whichwatch
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2012
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- 678
Cast lead or jacketed bullets, is one any harder on the gun than the other?
Cast Lead or Jacketed Bullets???
- Thread starter whichwatch
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whichwatch
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2012
- Messages
- 678
Why are jacketed bullets harder on the gun, isn't copper a relatively soft material? Does shooting a few jacketed bullets after a shooting session with lead help remove some of the lead from the bore? A SBH would stand up to thousands of either, correct?
Chuckbuster
Single-Sixer
Copper is relatively soft, most jacket material is "gilding metal" a copper/zing alloy which is a little harder but still a lot softer than Barrel Steel. There have been many "tests" over the years where several thousand rounds have been fired through a gun over a relatively short period of time, with accuracy tests and or borescope inspection done at regular intervals. I do not remember reading one where gun was significantly less accurate at end of test than at beginning, some were better. These were usually 5000 or even 10,000 round experiments.
All this said Cast bullets will be softer than jacketed, depending on lead alloy used maybe a LOT softer. Most leading issues can be cured with proper size and good lube. Shooting a few jackets bullets after a session of cast may help clear any leading. Even a couple of Gas Checked cast bullets can. Correct size/fit to the specific gun and lube are the real keys to avoiding the problem to begin with. If you really want to learn, check out the Cast Boolits forum.
Kevin
All this said Cast bullets will be softer than jacketed, depending on lead alloy used maybe a LOT softer. Most leading issues can be cured with proper size and good lube. Shooting a few jackets bullets after a session of cast may help clear any leading. Even a couple of Gas Checked cast bullets can. Correct size/fit to the specific gun and lube are the real keys to avoiding the problem to begin with. If you really want to learn, check out the Cast Boolits forum.
Kevin
CraigC
Hawkeye
Gilding metal is harder than lead and there is no lube to ease it down the bore. That said, I'm primarily a cast bullet shooter and it really has nothing to do with barre life.
Maximumbob54
Bearcat
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2012
- Messages
- 34
It's not a good idea to shoot a jacketed bullet down a leaded bore as you can seriously increase the pressure as that bullet trys to force its way through.
Just to make sure I don't have a problem with pushing jacketed bullets down a lead-fouled bore, I always shoot my jacketed reloads first, and do all the lead stuff last, in any particular firearm.
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
"It's not a good idea to shoot a jacketed bullet down a leaded bore as you can seriously increase the pressure as that bullet trys to force its way through."
I agree !!
I agree !!
Ray Newman
Blackhawk
If I recall correctly, in the 1980’s I read an article about a NRA test on shooting jacketed bullets to remove leading. Long story short: testing revealed that all the jacketed bullets did was to spread the leading evenly throughout the bore. No lead was removed.
22/45 Fan
Hunter
Bullet wear isn't what wears out most guns, it's the hot powder gasses. That's why high power, high intensity rifle cartridges (like the .220 Swift, 6 mm Weatherby, and similar) can loose their accuracy in as little as 1000 rounds.
In handguns, full power .357 mag loads with 125 gr. bullets are hard on guns, not because of the bullet weight or construction, but because of the large volume of hot powder gas.
If you shoot enough of any type bullet, lead or jacketed, but keep the pressures mild, you will go broke long before the barrel wears out.
In handguns, full power .357 mag loads with 125 gr. bullets are hard on guns, not because of the bullet weight or construction, but because of the large volume of hot powder gas.
If you shoot enough of any type bullet, lead or jacketed, but keep the pressures mild, you will go broke long before the barrel wears out.
Three44s
Single-Sixer
Jacketed bullets are often used to break in a new gun to prepare it for cast bullets.
I use USP or JB bore paste to accomplish the same end result.
As far as jacketed rounds cleaning out lead, I find as Ray Newman posted that what you are really doing is spreading or smearing that lead deposit into more barrel internals and not really removing all of it.
I use USP or JB bore paste to accomplish the same end result.
As far as jacketed rounds cleaning out lead, I find as Ray Newman posted that what you are really doing is spreading or smearing that lead deposit into more barrel internals and not really removing all of it.
Depending on how old you are, and how wealthy, I doubt you'll ever wear a handgun out regardless of the medium you shoot through it. As has been said, the big problem stems from the hotter gasses incurred from trying to make a rifle out of the gun. Hence the demise of the 357 Maximum. That being said, I prefer cast bullets for a number of reasons:
1. Price...most cast bullets are way cheaper
2. Variety. There are more different styles and weights of bullets to choose from, even more if you cast yourself, than jacketed (depending on caliber)
3. Versatility. Cast bullets can be hotrodded as fast as most any jacketed bullet can be (depending on the alloy) but jacketed bullets dont seem to work so hot when throttled back to plinking type loads.
There is probably more, but you get the idea.
1. Price...most cast bullets are way cheaper
2. Variety. There are more different styles and weights of bullets to choose from, even more if you cast yourself, than jacketed (depending on caliber)
3. Versatility. Cast bullets can be hotrodded as fast as most any jacketed bullet can be (depending on the alloy) but jacketed bullets dont seem to work so hot when throttled back to plinking type loads.
There is probably more, but you get the idea.
powder smoke
Hawkeye
I do not think it is an issue at all! Good luck trying to wear a barrel out lead or Jacketed! ps
Bob R
Single-Sixer
750K2 is correct Lead Bullets are harder on the gun for the reason listed. They are so much cheaper to shoot, that you will shoot way more rounds with cast bullets.
The 2 problems with bore wear are Hot Gas, and Sloppy Cleaning Rod use.
As was said above most of us will never wear a barrel out from shooting.
For range use I shoot lots of lead. Plated bullets are also a very good economical choice also. Expense is the only issue for practice bullet construction.
At the moment with OBoobs Threats of more Gun Control, Plated and Cast bullets are the easiest to locate and buy.
Bob
The 2 problems with bore wear are Hot Gas, and Sloppy Cleaning Rod use.
As was said above most of us will never wear a barrel out from shooting.
For range use I shoot lots of lead. Plated bullets are also a very good economical choice also. Expense is the only issue for practice bullet construction.
At the moment with OBoobs Threats of more Gun Control, Plated and Cast bullets are the easiest to locate and buy.
Bob
M'BOGO
Buckeye
If you find a cast boolit load that is accurate, and doesn't lead, you have just that. With commercial cast slugs, it may very well be worthwhile to find a company that will taylor the slugs to your requirements, as far as hardness/alloy, size, and lube.
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