Shooting lead bullets in an auto pistol

[XTR]

I don't know about your 40 but I put about 20,000 through my 45ACP Springfield 1911 back when I was shooting USPSA/IPSC. I was pushing MVs well over 1000 fps with hard cast, light for caliber bullets. (like really light)

The only pistol that I know if that doesn't like cast are Glocks and I don't shoot them so I don't know if they've changed their rifling since 1990 (the last time I cleaned the lead out of a barrel)

 

[bheadboy]

i have been shooting cast bullet in everyting from 38 spcl to 45lc since 1946.

the alloy is the key to the velocity you can shoot. if you shoot 20-1 lead to tin, as Keith used they lead in todays bbls above 850fps.

if you go to 10-1 tin and anitmony you get easy 1200+ w/o a problem -the anitmony is a component of wheel weights and linotype,
i often take wheel weights, melt, clean/flux, then add a small portion of lead to bring down a little.

Saeco has a hardness tester, that if used and recorded, you will find a 6 reading will work great upto 950-1000fps, if you go to a hardness of 7 that give you can go 357m, 44m bullet velocities no sweat. adding tin and antimony will increase hardness

never never never shoot cast in a HK or Glock, as the rifling is not std it is poly -and will lead in 10-15 rounds enought to cause pressure problems.
Smoking is product of the lub, and i find LBT to be the least smoky,

i have shot ipsc with 45acp for years 200gr lead at 925fps and 185gr at 1000fps, to meet minimum, and had very good results.

there is a great page on cast bullets in IHMSA and California shooters web pages
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php?s=64d0df5dc453aee37b898058a90034c7
http://www.ihmsa.org/forum/index.php

Bob


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[ar10ar15man]

what he said...
with one exception...
tin is for fillout//
i shoot with as little a 0.5 to 1% tin...
try it bob...

 

[bheadboy]

Bob is correct the tin helps flow in the mold antimony gives hardness, an there is a trace of arsnic in chilled bird shot, arsnic helps if you want to heat treat, which i never found necessary.

in the late 30's and up to mid 50's lead bullet shooting was very common, the leading problems were solved by shooters keeping a vial of mercury, which they would tape off the muzzel and put in the bbl, then rock back and forth. it would remove the lead completely.

not a good idea as today we know of the problems with mercury
Bob