Who reloads cast lead?

[chezuki]

I just loaded my first batch of cast lead 9mm last night. I ran a few mags today and they shot very well but as expected, they were extremely smokey.

Is this something I just have to get used to with lead, or are there certain powders that can help reduce the smoke? I am currently using Accurate #5.

At $55 per 1000, it makes for pretty economical shooting.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I'm shooting pretty much all cast lead bullets out of my pistols these days. I don't notice much smoke with Clays, maybe a bit more with Power Pistol. Accurate is supposed to be very clean, I thought. Maybe it's the lubricant?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

My brother keeps prodding me to start casting my own bullets...Where do you guys get your lead?

So not to completely jack the thread, I've shot his casted bullets a few times and I don't remember them being particularly smokey. IIRC, he used Unique powder.

 

[chezuki]

My brother keeps prodding me to start casting my own bullets...Where do you guys get your lead?

So not to completely jack the thread, I've shot his casted bullets a few times and I don't remember them being particularly smokey. IIRC, he used Unique powder.

I don't cast them, I buy them already cast.

Friendswood Bullet Co. - Premium Hard Cast Bullets - Lead Bullets

 

[red_zr24x4]

A lot of the smoke has to do with the lube on the bullets. We're using homemade lube made with beeswax, its a little smokey but it smells like honey so its not so bad.

 

[1988-4551]

Lube most likely. I cast/reload 45 acp and roll them in lee alox which is a semi hard finish. If they grouped well their probably not being pushed hard enough to melt at all?

 

[Classic]

I only reload 45 Colt in cast, everything else in jacketed or plated. I use a lot of Unique but don't notice a smoke difference between lead and jacketed.

 

[vibrationeng]

I shoot quite a bit of cast bullets and have never noticed them being smokey. I agree it is probably the lube used.

 

[Sniper 79]

I shoot cast .45acp and my wife was the only one to complain about the smoke. I didnt really notice it but I have not bought or fired a factory round in three years. Maybe I am just used to it. I loaded with Win 231 and am going to work up my next loads with Universal Clays.

 

[kwatters]

So far 100% of my 9mm reloads are cast. Cheap way to go when punching paper or making the steel ring. More smoky than factory, sure.

 

[dak109]

I don't think the powder will make much difference in the amount of smoke. Lube seems to be the biggest contibutor to smoke. Look over at castboolits.com they are a great source for information on all things cast.

 

[bwframe]

I've used molly coated 200gr LSWC for years. I guess there is smoke, but I rarely see it.

 

[Cat-Herder]

Smoke is usually a lube thing. ALOX smokes the most for me. I pan lube my 308s in Blue Angel and get no smoking. I tried ALOX and it was pretty bad. My 357s don't smoke much at all. ALOX lubed 45s tend to smoke a bit, but my ALOX lubed 38s are the worst. I think lube vs velocity is the equation here...

 

[ol' poke]

I reload .45 Colt and .44-40 with cast lead bullets. Lube never matters much as I fill the cases with Goex FFg! Yeah, they smoke A LOT.

ol' poke

 

[billybob44]

Welcome to the Cast World..

Great to see someone else shooting 9MM CAST bullets! Yes, they WILL smoke more than plated/jacketed. Yes, MOST of the smoke is caused by the lube. You will find, once you get your load down pat, that you will shoot more cast than plated/jacketed.

I cast a 125gr. RN in a Lee 6 gang mold, size to .357"/lube with Jakes Red, and load, mostly with TiteGroup powder to around 1050-1100 fps.

For ME--I found that when I loaded 9MM cast at a slower fps, I had a lot more smoke, and more LEAD in my barrel.

My CZ's+Glocks (with Lone Wolf barrel) likes the .357" diameter better than the normal .356" diameter.

With your bullets at an 18 Brinell hardness, you probably are getting more smoke+lead at the breach end of your barrel due to a milder load?? What is your approx bullet velocity??

If your bullets are too slow (under 1000fps on a 124/125gr. bullet) you will get "Gas Cutting" around the base of your "Hard" bullets, with more smoke+more lead at the breach end of your barrel.
If your loads are too "Hot", you will get more lead on the muzzle end of your barrel.
You need to work up your loads .2-.3gr. at a time until you get very little lead on either end of the barrel and less smoke.

You're RIGHT cast bullet loads are a lot cheaper (ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAST YOUR OWN), and fun to shoot...Bill.

 

[woodsie57]

If you cast your own and use Alox[it's the easiest route], you get some smoke- So what? You're looking at maybe 12-15 cents a shot for .38/.357s

 

[djones]

A lot of the smoke has to do with the lube on the bullets. We're using homemade lube made with beeswax, its a little smokey but it smells like honey so its not so bad.

Aren't you scared you might be attracting bears?

 

[Sailor]

I have loaded thousands of cast 9mm.

I get made fun of during training with my smoke pole glock, but at $6 a box I am the one laughing. W231 and Wolf primers.

 

[Stimp]

I reload and cast all my own lead bullets for numerous calibers with great sucess... my vote on your smoke would be the lube type being used. i use the old nra recipe.

 

[100Xkid]

running lead in my 45 and 38 with 231 and it is not too smokey