Jacketed or Lead?
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Walkalong - nailed it!
possum
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i shoot alot of lead in the guns that are acceptiable to fire lead in. i don't mind cleanning my guns and scrubing them good, so cleanning ain't a factor, as long as you keep lead loads under 1000fps that will aid in not fouling the barrels as much, with lead rds, that is if you reload of course, or can find a load that meets that criteria.
lead is cheaper and that allows more bang for my buck.
lead is cheaper and that allows more bang for my buck.
happy old sailor
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if you reload, use a hard lead bullet like Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullets. i have used no lead but these for years with no leading probs.
drop one of these on a hard surface and it sorta "rings". drop softer lead and it goes "thunk"
years ago, i read an article that said .45ACP military hardball would wear out a barrel in 30,000 rounds. if that is true, lead would go on and on and the difference in cost would buy the best barrel on the planet, custom fitted. gunk buildup is usually a powder problem, not a bullet prob.
then, scrubbing a barrel vigorously with a bronze brush will contribute to barrel wear also.
all the above applies to precision shooting. for general use, i dont think you are gonna wear it out with whatever bullet.
drop one of these on a hard surface and it sorta "rings". drop softer lead and it goes "thunk"
years ago, i read an article that said .45ACP military hardball would wear out a barrel in 30,000 rounds. if that is true, lead would go on and on and the difference in cost would buy the best barrel on the planet, custom fitted. gunk buildup is usually a powder problem, not a bullet prob.
then, scrubbing a barrel vigorously with a bronze brush will contribute to barrel wear also.
all the above applies to precision shooting. for general use, i dont think you are gonna wear it out with whatever bullet.
Lennyjoe
Member
Lead is cheaper.
Skywarp
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I load 10mm to 1300FPS (180Gr) so lead isn't a choice
I load 357SIG to or past 1500FPS (125Gr) again lead wont do it
I load 40S&W to around 1000FPS (180Gr) but I like Pated bullets for that
I Load 45ACP to 850 FPS but plated bullets are good for that
I think lead is ugly and annoying to clean out of guns, magazines and ammo cans.
I load 357SIG to or past 1500FPS (125Gr) again lead wont do it
I load 40S&W to around 1000FPS (180Gr) but I like Pated bullets for that
I Load 45ACP to 850 FPS but plated bullets are good for that
I think lead is ugly and annoying to clean out of guns, magazines and ammo cans.
Not to derail this thread, but I was under the impression they sold aftermarket barrels for different types of guns not only for better performance, but also incase you damage or wear down the rifling in your barrel (although I hav never done either). Are you guys saying that regardless of the round, there is no way a you should outlast a barrel or comrpomise its accurasy by wearing down the rifling? for instance I probably shoot around 8000 - 10000 rounds per year with factory loads, so say I own a gun for 30 years at 10000 rounds a year thats 300,000 rounds. Now granted I highly doubt I will shoot the same gun for that long, but for the sake of argument...do you really think the barrel would last through that without enough wear to effect the accuracy, or is the whole point that the gun will end up being replaced due to other issues, or upgraded before that time?
DOn't worry about how many jacketed round you use in a barrel... My first competition Colt .45 acp had something like 110,000 rounds through it when I finally had the chrome removed and the cracks fixed, at which point I retired it and sold it to a new shooter. Fine weapon for them and the price was right. I think that might have been the 2nd barrel.. but I might be wrong. I've had a plain old Colt barrel is my dirty deeds pistol (the one I always take to the boonies, or carry or have on me when I'm on horseback in snake country.. it's the one I'm not worried about banging around.. and it shows. Lot's of rounds thro that barrel, both lead and jacketed, still can shoot 3" more ro less at 50 yards... and oh yes.. my slide is NOT tight to say the least! (LOLOL). Accuracy with a .45 comes from sight alignment and proper sear break.. not tight slides!
Not to put too fine a point on it, but after spending almost $2,000 on a semi-custom 1911 I hesitate to "cheap out" on ammo. What would be the point? Pound wise, penny foolish? I ain't rich, not by a long shot, but if there's a chance I'll bet the farm on this gun, I don't want any doubts.
Or am I not seeing something?
My new 1911 will be my carry pistol. I want to be sure and take good care of it.
I have other guns that I use harder with lower quality ammo....
Or am I not seeing something?
My new 1911 will be my carry pistol. I want to be sure and take good care of it.
I have other guns that I use harder with lower quality ammo....
[Accuracy with a .45 comes from sight alignment and proper sear break.. not tight slides!]
I read an article by one of the big custom gun makers, forget exactly which one now, that barrel to slide lockup is one of the most important things.
[I have other guns that I use harder with lower quality ammo]....
I use a lot of 230 gr LRN reloads in my .45 for practice. If loaded correctly it is accurate and will feed even in older guns. It's cheaper but I don't consider it low quality. In a pinch, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for a carry load.
I read an article by one of the big custom gun makers, forget exactly which one now, that barrel to slide lockup is one of the most important things.
[I have other guns that I use harder with lower quality ammo]....
I use a lot of 230 gr LRN reloads in my .45 for practice. If loaded correctly it is accurate and will feed even in older guns. It's cheaper but I don't consider it low quality. In a pinch, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for a carry load.
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