groovy mike
.38 Special
I see that my reloading manuals have loads with Unique and Herco.... Has anyone here explored that option? The idea of a low cost plinker load appeals to me.
cast bullets in 7.62x39
- Thread starter groovy mike
- Start date
Deplorable Me
.700 Nitro Express
Cast bullets okay in bolt rifles, bad in gas rifles.
Cast bullets are fine in semi autos as long as they have gas checks on the heel of the bullet. There are problems you will run into, but nothing insurmountable.
One problem is you will have to bell the case slightly for the lead bullet so it adds another step in the reloading process. Lyman makes an M die just for that purpose.
Your rifle may not cycle the loads either depending on the amount of gas pressure you can get at the gas port.
It is worth trying once load up 10 rounds and see how they function in your rifle and make adjustments accordingly.
One problem is you will have to bell the case slightly for the lead bullet so it adds another step in the reloading process. Lyman makes an M die just for that purpose.
Your rifle may not cycle the loads either depending on the amount of gas pressure you can get at the gas port.
It is worth trying once load up 10 rounds and see how they function in your rifle and make adjustments accordingly.
There is also powder coated bullets now available that work in semi autos.
phatfarmerbob
.223 Rem
That's the game plan when I take the plunge.still smelting lead and trying to get enough raw ahead so I feel justified to spend the money on equipment.
phatfarmerbob
.223 Rem
What are you going to load for? If I have the moulds your are thinking of I can send you some cast projectiles to try before you buy. Just lmk. I have several .45 and .9mm
Mainly 9mm, 40 and 45. I have shot powder coated cast in all of these, so no real worries. Still on the fence on moulds. Do I go cheap with Lee and see how I like it or do go with a better mood from another manufacture. I really like the look of the NOE molds. Sadly I'm on a holding pattern on this project until I get the new house built.
phatfarmerbob
.223 Rem
If you want to try the noe moulds pm me when you get your drip-o-Matic, I’ll stick them in a flat rate and you can try them out. I don’t cast July-November so they just sit on the shelf, your welcome to use them as long as I get them back by December
I have 9 and 45
I have 9 and 45
Very generous offer I will try to remember it when I'm ready, thank you.
Gas checks will keep the gas port from leading up?
you dont need to spend more than a couple bucks. Its VERY easy, Get a #5 white recycling container, like that of cool-whip or sour cream (cool-whip would be nicer to work with) Buy some plastic Airsoft pellets, Black or white both work. I've heard black work better, but i use white.
Then buy the powder from whereever, and a toaster oven, You dont need anymore equipment than this, so its literally a few bucks, maybe a little more if you need to go find a $ 20 toaster oven. So to do it just: fill the container 3/4 of the way with the airsoft pellets, and dump some powder in, Thats your powder coater, next just drop in some lead bullets and shake it up. The static electricity will coat the bullets in powder, use needle nose pliers to remove the bullets. place them on the baking tray of the toaster oven carefully, and bake! ( i line my tray with non stick aluminum foil.) I've been ising this method for a couple years now, and have no leading in my barrels, and no noticeable wear to the barrel itself.
Ya I have the powder coating and BB's already. I bought them from one of the vendors on "castboolits". I really cant wait to start casting I just haven't had enough time to smelt what I have so far. I think I'm down to (6) five gallon pails to clean up. I have (2) 30cal cans full of ingots. I was hoping to have four total before buying the equipment to actually cast.
groovy mike
.38 Special
I'm an old school caster and use the luber sizer. If I need to size my bullets anyway, is there any advantage to powder coating vs just using bullet lube while sizing. Powder coating would seem to add an additional step to the process. What makes it worth doing more work? I'm not trying to trash powder coating. I'm just wondering if it is worth the effort to add an additional step.
No lubing. All you do know is coat and size.
groovy mike
.38 Special
Right so the choice is either to powder coat or to lube. But since I am running every bullet through the luber/sizer powder coating seems like a completely unnecessary additional step. Is there any benefit for doing so?
For me initial cost is the first one. Second one is that your not messing around with all the sticky grease. Lastly which I'm not sure if it will be a big deal to me is you can push the bullets a little faster than lubed cast. Oh and I almost forgot I guess it keeps your bore cleaner than traditional cast. There are people bragging up thousands of rounds between barrel cleaning and no degradation of accuracy.
I powdercoat for 2 reasons, 1st the powdercoated bullets dont lead the barrel, At least i've got none. The other reason is i do 2 different loads (same caliber, same brass, same bullet) that i DO NOT want to go into the wrong guns, so my hot load is Red and my 'cowboy' load is blue
Yep I know lots of people running lead bullets in the M14 and M1 Garand.