My lead recipe that seems to work in Glock and HK barrels

[Master Blaster]

I have recently tried a new load in my polygonal rifled pistols in the quest to find a LSWC target load that works in 1911's, revolvers, and Glock and HK pistols. After much experimentation with different bullets powders and lube here is what I have developed.

5 grains of Acurate Arms Solo 1000, a Penn Bullet target grade LSWC 200 grains Brinnel 12-14, sized .452, tumbled in Lee liquid alox before loading.

This load has given me no smoke no lead fouling, and very excellent accuracy.

One of the things folks miss is having a stiff enough load and a soft enough bullet to properly obdurate to the barrel. IMHO most leading is caused by gas cutting due to poor bullet obduration, too hard a bullet and to soft a load (not enough pressure) can be a big problem.

 

[ljnowell]

I agree with lead in the glock. I shoot Missouri Bullet Company 230gr softball over 5.5gr of AA#2 in my g21 and get no more leading than would be expected in any pistol, which is to say minimal.

 

[GLOOB]

I have a cast load for my Glock 19 that doesn't smoke at all. I wish I could find a revolver load where I could say the same. I think revolvers spit too much lube out the cylinder gap!

 

[Master Blaster]

So Gloob what is your lead bullet load? I shared mine so please share yours.

BTW I picked Solo 1000 as a number of bullseye pistol shooters at my club have switched from bullseye to this powder as it improves accuracy, an additional benefit is that it is cleaner, and doesn't leave behind the gunk bullseye does. BTW Solo 1000 is a single base powder unlike, bullseye which is double base, and is at the top of the burn rate chart.

 

[kelbro]

My Oven Heat Treated bullets of 50/50 clip-on /stick-on wheelweight alloy with between 1 and 2% tin perform very well on target and no smoke. My lube is what is called Recluse formula. 45% Lee Liquid Alox, 45% Johnson Paste Wax, and 10% mineral spirits. BHN is right at 10.

Heard good things about Solo but at ~5gr per load, it will take me a long time to use up my supply of Bullseye!

 

[GLOOB]

I shoot MBC 125 gr Small Balls over 5.05 gr Unique at a OAL of aroud 1.065" out of a Glock 19.

I tried a few different powders and loadings, and this one seemed to be the least smoky. My indoor range has no restriction on rate of fire, and I burn through a lot of these, and I can barely tell the difference from plated/jacketed when I look for it. OTOH, when I shoot a revolver or even some of my 9x18 loads (also Unique, but under a different brand cast bullet at an obviously lower pressure), I've had people stop and look and ask what the heck I'm shooting.

 

[EddieNFL]

IMHO most leading is caused by gas cutting due to poor bullet obduration, too hard a bullet and to soft a load (not enough pressure) can be a big problem.

I agree. Every caster out there seems to be screaming HARD CAST! HARD CAST!. Water cooled wheel weights will leave less fouling than a 15-16 from Diamond Cast Boolit Company.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I'd (Not) Fight Rather Than Switch

I switched to a Wolf barrel rather than fight the leading.

 

[LiveLife]

I have a cast load for my Glock 19 that doesn't smoke at all ... I shoot MBC 125 gr Small Balls over 5.05 gr Unique at a OAL of aroud 1.065" out of a Glock 19.

Did you mean 5.5 gr of Unique?

No smoke you say? That charge must be sealing the base of the bullet so well that nothing must be going past the lube ring! I am also getting no smoke with the MBC 125 gr SWC bullet and W231/HP-38 lead load data using both factory Glock and Lone Wolf barrels - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=621261

There is no current Alliant Unique load data for 9mm 125 gr lead bullet but 2004 Alliant load data listed 5.5 gr as max charge of Unique using 1.15" OAL. I will try the max Unique charge for the no smoke lead bullet and lead bullet accuracy in Glock barrels threads - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=621460

 

[GLOOB]

No. I actually meant 5.05gr. I know Unique doesn't meter nearly that well. That's just the average after 10 throws. And while there's little smoke, they do lead the barrel. I have a 5.4gr scoop. So maybe I'll try that if/when I buy more. I have 400 of these things loaded already.

What load you using with HP38? I tried it, but I perceived more smoke. I never got up to max, though.

 

[LiveLife]

OK, I will try "around" 5.0 gr of Unique for 125 gr RN as I will be using shorter 1.090" OAL.

For both 125 gr RN and SWC bullet, I used 3.9 and 4.2 gr of W231/HP-38 loaded at 1.090" OAL for the RN and 1.045" OAL for the SWC (Hodgdon load data lists 3.9 - 4.4 gr at longer 1.125" OAL for LCN).

Observation of no smoke shooting the SWC load indoors was odd at first, then I realized the larger bullet base/bearing surface must be providing greater seal with the barrel to minimize gas cutting, which would reduce the high pressure gas leakage around the bullet/lube channel that often causes smoke. I got minimal smoke with the RN loads.

 

[oldreloader]

I emailed Alliant about loading lead bullets and got these loads back from Ben Amonette:
9mm Luger

115 gr lead bullet
Bullseye start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Unique start 4.5 max 5 grs
Power Pistol start 5 grs max 5.5 grs

124/125 gr lead
Bullseye start 3.8 grs max 4.3 grs
Unique start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Power Pistol start 4.8 grs max 5.3 grs

147 gr lead
Bullseye start 2.8 grs max 3.3 grs
Unique start 3.2 grs max 3.6 grs
Power Pistol start 4 grs max 4.5 grs

45 Auto
180/185 gr Lead
Bullseye start 4.5 grs max 5.7 grs
Unique start 5.5 grs max 7 grs
Power Pistol start 6.5 grs max 7 grs

200 gr Lead
Bullseye start 4.5 grs max 5.3 grs
Unique start 5 grs max 6.5 grs
Power Pistol start 6.3 grs max 6.8 grs

230 gr lead or Jacketed
Bullseye start 4 grs max 5 grs
Unique start 5.5 grs max 6.5 grs
Power Pistol start 6 grs max 6.5 grs

Note: Always start with the minimum recommended powder charge and be sure they will properly cycle the action of your pistol before reloading a quantity.

I use more Accurate #5 than anything else for both 9MM and 45ACP. Their website has good lead data. I use both the 9 cone and SWC 125 gr bullets bds shows with good luck too.

 

[LiveLife]

I emailed Alliant about loading led bullets and got these loads back from Ben Amonette:

9mm:
124/125 gr lead
Bullseye start 3.8 grs max 4.3 grs
Unique start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Power Pistol start 4.8 grs max 5.3 grs

45 Auto:
180/185 gr Lead
Bullseye start 4.5 grs max 5.7 grs
Unique start 5.5 grs max 7 grs
Power Pistol start 6.5 grs max 7 grs

200 gr Lead
Bullseye start 4.5 grs max 5.3 grs
Unique start 5 grs max 6.5 grs
Power Pistol start 6.3 grs max 6.8 grs

230 gr lead or Jacketed
Bullseye start 4 grs max 5 grs
Unique start 5.5 grs max 6.5 grs
Power Pistol start 6 grs max 6.5 grs

Thanks. I'll reference them along with 2004 and current Alliant load data for my testing. Since there is no current published lead load data for some of the bullet weights, I did a consolidation of 2004 load data for 9/45.