ColtPythonElite
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- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
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- 10,477
Another vote for coated cast here
Hmm, I guess I would bunch them in with plated, only they're "plated" with some kind of powdercoat instead of copper.
You can mail them to me.Heck I still have regular lube cast bullets and can't wait to get rid of them (dirty mess) and have all poly coated,
You can mail them to me.
Same here. I’ve had shooters next to me stop shooting a couple of times due to the fog rolling in from my shots. After that, I relegated my remaining lead/lube bullets to outdoor use and went exclusively coated/plated indoors.I only shoot at two indoor ranges and while they have modern HVAC systems and permit lead bullets, the smoke from the lube is so distracting to me and often close by shooters, it’s embarrassing. But it’s the distraction that’s most bothersome.
You can still mail them to me. Do it on a day the post office has the A/C turned on.I did take a box of 500 45 acp and melted the lube off, cleaned with solvent and then powder coated them. I may have to get inspired and do some more, But then I would need to buy more sizing dies for the 38, 40, 44, 9mm. That was the only part I didn't like, Then I would have those dies and no more use for them
It's been so darn hot I have not been shooting much (get rid of them)
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I've gone the other way. I found 2 of my rifles prefer lubed cast too coated. But I shoot outdoors and have only been running 200 rounds per month. This year has been too busy.I did take a box of 500 45 acp and melted the lube off, cleaned with solvent and then powder coated them. I may have to get inspired and do some more, But then I would need to buy more sizing dies for the 38, 40, 44, 9mm. That was the only part I didn't like, Then I would have those dies and no more use for them
It's been so darn hot I have not been shooting much (get rid of them)
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I have not done any testing myself but I was watching the entire series where fortunecookie45 lc did direct comparisons. Across several calibers and guns they are even. Some guns prefer one over another but that is equally true with different jacketed bullets. I would have to see further testing to justify your position.A good home cast square base bullet is nearly unbeatable for benchrest accuracy out of a handgun. Commercial cast, bevel base bullets are fine and great for plinking. I’ve shot cast bullets for many years and just never had a problem with leading even at maximum 44 Mag loadings. I don’t like coated lead bullets at all. Bench them at 25 yards with a good gun and you can tell the difference. Xtreme plated bullets are my favorite plated bullets and very accurate. They perform great just a bit more expensive,
I came to the same conclusion when loading 9mm. I would rather have a real jacketed rmr bullet for the same price or cheaper than any plated bullet.I have shot plenty of both over the years, but now I definitely lean more towards coated cast. Better value IMHO, as plated prices have gone up dramatically to where many of them are right there near jacketed, and I just don't see any major added value over Hi-Tek coated cast.
As far as straight cast? I'm done with that completely. There is no reason in my mind to shoot straight cast any more at all unless you're casting yourself and you're doing it for the love of the process and product you produce, I respect that as an "art". But for a bulk shooter, every day shooting, hunting, whatever........coated cast has sooooo many benefits over straight cast, and you can't split the coating with a heavy crimp ala plated. Plus, anybody who's ever had to ungunk bullet lube out of a MBF likely has a special hate for lubed bullets.
The only real differences I have seen between shooting lead/lube and coated lead bullets are:
The lack of lube smoke left in the air when shooting coated bullets, especially at indoor ranges.
And, the need for a bit more flare in the case mouth when loading coated bullets. This is so you are sure not to strip off any of the coating by catching it on the case mouth when seating. (Same goes for plated bullets.)
I load both to identical specs in revolver rounds from .32 to .45 and have yet to have a leading issue.
Other than these two things, I cant tell the difference on targets between the two.
Correct; I was thinking about handgun bullets.DMW1116, by the wording of the OP, I would say that there is a good chance he was thinking handguns. It is common to find load data for both cast and jacketed in handguns. Cast bullet rifle load data is generally not available from "typical" reloading sources. Numerous responders seemed to have figured this out and also appear to be thinking handgun.
The Lyman manual has cast bullet data and even says when to use gas checks. The typical rifle cartridges with cast bullet data are the bigger bore, slower ones.However, as you noted there is the possibility of using cast in rifles (or specialty handguns like some of mine) that allow for velocities above where cast bullets have any reasonable chance. However, this is probably irrelevant to what the OP and most responders had in mind.
I'm having a hell of a time getting clean patches to come out of my barrels. I think it's from burnt bullet lube.I use either plated or cast, preferably poly-coated; whichever is easily available at the time. For my purposes, it's not a difference that I spend much time ruminating on.