Newb question

[R00tus]

Hey all, I’ve been reloading for a few years , but always with jacketed bullets. I’ve recently decided to purchase and load some lead bullets. I’m looking at Oregon trails laser cast in .38 special , 158/grain RNFP and 45colt 250 grain RNFP and some 300 grain 45/70. Question is, if I buy these bullets, do I still need to size and lube them. They have two black rings on them and crimp grove . What about gas checks ? Are one of the lower rings a gas check . I am hoping if I’m buying bullets and not castIng them I have bullets already to go and do not need to do those steps.

 

[DHall_37]

I think the see the 38 cal 158 gr bullets you’re talking about. I’m familiar with loading lead, I don’t cast my own, don’t quite have the space.

The little black rings are the probably the lube grooves filled with lube. Gas checks are not necessary for the calibers you mentioned, they only be required if you were pushing them really hard.

Out of my Berdan 2 I’ve pushed a 315gr bullet with no gas check to around 1400 FPS behind black powder. Much after 1500-2000 FPS gas checks are required. You won’t need to resize the bullets. Cast bullets are supposed to be .001-.002 over bore sometimes even more for odd ball guns.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

They are ready to seat in your case and shoot. There are cheaper lead bullets out there but the Oregan Trails are very good.

Frank

 

[PhilC]

As stated above, the dark rings are lube and they are ready to load, no sizing necessary. However, for best performance in your firearms you need to know bore diameter and, additionally for revolvers, the chamber diameter. Ideally, cast bullets, should be .001" - .002" larger than bore diameter or no more than .0005" larger than chamber diameter in revolvers.

There can be a mis-match in bore diameter and chamber diameter with revolvers which will have a detrimental effect on accuracy.

 

[K22]

As Frank said, there are ready to load and shoot - lubed by the manufacturer.

I've used the 125, 38's for years, they are excellent accuracy wise, but I shoot them at moderate to low velocity with modest charges of 231 powder in a 38 case.

For high velocity work and more energy, I use jacket bullets, Hornady 125 XTP's with higher powder charges within book limits.

 

[Twicepop]

Shooting cast bullets in revolvers is sometimes an exercise in futility. Matching the proper bullet diameter to bore size is important, but even more important matching the bullet diameter to cylinder throat diameter. The .45 Colt has been notorious for having mis-matched throat and bore diameters causing poor accuracy and barrel leading issues.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

And with shooting lead bullets, your barrel cleaning time will increase dramatically.

 

[divingin]

I don't know of any cast bullet maker that ships unsized/unlubed bullets.

I suppose it's possible for those with some special need, but as far as I know it generally requires a request to the maker to get them that way. The standard, by a long ways, is to sell ready-to-load case bullets.

 

[SSL]

And with shooting lead bullets, your barrel cleaning time will increase dramatically.

I would agree if the bullet/bore diameters were mismatched or improperly lubed, but I only shoot lead in my .45 ACPs, .44 Magnums, .45 Colt and my wife's .38 Special. Even with fairly robust loads cleaning is easy. A mop wet with Kroil or Hoppes Lead Remover, wait a couple minutes, run a bore brush through a couple of times and then dry patches.
I spend FAR more time cleaning carbon and copper from my rifles using jacketed bullets than cleaning any cast lead using barrels. Just my $.02.