458 SOCOM and lead bulluets

[~z]

I’m looking for some advice and thoughts on running lead bullets through a 458 SOCOM. My intention would be to cast hard and heavy bullets (400-550gn) and push them subsonic or at velocities below about 1500 fps.

I understand that lead bullets and gas ports typically don’t mix well but assume the low velocities and hard bullets would help to negate any problems associated with fouling of the port. However I am only speculating here and looking for assistance from some of you in the ‘neighborhood’ with either experience with this or anything similar. I have not ordered the molds yet and would assume I would not need gas checks due to the low velocity. Please correct me if I am wrong in this assumption.

These would be pig and paper bullets primarily. I have a decent supply of jacketed bullets on hand but would like to run the cast if this option is doable. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks
~z

 

[jmorris]

I bet you would be fine, just a little more cleaning to do. Hind sight being 20/20 I wish I had made the suppressor for my 458 take apart for cleaning so I could run cast.

 

[MichaelK]

I shoot lead in my semi-auto M1 Carbine all the time. You can shoot hundreds at a time before lead buildup becomes a problem. I use Lyman #2 alloy made with wheelweight lead with 5% tin added. I shoot plain base (no gas-check) bullets up to 1800 fps without significant leading.

The single most important thing to eliminate leading is to slug your barrel with a lead bullet, measure it's diameter, and then size your cast bullets .001" LARGER than your bore diameter. A very tight fit guarranties you don't get gas blow-by (gas cutting) which is the single most important cause of leading.

Just buy a length of 3/8 inch wooden dowel at Home Depot, cut it into 4, 8, and 16" lengths, and use them to tap a bullet down the barrel. Start with the shortest length and switch to the longer ones. Once you get the bullet started, it might be easy enough to push down the bore by hand, without tapping.

 

[~z]

Good info, thanks boys!
~z