44 lead bullets

Xwrench3 · May 14, 2009, 05:27 AM

ok, so i know when shooting plain cast bullets, you have to keep the velocities down under 1000fps or you will get leading in the barrel (revolver). but what about lead bullets with a gas check? can those be loaded to 44 mag specs?

Dingoboyx · May 14, 2009, 06:13 AM

But I believe the velocity for leading is up a bit higher than 1000fps... I shoot my lead heads at about 1180 with no probs. I think it has alot to do with the alloy you use in the projectiles. Pure lead has a higher melting point than bullet alloy melts lower, but it is harder, so the correct bullet alloy should be able to do 1250fps easily without leading, IMO.

I shoot 44 mag using Trail Boss (full case less projectile depth) and 200 gr projectiles.

hornady · May 14, 2009, 06:30 AM

Cast bullets are a hole different animal than jacketed bullets .the 1000 FPS that you hear about for cast is a base line. Some cast bullets do fine a little faster. But some don’t. A gas check will allow you to load them a little hotter and faster. But never use jacketed load data for cast bullets. Most commercial bullets I have tested came in at about 24 on the BNH, but wheel weights are only a 9BNH. As you can see theirs a big difference in hardness. Wheel weights can be heat treated and made harder. But they are the exception.

WESHOOT2 · May 14, 2009, 06:54 AM

I shoot numerous lead bullets through numerous guns in numerous chamberings faster than 1000fps, or 1200fps, or 1400fps.

I must be lucky?

madmo44mag · May 14, 2009, 08:00 AM

Since I started using "Lazer Cast" lead bullets I can load them almost out to max velocities before seeing any leading.
What leading does occur is very minimal.

kraigwy · May 14, 2009, 09:19 AM

I shoot lead, non gas check, bullets in my Model 29, @ 1328 FPS. I don't get leading. I use range lead and home made lube. I dont get leading.

I believe lube has more to do with preventing leading then gas checks or velocity (within reason).

Gas checks do more to prevent damage to the base of the bullet then prevent leading. Not all guns & Load like gas checks.

salvadore · May 14, 2009, 09:50 AM

I'm a size the bullet .001 or .002 larger than the chamber (throat?) guy, gas cutting can be a major cause of leading. I hear that powders like 2400 have a higher flame temp than say H-110, however I use it without a problem. I push wheel weithts to my flinch point of 1000 to 1200 fps in .44s and .357s with very little trouble. My limited experience with gaschecks has been mostly positive, .223 55gr rcbs @ 2300fps, 32/20 115gr lbt @ 1900fps, and .357 160gr. lyman @ >1250fps shoot many rounds before cleaning with no loss of accuracy.

GeauxTide · May 14, 2009, 09:59 AM

I've been using Hunter Supply bullets from Midway for the past seven years in three calibers without any leading. 900-1400fps.

zxcvbob · May 14, 2009, 10:52 AM

I shoot plain-base commercial cast bullets in my .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawk at 1700+ fps and get no leading. The bullets I'm using now have tan lube in them, so it's probably the NRA mixture of alox and beeswax. The previous bullets had a hard blue lube and they didn't lead either.

In my .38/357 Taurus Gaucho, I get leading no matter how slow they are (I think the barrel is rough) -- but the leading doesn't hurt accuracy and it's not that hard to clean.

Both of these guns are probably unusual. But in .45 caliber, all the brands of hard cast bullets I've tried seem to be good up to at least 1300fps, and I don't know why .44 would be any different.

drail · May 14, 2009, 09:24 PM

Salvadore is right. If the bullets are sized for your barrel and they obturate properly (expand ) leading will not be a problem. If the gas tries to go around the bullet you get leading. Gas checks or not.

May 14, 2009, 05:27 AM	#1
Xwrench3 Member Join Date: April 24, 2009 Posts: 90	44 lead bullets ok, so i know when shooting plain cast bullets, you have to keep the velocities down under 1000fps or you will get leading in the barrel (revolver). but what about lead bullets with a gas check? can those be loaded to 44 mag specs?

May 14, 2009, 06:13 AM	#2
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	I may be wrong, But I believe the velocity for leading is up a bit higher than 1000fps... I shoot my lead heads at about 1180 with no probs. I think it has alot to do with the alloy you use in the projectiles. Pure lead has a higher melting point than bullet alloy melts lower, but it is harder, so the correct bullet alloy should be able to do 1250fps easily without leading, IMO. I shoot 44 mag using Trail Boss (full case less projectile depth) and 200 gr projectiles. __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 14, 2009, 06:54 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	process and proper bullets I shoot numerous lead bullets through numerous guns in numerous chamberings faster than 1000fps, or 1200fps, or 1400fps. I must be lucky? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 14, 2009, 08:00 AM	#5
madmo44mag Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Ft.Worth, Texas Posts: 1,522	Since I started using "Lazer Cast" lead bullets I can load them almost out to max velocities before seeing any leading. What leading does occur is very minimal. __________________ Texas - Not just a state but an attitude! For monthly shooting events in DFW visit http://www.meetup.com/TexasGunOwner-DFW

May 14, 2009, 09:19 AM	#6
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I shoot lead, non gas check, bullets in my Model 29, @ 1328 FPS. I don't get leading. I use range lead and home made lube. I dont get leading. I believe lube has more to do with preventing leading then gas checks or velocity (within reason). Gas checks do more to prevent damage to the base of the bullet then prevent leading. Not all guns & Load like gas checks. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

May 14, 2009, 06:30 AM	#3
hornady Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: SWPA Posts: 428	Cast bullets are a hole different animal than jacketed bullets .the 1000 FPS that you hear about for cast is a base line. Some cast bullets do fine a little faster. But some don’t. A gas check will allow you to load them a little hotter and faster. But never use jacketed load data for cast bullets. Most commercial bullets I have tested came in at about 24 on the BNH, but wheel weights are only a 9BNH. As you can see theirs a big difference in hardness. Wheel weights can be heat treated and made harder. But they are the exception.

May 14, 2009, 09:50 AM	#7
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I'm a size the bullet .001 or .002 larger than the chamber (throat?) guy, gas cutting can be a major cause of leading. I hear that powders like 2400 have a higher flame temp than say H-110, however I use it without a problem. I push wheel weithts to my flinch point of 1000 to 1200 fps in .44s and .357s with very little trouble. My limited experience with gaschecks has been mostly positive, .223 55gr rcbs @ 2300fps, 32/20 115gr lbt @ 1900fps, and .357 160gr. lyman @ >1250fps shoot many rounds before cleaning with no loss of accuracy.

May 14, 2009, 09:59 AM	#8
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	I've been using Hunter Supply bullets from Midway for the past seven years in three calibers without any leading. 900-1400fps.

May 14, 2009, 10:52 AM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Velocity is just a small part of it I shoot plain-base commercial cast bullets in my .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawk at 1700+ fps and get no leading. The bullets I'm using now have tan lube in them, so it's probably the NRA mixture of alox and beeswax. The previous bullets had a hard blue lube and they didn't lead either. In my .38/357 Taurus Gaucho, I get leading no matter how slow they are (I think the barrel is rough) -- but the leading doesn't hurt accuracy and it's not that hard to clean. Both of these guns are probably unusual. But in .45 caliber, all the brands of hard cast bullets I've tried seem to be good up to at least 1300fps, and I don't know why .44 would be any different. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

May 14, 2009, 09:24 PM	#10
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Salvadore is right. If the bullets are sized for your barrel and they obturate properly (expand ) leading will not be a problem. If the gas tries to go around the bullet you get leading. Gas checks or not.