Author Topic: Pure lead bullets? (Read 1250 times)

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **on:** February 20, 2003, 05:23:39 AM »

For muzzle loaders, the recommendation is always to stick with pure lead.

For breech loaders, some alloy of some sort is the recommendation.

For low-velocity loads, why not use pure lead in a breech loader? Some of the muzzle loader conicals approach 1500 fps and no-one gripes about leading. Pure lead flattens better, giving more energy deposit thus making milk-jug targets more exiting :-) .

Maybe the pure lead just doesn't work with smokeless?

Obviously this has been tried before otherwise we wouldn't know about the leading problem. But maybe the leading only becomes a problem at certain velocities or with certain powders.

Greybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2003, 06:12:29 AM »

Primary reason to not use pure lead is that it doesn't fill out the cavities of the mould as well as it does if a bit of tin is added. No real reason to not shoot them especially at the low velocities of handguns in CAS. Don't think leading will be a problem for you if your bullets are sized correctly and well lubed.

All of the swaged lead bullets like those Hornady and Speer sell are pure or at least nearly pure lead and they work fine. Pretty much every HBWC fired in competition or practice in .38 Specials have been pretty much pure lead.

GB

Pigeonroost Slim · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2003, 06:32:25 AM »

I use the alloy I do because its free. I still have some lead ingots rendered from near pure scrap, but that is getting harder to find.

107ch · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2003, 07:50:56 AM »

One other consideration. When loading pistol caliber cartridges with BP I ,and I beleive most others, use the bullet to compress the powder. If using a pure or nearly pure lead bullet you will likely deform it as you seat it. When loading 45 70 for BPCR I use a 20:1 or 30:1 alloy and I have a seperate compression die for the powder.
Dennis