Cast bullets in a gas-op semi

[rbernie]

I've always been told not to use cast bullets in gas-operated semiauto rifles, due to the likelihood of the gas port 'shaving' lead off the bullet and clogging the works.

Yesterday, I ran into a fellow at the range who was shooting gas-checked cast lead thru his AR and his AK. According to him, he's seen no lead on the face of the gas piston of the AK or in the bolt carrier of the AR.

Anyone else ever try this?

 

[dmftoy1]

There are some good writeups on http://castboolits.gunloads.com on using cast boolits in M1A, Garand, etc. I haven't done it. (yet. )

 

[40mmHEDP]

I have an AK I built about 4 years ago a random pile of parts. It lives in the corner of my woodshed in the wet coastal hills of oregon. It has lived exclusively on a diet of cast lead bullets with gas check, from wheel weights, from a lee 7.62x39 mold. Loaded just so it will reliably cycle the action and no more.

It has had probably 750 to 800 rounds through it in that time and I have never even cleaned it and probably never will. About once a year I hose it down with what ever aerosol can oily substance happens to be in the back of the truck at the time. keeps the rust down. I have not found any unreasonable lead build up on the piston.

Most of those rounds even came on about 3 or 4 occasions when a couple hundred we shot in a day so it's not like they are on a cold barrel.

Would I treat the rest of my rifles this way? No.

But I do find kind of a perverted pleasure in seeing how much abuse this thing will take. I suspect it's going to be a long time.

 

[dogrunner]

I shoot cast bullets amost exclusively in my .30 carbine............both FULL and semi auto. I use Lymans 118 gc over about 12 grains of 2400 and have 100% function and minimal leading. I also get very acceptable accuracy out of that little rifle with that loading. I lube w/ Javelina brand alox and size to .308.

I've also shot a lot of cast bullets thru an MP40 I owned with similar results and very good accuracy....Even tho that gun was not a rifle chambered piece it's longer bbl pushed those projectiles to a very respectable velocity.

Shoot a hard bullet, size to the correct dimension, use a good lube and it will present zero problems.