Cast bullets aren't like jacketed in causing a bind on takeoff if the ctg neck to chamber is a tight fit. The difference being the lubrication factor of greased lead against the case neck, vs the very bad combination of unlubricated similar metals, gilding metal and cartridge brass both being copper based.
To be a little more specific. Tight fitting ammo gives the best accuracy. If you don't fit them tight, and if heavy loads are used, the bullet will upset at the base and wedge the case tightly out against the chamber, causing a FAR tighter fit than anything a man can chamber, this all happening before it leaves the case.
If you are getting good accuracy with your counterfit "LBT 180 gr WLN", keep using them. I don't recall ever making such a mold and if I did I would present to the customer the fact that accuracy will be iffy in many guns due to the too short bearing length vs heavy nose. The 180 gr FN on the other hand is a superior performer.
It is often said that copying is the greatest compliment. -- My designs having been extensively copied, I can emphatically state that it is a curse and plain theft at best, and in the case of LBT design and technology a reversal of everything I've tryed to do for 20 years. My goal is too teach what it takes to make cast bullets perform equal to or better than jacketed, and to do this bullet design has to be optimized in many fine details which are not evident to the untrained observer. The lubricant used, if inferior quality, isn't as critical as changing design features, if the handloader keeps velocity/pressure within the working limits of the lubricant and doesn't mind losing 200 to 400 fps velocity potential, and or cleaning lead from his barrel frequently. -- On the bright side, all the counterfiet bullets I've seen to date do keep the large LBT meplat, so if you can get the velocity up to the requirements for good game performance, and hit where you need to, they will kill as clean as if I had cut the mold to proper specs in every detail.
All that being said, it is quite expensive for one to get into casting, and many reloaders have no place to do it, so they are restricted to purchasing commercially cast bullets, or using jacketed. This large group is best off using inferior cast if they work well enough, and experimentation will proove that matter. But please understand that you can't by true LBT performance from a bootlegger. If you have to struggle to get superb accuracy, or dig lead from your barrel, do some business with LBT and get into casting. I have guns which I've used with lead, shooting an occasional few rounds of jacketed if I wanted to experiment a bit, for almost 20 years and never cleaned the barrels. They will drive tacks and cleaning will not improve accuracy. This because the lead bullets are working properly. That is what LBT teaches and sells.
