Questions about Lead bullets

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FullEffect1911

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Well I was perusing through my manuals the other day, and noticed that Speer and Hornady have lead data for soft lead bullets, and it got me wondering.

Do you differentiate between lead data for soft swagged and hard cast bullets?

And therefore which data would I want to use for Oregon-trail laser cast bullets?

If the different lead data does matter that much, what manual would be my best choice for cast lead data?
 
I'm loading target loads, so I don't differentiate between the various lead bullets.
For Oregon Trail I would use the Lyman manual.
Doesn't Oregon Trail have their own loading data in a manual? It seems to me I saw one back in the late '90s when we were in Montana.

I went back and checked their website. They no longer have a manual listed, but they do link to some other load sites.
http://www.laser-cast.com/LoadManual.html
 
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Swaged and Cast Bullets

Do you differentiate between lead data for soft swagged and hard cast bullets?
Click to expand...
Yes. Swaged bullets are soft and used for light, low velocity target loads. Hard case is for high velocity up to 2200 fps.
And therefore which data would I want to use for Oregon-trail laser cast bullets?

If the different lead data does matter that much, what manual would be my best choice for cast lead data?
Click to expand...
http://www.laser-cast.com/LoadManual.html Follow link where you will find links to load data. Or email Lazer Cast. Or Lyman cast bullet Manual.
 
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I'm looking at berry's lead (supposed to be cast) bullets from grafs. They advertise a 20 BHU hardness (I assume this is Brinell Hardness).

Do these bullets fall under the Hard Cast data just like Oregon Trail bullets?
 
Yes.

But I see nothing especially suitable for .45 Colt if that's what you are working on. All of the hard-cast Berry's are .45 ACP bullets.

Of course you can use them in the .45 Colt, but none of them have crimp grooves for revolver use.

rcmodel
 
I see nothing especially suitable for .45 Colt
Click to expand...

The stuff listed on berry's website is listed under the cowboy bullets. Why they don't just list all their cast stuff in one spot is beyond me.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/categories/37-10.php

I am looking at the 250 grain .452" dia. Graf & sons has them for about the same price of Midways' Oregon Trail. And Graf's shipping charges are much more reasonable.
 
Plated Bullets

I would play it safe and follow these 2 NEW guide lines currently set by Berry's and Rainier's for all plated bullets. Quote:
How do I load Berry's Preferred Plated Bullets?
Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.


Quote:
We, at Rainier Ballistics, recommend using lead bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using lead bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets; hence the recommendation to use lead bullet load data. If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend reducing maximum charge by 10%. A roll or taper crimp may be used with our bullets; do not over crimp
 
25.00 for 200 bullets. Oh wow i am so glad i cast my own. I didnt know they were that high
Click to expand...

Yeah prices are pretty bad, I was thinking about getting into casting. However the initial investment of money and the investment of time to do it are deterring me. I would also like to use up my range scrap lead, but I'm not so sure about what alloy/hardness I would be getting out of it.
 
Why not try to team up with someone in your area and try things out on some of their casting equipment. In a few hours, many bullets can be made. Don't know about hardness in range scrap but wheelweights can always be mixed in to improve the hardness.
 
Berry has the highest bullet prices you can find. Well, next to Laser-Cast & LeadHeads anyway.

I can shoot Remington bulk JHP 9mm cheaper then Berry Plated.

rcmodel
 
Berry's has gone up significantly, that's for sure. I remember the good old days when I could shoot Raniers for a little over the cost of lead. (sigh)
 
the next time i need cast bullets, i am going to buy casting equipment instead. for what i pay for the bullets, it will pay for the casting equipment. then all i will have to get is lead, lube, and a few other esentials, for a long, long time. i am already working on lead. i have about 70 or 80 pounds so far. of course as soon as i do this, the price of bullets will plumit.
 
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