[Torghn]

Is there much difference in practice ammo? Does lead get left in the barrel or what problems does it cause?

[SJshooter]

I find that lead ammo is much messier than the ball ammo, so I usually pay a little more for it. If you have a stainless revolver, it really doesn't make a huge difference as you can use lead-away cloths to get the gun back to unfired-looking status. With a blue gun, you are usually stuck with a toothbrush and solvent to get that off, so I prefer FMJ.

[samtechlan]

Some of the newer "clean" ammo like Winchester's winclean and similar versions by Remmington and others is even cleaner than FMJ. It is also slightly more expensive.

[The Lone Haranguer]

All-lead bullets have lubricant (packed into grooves which are hidden under the case) which vaporizes and can smoke and/or leave fouling deposits. Too-soft alloys and/or too-high velocities can cause lead deposits in the forcing cone and rifling.

[theNoid]

I can only speak from my experience with my 617. When using the copper "coated" rounds, such as the CCI mini-mags and even the Federal bulk from Wally-World, I can go many more rounds (200-500), without having to clean when compared to the likes of lead-heads such as the Thunderbolts. Had her out last Saturday and had cleaned good before we left. Within the 50-75 round range with the T-bolts, I was having to brush and swab. Anyhow, just my thoughts and experiences here...

Chuck

[tipoc]

Shoot both and see for yourself. No harm will come to your gun.

tipoc

[kellyj00]

shot about 200 rds of 45 lead RN and lead TCBB in my 1911 this last weekend. It took a few minutes to clean up the feed ramp when I was done.

For the price difference, I'll run a brush over my gun when I'm done shooting.... especially because I will anyway.

[Bear41mag]

I'm mainly a wheelgunner, but do own and shoot autos and I shoot lead probably 98% of the time and have for twenty years in both.

If casted, sized, lubed and loaded properly I can shoot lead bullets at 1200 fps without much leading at all. Since I cast and load my own bullets I make sure that they are the right hardness for the caliber and speed I'm shooting, sized appropriatly for the gun and use a good lube.

By casting my own from scrounged lead sources such as wheel weights and printers linotype, all it cost me is the time and lube when I size them, equipment has paid for itself many times over the years. I can load 100 rounds of 44 mag Keith loads for just over $3.00 if I have the brass, which I have enough to never run out of each caliber I own.

The one thing with using lead over jacketed besides the cost, is lead will never wear out a barrel. I clean my guns same as if I use jacketed stuff except I use a small patch of lead removal cloth as a patch a couple of times to pick up any stuborn stuff. Twice year I clean all my barrels with Outers Foul Out II which brings the barrels back to link new again.

Casting & Reloading does not save me much money, but I sure get to shoot a whole bunch more than if I was buying factory stuff off the shelf.

[parisite]

The increased accuracy and tighter grouping of cast SWC to me is worth the extra effort (if any) in cleaning.

[sarge83]

My Ruger 22/45 won't go two full mags. without a jam with lead rounds even after a good cleaning. I can shoot Remington golden sabers til the cows come home...

[Tob]

I was just considering whether I wanted to begin buying jacketed bullets to reload my .357 and .38 brass. I still may, but the urgent need has been diminished a tad.