Lead or Jacketed?

[Shrinkmd]

For those investing in the future of their hobby, so to speak, are you buying lead or jacketed rounds. The price difference is substantial, although obviously lead is more suitable for target velocity, as opposed to JHP which can be loaded hot for non target purposes.

Given the need to stretch the reloading dollar, yet still balance the pros and cons, what are you buying?

And since I forgot to make it clear in the poll I am adding it here, I am referring to bullets suitable for PISTOL shooting only. Sorry about the confusion...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Didn't vote. Use only Jacketed HPs and Plated HPs

 

[ambidextrous1]

I use mostly plated bullets, but have a few jacketed 'special purpose' available & load them occasilnally. I prefer to keep lead bullets out of my firearms - .22 rimfire excepted.

 

[BobMcG]

are you buying lead or jacketed rounds

Plenty of both, plus plated so can't vote.

 

[rdhood]

Bad poll, didnt vote. Lead/plated in the pistols, jacketed in the rifles.

 

[Wilburt]

Bad poll, didnt vote

and

Didn't vote. Use only Jacketed HPs and Plated HPs

So I guess it's been a while since you've taken standarized testing where you pick the best anwser or the "most" right

 

[Shrinkmd]

Oops

I had pistol on my mind, but forgot to put it in the poll.

Can the question be edited?

 

[MetalMan52]

vote

I voted for lead. I used to shoot only jacketed bullets but with the current situation, availability and price, I only shoot hard cast lead bullets in my pistols and some rifles. Those that I shoot jacketed bullets in I rarely shoot now days. It took some time to develop lead loads but think that it was well worth the effort. I use the lead loads primarily for paper punching. I will occasionally load up some full power jacketed magnum loads for my .357. But other than that, lead bullets will be shot for some time to come in my pistols, the jury is still out on the lead rifle bullets. I've also been shooting more .22 ammo in both rifle and pistol.
Pat

 

[supham]

Plated.

 

[wankerjake]

I love my lead bullets. Cheaper and they are accurate as anything I've shot. I don't know what I would do without lead bullets.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Mostly lead, some jacketed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I buy only 100 JHP bullets for every 1000 or more hard cast bullets. Jacketed bullets just cost too much to plink or punch paper with.

 

[Furncliff]

I'm loading everything. Was buying from the sporting goods store, they had only jacketed. Found a local source for lead bullets, so much cheaper.

 

[FlyinBryan]

i couldnt vote either.

100% lead for pistol

100% jacketed for rifle

 

[moooose102]

i use both. depends on several things. velocity is one major consideration. also, whether it is just for target practice or hunting, or personal defense. i do not use lead bullets in my 300 win mag for instance, becasue i load them pretty much full tilt. or down to 30-06 levels to practice with. in either case, i do not want to have to scrub lead out of that barrel. in my 45, i shoot a lot of lead bullets.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

Can't vote as I use both, but the price difference is not as great as it used to be.

 

[Walkalong]

Some lead, some plated, some jacketed.

 

[earplug]

Pistol only

I have three good molds and cranked out several thousand bullets this past winter.
Several hundred pounds of good clean lead on hand.

 

[RandyP]

Plated only by necessity. Local range prohibits lead reloads. Cheaper than FMJ and just as accurate for my purposes and ability.

 

[Floppy_D]

Lead for handguns, jacketed and lead for rifles.

 

[Mags]

You left out plated bullets i go plated all the way perfect mix of both worlds. Less tha FMJ and not as hard on a gun's barrel as lead.

 

[aerod1]

Because of price, right now I am using lead in my handguns but I keep the velocoties low (below1000 fps).

 

[rcmodel]

I use cast bullets I make myself, cast bullets I buy, plated bullets, and jacketed bullets.

Some of your poll questions are misleading. I have to wonder how many confused casting themselves to

Hard cast lead is my friend. I get two bullets for every FMJ you purchase.

With a lifetime supply of wheel-weight ingots, all I have to buy to make pistol bullets is bullet lube & electricity for the melting pot.
That figures out to about, Oh lets see, next to free!

I'm stocking up on molds, lead, and Linotype!

The only time I use linotype is for Glock bullets, and higher-velocity rifle bullets.

rc

 

[RustyFN]

I didn't vote because I use them all. I'm like rcmodel and get free WW's. I cast basicly free bullets also. I have only been casting for 45 but will be casting for all of my pistols this year.
Rusty

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

Kind of figured poll was aimed at pistol ammo and could not vote as didnt feel right calling some guy who doesnt cast his own "boolits" a sissy ,,,

I have switched of late to casting for mostly pistol and some rifle with the rifle heads being more for plinking at this point in my developement. I have hollow pointing tools for lead bullets that fit my case trimmer and with harder or softer alloys I can pretty much make what I need and am happy to say far cheaper . All of my Rifle hunting bullets are jacketed and home defense rounds for pistol are factory nasty loads to keep the lawyers at bay shoul I ever have to use them.