Cast Bullet Lubrication

[jaybrown]

Hello everyone! I'm new to the forums and new to reloading. I'm interested in reloading mainly to save money and increase my pratice shooting volume. I'm trying to create a round thats lower in cost and cast bullets seems to be considerably less. Ive been reading the Speer Manual 13 as well as Lyman 47th ed. books. Both have been great reading material. Poking around on midwayusa.com I've found a round that I like but unsure if it needs to be lubricated/sized before seating.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=721068

I'm reloading for my 40 S&W Glock and Beretta. I've read that semi-auto pistols need a slight Taper Crimp. Is there any specific needs cast bullets have verse FMJ bullets?

Thanks

 

[yam476]

Cast bullets

The Midway bullets you specified are already sized (.401 Diameter) and lubed (blue lube in the picture). They are ready to be loaded.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Cast bullets aren't recommended for Glocks with factory barrels, due to the polygonal rifling. They have a tendency to lead faster than button rifled or broach rifled barrels, which results in increased pressures and resulting burst barrels and injured hands. There have been several cases documented which involved the use of cast bullets.

My suggestion would be to use plated bullets from Berry's Manufacturing, Ranier, or one of the other reputable companies. The prices are very close to cast bullets and they eliminate the leading problems.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[jaybrown]

Beretta

Interesting. Well Im glad I asked I dont know how I would of known that otherwise. How about my beretta? Should I have any concerns about it?

 

[Sheldon]

I have read a lot of people don't recommend lead in Glocks, but know a lot of shooters can and do so. It really depends on the cast bullet and the barrel of your gun. If doesn't lead up you're good to go. If you want hotter loads, you are better off with plated or FMJ. I don't have a Glock, but have shot a lot of lead out og my Beretta 92FS. It leads up a little, but stops at that point and doesn't "build" up. I have noticed better accuracy with plated and FMJ bullets, but have no problems shooting lead otherwise.

 

[ReloaderFred]

.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The Beretta will be fine with cast bullets. I know of some shooters who use LazerCast bullets in their Glocks, but they clean the barrels religiously every 200 or so rounds.

For me, it would just be easier to use plated bullets for plinking loads, if I owned a Glock. I don't, but I carried one the last two years before I retired.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[jaybrown]

Leading

Thank you everyone for your imput. I appreciate the help. In the past I've only shot FMJ rounds through my pistols. When cleaning my guns I most often use a plastic bristle for my bore and sometimes a brass one. Does leading look different than normal fouling? From my understanding lead is suppose to be easier on your barrel. Is that information correct?

 

[Poodleshooter]

Leading will usually appear as a dirty scuffed looking area in your barrel. Lead leaves a mix of smears and flakes in your barrel,not the coppery smears that FMJ does. It also builds up quicker than copper. Normally with "hard cast" commercial bullets it appears in the rear 1" or so of a Glock barrel,just in front of the chamber. Scrub your Glock barrel fairly often. Their stock barrels do tend to raise pressure if left uncleaned as the lead builds up fast right in front of the chamber.
I shoot lead almost exclusively in my G30,and haven't had problems so long as I kept it clean and used properly sized bullets (ones I cast myself IOW).