Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol - The Firearms Forum

Insulation Tim · 03-12-2009, 08:35 PM

I just purchased a new Kimber 1911, just as I have started reloading 45 ACP's. I've heard tales of lead bullets (SWC) gumming up the riflings and all of that. I have also had reloaders tell me that once you've "burnished" the barrel of a new gun with FMJ Factory loads, that it is just fine to shoot LSWC through the gun.

What are you folks' thoughts on this?

MODS: On second thought, maybe this should be posted in the Reloading Forum. Feel free to move it. I'll blame it on the Cabernet.

ponycar17 · 03-12-2009, 08:40 PM

The opinion I got when I asked a friend about this same subject was that LSWCs are fine as long as they're relatively low velocity rounds. Supposedly, the higher velocity rounds smear a lot of lead in your barrel. I was asking about .44 Magnum but I would assume the same applies to .45s, only at a lesser velocity. My .44 LSWCs were 1150 fps and the friend said they were fine at that velocity, for whatever that's worth. I'm sure some of the guys here have more experienced opinions than mine... I look forward to hearing those.

Gabob · 03-12-2009, 08:43 PM

Just my personal preference but I always shoot about 200 jacket bullets thru a new barrel then clean throughly before shooting lead bullets. After that all I usually shoot is lead reloads

gdmoody · 03-12-2009, 11:59 PM

I believe that you are right ponycar about the lower velocity rounds, that is what I have always heard, too. I cast my own lead .45 bullets using linotype, which is pretty hard, but I will always shoot a few jacketed rounds through the barrel after the lead ones.

armedandsafe · 03-13-2009, 02:15 AM

Shooting lead at medium velocities is just fine in a smooth barrel. Shooting lead at any speed through a rough barrel will give you grief.

I've been exposed to the idea that shooting metal jackets after shooting lead with "clean out the lead." It will only if the lead deposits are small and the barrel is slick. If you have heavy deposits or have a rough barrel, all the metal jackets do is smear the lead even tighter into the grooves.

If you are having problems with a barrel that is already heavily leaded, get one of the electrolisis cleaners. They work great.

Pops

LDBennett · 03-13-2009, 06:52 AM

Most guns will "lead up" (leave lead bits in the barrel) if lead bullets are shot at velocities over about 1000 FPS. Soft lead swedged bullets are more prone to this than "Hard cast" bullets that contain more tin and antimony.

I quit shooting bare cast or swedged lead bullet in all my guns when I tired of digging the lead out with a dentist pick after using all the other remedies for removing the lead and I did keep the velocities below 1000 FPS!

I now shoot Rainier plated cast lead bullets in all my popular caliber guns. They are cast bullets but with a flash plating of copper. They are accurate and never leave lead behind. They are a bit more expensive but my time wasted digging lead out of the barrels is worth something to me. They also are the prefered bullet for indoor range shooting as they minimise the lead dusting problems of the bullet hitting the steel backstops and exploding into fine lead dust. They are quite a bit less expensive than jacketed premium bullets.

LDBennett

AngelDeville · 03-13-2009, 10:34 AM

If bullets are properly sized, well lubricated, and not too hard or soft, leading will not be an issue. I shoot lead out of my 30 cal rifle at 2800fps, because the bullets meet the above criteria.

I don't trust other peoples lead alloys, any more than I trust their re-loads.

03-12-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,316	Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol I just purchased a new Kimber 1911, just as I have started reloading 45 ACP's. I've heard tales of lead bullets (SWC) gumming up the riflings and all of that. I have also had reloaders tell me that once you've "burnished" the barrel of a new gun with FMJ Factory loads, that it is just fine to shoot LSWC through the gun. What are you folks' thoughts on this? MODS: On second thought, maybe this should be posted in the Reloading Forum. Feel free to move it. I'll blame it on the Cabernet. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"* --> Last edited by Insulation Tim; 03-12-2009 at 08:36 PM..

03-12-2009, 08:40 PM	#2
ponycar17 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: South Carolina Contributor Posts: 4,884	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol The opinion I got when I asked a friend about this same subject was that LSWCs are fine as long as they're relatively low velocity rounds. Supposedly, the higher velocity rounds smear a lot of lead in your barrel. I was asking about .44 Magnum but I would assume the same applies to .45s, only at a lesser velocity. My .44 LSWCs were 1150 fps and the friend said they were fine at that velocity, for whatever that's worth. I'm sure some of the guys here have more experienced opinions than mine... I look forward to hearing those. __________________ Arm yourself with intellectual Ammunition! Gunfacts 5.1 Myth-Busting Facts JustFacts.com on Gun Control Stopping Power, the Downloadable Book

03-12-2009, 08:43 PM	#3
Gabob Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW GA CSA Posts: 1,162	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol Just my personal preference but I always shoot about 200 jacket bullets thru a new barrel then clean throughly before shooting lead bullets. After that all I usually shoot is lead reloads __________________ NRA Endowment Member Keep Your Powder Dry

03-12-2009, 11:59 PM	#4
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,408	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol I believe that you are right ponycar about the lower velocity rounds, that is what I have always heard, too. I cast my own lead .45 bullets using linotype, which is pretty hard, but I will always shoot a few jacketed rounds through the barrel after the lead ones. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

03-13-2009, 02:15 AM	#5
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol Shooting lead at medium velocities is just fine in a smooth barrel. Shooting lead at any speed through a rough barrel will give you grief. I've been exposed to the idea that shooting metal jackets after shooting lead with "clean out the lead." It will only if the lead deposits are small and the barrel is slick. If you have heavy deposits or have a rough barrel, all the metal jackets do is smear the lead even tighter into the grooves. If you are having problems with a barrel that is already heavily leaded, get one of the electrolisis cleaners. They work great. Pops

03-13-2009, 06:52 AM	#6
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol Most guns will "lead up" (leave lead bits in the barrel) if lead bullets are shot at velocities over about 1000 FPS. Soft lead swedged bullets are more prone to this than "Hard cast" bullets that contain more tin and antimony. I quit shooting bare cast or swedged lead bullet in all my guns when I tired of digging the lead out with a dentist pick after using all the other remedies for removing the lead and I did keep the velocities below 1000 FPS! I now shoot Rainier plated cast lead bullets in all my popular caliber guns. They are cast bullets but with a flash plating of copper. They are accurate and never leave lead behind. They are a bit more expensive but my time wasted digging lead out of the barrels is worth something to me. They also are the prefered bullet for indoor range shooting as they minimise the lead dusting problems of the bullet hitting the steel backstops and exploding into fine lead dust. They are quite a bit less expensive than jacketed premium bullets. LDBennett

03-13-2009, 10:34 AM	#7
AngelDeville Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ABQ Posts: 644	Re: Shooting Lead Reloads in a new Pistol If bullets are properly sized, well lubricated, and not too hard or soft, leading will not be an issue. I shoot lead out of my 30 cal rifle at 2800fps, because the bullets meet the above criteria. I don't trust other peoples lead alloys, any more than I trust their re-loads. __________________ Why don't guns go off "accidentally" when people aren't around?