[LDBennett]

JLA:

Two factors make plated bullets important to me:

1). I buy them at the right price ... wholesale. Not all have this connection so I suppose for price you have to factor that in.

2). Time is money and the older you get the less time you have. Spending hours digging lead out of bores is wasted time to me. I buy one Rainier bullet for 357, for example, and shoot it slow, fast and in between. I don't have stores of various type bullets for varoius levels of bullet performance. Just one bullet does it all. That works for 44 and 45 as well, if I choose.

Yes, it is possible to use lead bullets. You can treat the bores so they are super shinny and minimise leading. You can formulate bullets of lead compounds that are very hard and minimise leading. You can limit the velocities and minimise leading. And I suppose there are other things like your choice of bore cleaners that help. But I do none of those because I prefer to shoot rather than invest time in all the things required to keep my guns from leading. I also do not like the concept of breathing lead while casting. Newbies can choose either path but the fact remains that plated bullets do not lead bores and the results from using plated bullets are guns that are easier to clean.

That's my choice and others have theirs. We all do what we like when it comes to hobbies, usually regardless of the costs. That's what hobbies are about .... doing what you enjoy. I don't enjoy casting or cleaning lead out of bores so I design my processes to avoid what I don't like to do. I do not ever keep track of the costs. If I did I might quit shooting. But I try to shop smart.

LDBennett