[SodaPop]

I just got done loading up a box of 45acp and I'm noticing that there are a lot of shaved pieces of lead laying around. Is this normal?

I'm just using this stuff this one time to save a few bucks and experiment. Are there any draw backs to using lead?

I'm reloading 5.0 Bullseye 230 RN.

[mec]

Your load should be just fine. sometimes, lead Round nose seem to be a bit critical as to over all length. the lead shavings could come from not expanding the case mouth quite enough or it could come from seating and crimping in one operation.

[HSMITH]

I see little or no lead even after 1000 rounds of lead loaded. Bell the case mouths a tad more so that there is no lead shaved. It is marginally harder on the brass but 45 brass lasts an eternity anyway. No lead shaved means that the diameter they were sized to is intact and they should shoot with less chance of leading. If you shave lead, or crimp excessively or post size loaded rounds ala the Lee FCD leading can get nasty when it would not have with more suitable loading techniques.

[uglymofo]

They've covered the mouth-belling well. I'd agree that's your problem.

One thing to remember is that it's best to shoot with lead bullets outdoors in a light breeze (ideally away from you), or indoors where there's an *excellent* ventilation system. Lead poisoning via inhalation and absorption via mucus membranes (eyes) is permanent; the body's waste system cannot remove lead.

[MoNsTeR]

Drawbacks? Nah, just gunking up your dies, filling your gun with the nastiest residues you've ever seen, and inhaling huge clouds of smoke! ;)

[Johnny Guest]

Well, as mentioned, but I merely try to minimize the hassle.

I probably load over 100 lead bullets for each jacketed handload I turn out. Case bellng is well covered above, but separate steps are only menitoned. I put a noticible bell on case mouth, and then seat only to begin with - - -This will remove most of the mouth expansion. Then, in a separate step, I apply a taper crimp, to match case mouth diameter of a factory loaded round. Sorry I dont recall the exact measurement. All this takes place in suceeding steps on my dillon progressive, but I was doing it back when I was loading .45 on a single stage press as well.

HSMITH's comments about reducing leading are worthy of note. Choose pretty hard cast bullets and don't try to magnumize them. Your 5.0 gr. of BE is a good load. A few streaks of lead in the bore is a small price to pay for the convenience and economy of handloading lead bullets. Above comments concerning lead inhalation certainly apply.

Best,
Johnny

[uglymofo]

By the way, I found this somewhere on the 'net. I haven't tried it, so I have no idea if it works, or if there are any hazards; I'm just passing it on. I'll try it when I foul a barrel again:

CLEANING LEAD


Someone posted this as an aside in one of these forums. It worked so well I want to pass it on, in the hope that if some of you learn about & try other less-than-common things that work this well, you'll pass them on too.
50/50 peroxide/white vinegar. I poured a bit into a 9mm barrel, plugged both ends with my fingers, let it sit for a minute, and pushed a toilet paper wad through the barrel & most of the lead came right out with no brushing & nothing but a soft wipe. I had to repeat X2 to get it all out but it was so easy I will never again hesitate to try a load because it may lead. Don't prepare too much at once because the H2O2 will go flat.

The acids may attack the barrel so rinse thoroughly.