Hardcast v jacketed bullets: newbie Qs

[TargetTerror]

I'm just getting into reloading, and was wondering what the practical differences are between hardcast and jacket bullets? I have seen hardcast for much cheaper than jacketed, and haven't really read any downsides to it. It seems like the hardcast won't lead a barrel like regular lead bulelts, and will be solid enough to not disintegrate at higher speeds.

I will be reloading .38 special. .357 mag, and 9mm for now. Seems like the hardcast would be fine at .38 and 9mm speeds. How would it hold up in a hot .357 load?

 

[Steve C]

Hardcast can lead up the bore as bad or worse than a swaged bullet. Shooting lead both cast and swaged requires more work to get a good load that doesn't lead the bore. New guns with rough bores will usually lead up badly untill it is shot and cleaned enough to smooth it out.

Some things are counter intuitive. Hard cast bullets will lead badly in low pressure low velocity rounds like the .38 spl unless the gun and the bullet just happen to match up in critical dimensions. Hard cast bullets that lead the heck out of your bore at 750 fps from a .38 spl clean right up with little to no leading if pushed at 1,100 to 1,300 fps from a .357 magnum.

 

[PotatoJudge]

Slugging your bore and buying bullets the proper size for your gun will help reduce leading as well.

 

[tasco 74]

been shooting my own homecast lead swcs for years.. they shoot just as accurate and hit just as hard as jacketed bullets.... my best friend shot silhouettes for years with cast bullets and that made a believer out of me.... i load the same as you .38 spl,.357 mag,and 9 mm..... load cast bullets in all of em...... go ahead and shoot lead and be happy!!!!!!!!!