Is it worth it? (how to proceed)

[mr_dove]

I recently picked an HK USP Compact. They have a polygonal barrel and highly recommend against shooting any lead whatsoever. I reload lead exclusively at the moment. I have a few options but I welcome any comments or recommendations for one course of action or another.

Option #1: Shoot lead against HK's (and other's) recommendation and risk a possible kaboom. There's plenty of people in both camps here. Alot of people shoot lead anyways and say you'll be fine if you run a metal mesh patch through every 100 rounds or so. Others say "don't risk it".

Option #2: Start buying copper coated bullets for reloading. This is be an increased cost which will vary based on how much I shoot. I suppose I might have to switch up my reloading setup to ball ammo instead of SWC.

Option # 3 Purchase a Jarvis barrel for the HK with standard rifling. The cost is $200 but I could shoot all the lead that I want without a care in the world.

This is all a cost-benefit analysis. I really don't want to blow up my gun or hurt myself (option 1) but I am unsure if that is a danger that is completely eliminated with proper care or merely reduced.

Options 2 and 3 are purely monetary and will probably come down to "how much lead do I have to shoot before I save $200 as compared to shooting copper clad?"

I welcome any comments or suggestions here.

Also, what's the current price of 1000 cheap-ish copper bullet at the moment? I currently shoot 200g SWC from Kead Bullets. We're talking .45 acp by the way.

 

[jfh]

Other than burnishing barrels, I too shoot lead exclusively. The minimal experience I've had with plated bullets suggests to me that, even with a premium manufacturer, they aren't worth the addtional price. Do a search here on 'plated' to read some of the problems.

And, some years ago, I blew up a Glock 20 (polygonal rifling) with reloads.

I'd vote for buying the barrel and staying with lead bullets. At a nominal four-cent differential, sounds to me like you'd get payback in about 5000 rounds. How much do you shoot?

Jim H.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

1000 185 grain HBRN plated bullets from berry's will run you roughly 95-100 dollars shipped. Not sure about the cost of lead.

Go with the traditional rifled barrel and shoot lead without a care. otherwise, go with the plated bullets.

 

[harbinger_j]

I looked at the same options and went with...

Option 4:
http://www.precisionbullets.com/
http://www.masterblastersbullets.com/

But I never loaded lead at first.

 

[RustyFN]

Trust me I am no expert on this so take it for what it's worth. At the GSSF match I was talking to the Glock Armorer about shooting lead in a Glock. He told me that the problem is that most people shoot the wrong size bullet. He told me that in a Glock 9mm you would want to shoot a hard cast lead bullet that measures .358 so it can seal. He also said not to shoot a plated or jacketed bullet after shooting lead until the gun is cleaned.
Rusty

 

[Shoney]

I have the HK USP 40c. At first I was aprehensive about shooting lead, but after I stopped listening to the people with no practical knowledge, the people who know a guy who said crowd; I got educated and have been shooting lead ever since.

Go to HKPRO Forums
http://hkpro.com/forum/index.php
and read up.

I check my barrel after each box of lead and clean as needed, but at no more than 200 rounds with the Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner
http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/
Great product for not only lead removal, but cleaning the finish of a weapon with no fear of scratching it.

 

[RustyFN]

Shoney thanks for the links. I'll have to check out that big 45.
Rusty