranger, anything other than ALL lead bullets are not an option when using steel targets due to bullet splatter.....And they do not damage or hurt the barrel any worse than jacketed bullets. At the slow velocities we use, barrel leading is rarely a problem when using a good quality hard cast bullet. Depending on the bullet hardness, serious leading doesn't occur until you push it past 12- 1500 FPS. And cleaning is no different, use a good bore solvent to remove any lead left in the barrel..............Mink............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 As Mink said, only lead bullets allowed for WBAS. I shoot tens of thousands of lead bullets each year in CAS, WBAS and other forms of competition and never have leading problems. I have never hurt a gun shooting lead bullets at up to over 2000fps. Yes, it can be done without any leading. Good guns with quality bullets at the speeds we shoot them and you won't have anything to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 The lead bullet one might want to try is the Accurate mold copy of the H&G 68 - 200gr... http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-200H-D.png Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Frank Norfleet Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 The harder the lead mix the less leading. It is no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackfoot Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Don't be concerned about using lead bullets. Any bullet caster who stays in business will be making good bullets. Just get some and start shooting. Blackfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 do they gunk up barrels or even damage them There is some extra fouling due to the bullet lube that you don't see with jacketed loads. Cleans out easily with any solvent. There is LESS damage to barrels with lead bullets than with jacketed rounds. Who has told you a lie that lead bullets damage conventionally rifled barrels? What do you think was used for bullets up until about 1900? :D Now, some types of porting that has been done on barrels, and some strange new polygonal rifling attempts, are not well suited to using lead bullets. Neither of which are likely to show up at a WB match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August West Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 When the cleaning gets tough, the Tough get out their stainless steel bore brushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoydSinclair Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Would the bullet split up when it hits a hard surface and fly off in all directions? Doesn't sound like a great idea. If you go to this page you can read more about the 3 week diet program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Blue Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Target set up is normally designed to deflect the bullet splatter in a safe direction. In the case of bad set up, the small pieces of splash back are much better than a solid chunk of metal hitting the target and ricocheting back at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 And typically, with the softer alloy bullets used in Wild Bunch, the bullet flattens out against the target and falls to the ground without shattering like a harder bullet would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 And cleaning is no different, use a good bore solvent to remove any lead left in the barrel. I wish! After trying many solvents to remove leading in bores ... a 50:50 mix of ATF or Marvel Oil and PURE Spirits of Turpentine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaquero Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 No problems using lead at lower velocities. As for cleaning, I dry brush the barrel with a bronze brush, before using solvents, it seems that the lead will come out in chunks, then I use solvent an a bronze brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Dog Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 The harder the lead mix the less leading. It is no problem. Well there is considerable debate about that. Go to Desperado bullets site, I believe it is cowboybullets.com and read all about it. I buy in to what they are preaching. Soft lead bullets will obdurate up in to the grooves and shoot cleaner than those fool too hard cast pills that just strip on by leaving lead behind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Well, different hardness and different alloys for different purposes. At the velocities we shoot, a softer alloy with more lead content works good. Fit and lube are also very important. If a bullet is too hard and driven at slow speeds, it may not bump up, seal the bore and could lead the barrel. Especially if it is on the small side for the bore. A too soft bullet that is driven too fast can also lead the bore. I have shot pure lead bullets at nearly 2000 fps in rifles with no gas checks. Can be done with paper patches. I have also had extremely hard bullets that leaded terribly due to poor lube and poor fit. When I was casting bullets for the cowboy crowd, I strove for a Brinnell hardness of 11-12. No one ever had a problem with leading that ever told me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Yep, in fact, the boys out at LASC (Los Angeles Silhouette Club), some of the 'leading' experts on lead bullet shooting, have a hardness - to - chamber pressure chart. For our pressures of about 10,000 to 12,000 PSI in cowboy and Wild Bunch loads, they point out a 8 or 9 Brinnell hardness is just about perfect. That is about a 2% antimony alloy. Half Wheel Weights and half soft lead. I find I agree with them boys. It takes 12,000 PSI, according to this article, http://www.lasc.us/FryxellCBAlloyObturation.htm to make a bullet of 8 Brinnell hardness seal the bore. And the harder the alloy, the more pressure it takes. Even on 45 auto slugs. Too hard, and the hot gases blow by the slug and I get leading right in the throat of the barrel. Haven't yet cast any slugs too soft to shoot well out of the 1911. Keep going to a softer alloy every time I cast a batch. Good luck, GJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Glenn Fryxell is a personal friend of mine. When he speaks cast lead alloy bullets, I listen! Most of his talk is too technical for me, though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICIOUS Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 HI Gang; lead bullets -- cheap --must be right for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Vintage 2002 Rossi '92 Winchester, 45 Colt - 454190 mold, 250grs - Bhn13.5 or 15.4 - lubed with 40:40:20 mix of mutton tallow:paraffin:beeswax - Zero Leading with probably close to 15,000 BP reloads shot in the rifle. Add also a comparable number of handgun reloads with the same bullet & lube ... still Zero Leading ...do they gunk up barrels or even damage them? NO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Dan Blodgett Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I have been shooting desperado bullets for many years, they are the only bullets I have found that will fly straight and true from my circa 1995 over bored rossi 92. .434-5 groove diameter vs .429 spec. Hard Cast bullets don't group less than 5 inches at 25 and many keyhole. At 50 yards much higher incidence of keyhole. The desperado bullets fly true shoot about 5 inches at 100 with round holes. I do not get leading in the rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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