Are lead cast bullets a good idea?

[Ranger7541]

Hi everyone I am new to reloading and also to the world of WB. Since you all have a lot of information on here I just need a little advice, are lead cast bullets worth using and do they gunk up barrels or even damage them? Also, any cleaning tips for barrels after being shot with lead cast bullets?

[Mink Shoals Bandit]

Ranger, anything other than ALL lead bullets are not an option when using steel targets due to bullet splatter.....And they do not damage or hurt the barrel any worse than jacketed bullets. At the slow velocities we use, barrel leading is rarely a problem when using a good quality hard cast bullet. Depending on the bullet hardness, serious leading doesn't occur until you push it past 12- 1500 FPS. And cleaning is no different, use a good bore solvent to remove any lead left in the barrel..............Mink............

[Boggus Deal]

As Mink said, only lead bullets allowed for WBAS. I shoot tens of thousands of lead bullets each year in CAS, WBAS and other forms of competition and never have leading problems. I have never hurt a gun shooting lead bullets at up to over 2000fps. Yes, it can be done without any leading.
Good guns with quality bullets at the speeds we shoot them and you won't have anything to worry about.

[John Boy]

The lead bullet one might want to try is the Accurate mold copy of the H&G 68 - 200gr...
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-200H-D.png

[J. Frank Norfleet]

The harder the lead mix the less leading.  It is no problem.

[Blackfoot]

Don't be concerned about using lead bullets.  Any bullet caster who stays in business will be making good bullets.  Just get some and start shooting. 

Blackfoot

[Garrison Joe]

do they gunk up barrels


 or even damage them

There is some extra fouling due to the bullet lube that you don't see with jacketed loads.   Cleans out easily with any solvent.


There is LESS damage to barrels with lead bullets than with jacketed rounds.   Who has told you a lie that lead bullets damage conventionally rifled barrels?  What do you think was used for bullets up until about 1900?    

Now, some types of porting that has been done on barrels, and some strange new polygonal rifling attempts, are not well suited to using lead bullets.   Neither of which are likely to show up at a WB match.

[August West]

When the cleaning gets tough, the Tough get out their stainless steel bore brushes.

[BoydSinclair]

Would the bullet split up when it hits a hard surface and fly off in all directions? Doesn't sound like a great idea.

If you go to this page you can read more about the 3 week diet program.

[Nellie Blue]

Target set up is normally designed to deflect the bullet splatter in a safe direction. In the case of bad set up, the small pieces of splash back are much better than a solid chunk of metal hitting the target and ricocheting back at you. 

[Boggus Deal]

And typically, with the softer alloy bullets used in Wild Bunch, the bullet flattens out against the target and falls to the ground without shattering like a harder bullet would.

[John Boy]

And cleaning is no different, use a good bore solvent to remove any lead left in the barrel.

I wish!
After trying many solvents to remove leading in bores ... a 50:50 mix of ATF or Marvel Oil and PURE Spirits of Turpentine 

[vaquero]

No problems using lead at lower velocities.  As for cleaning, I dry brush the barrel with a bronze brush, before using solvents, it seems that the lead will come out in chunks, then I use solvent an a bronze brush.

[Lone Dog]

The harder the lead mix the less leading.  It is no problem.

Well there is considerable debate about that. Go to Desperado bullets site, I believe it is cowboybullets.com and read all about it.

I buy in to what they are preaching. Soft lead bullets will obdurate up in to the grooves and shoot cleaner than those fool too hard cast pills that just strip on by leaving lead behind

[Boggus Deal]

Well, different hardness and different alloys for different purposes. At the velocities we shoot, a softer  alloy with more lead content works good. Fit and lube are also very important. If a bullet is too hard and driven at slow speeds, it may not bump up, seal the bore and could lead the barrel. Especially if it is on the small side for the bore.
A too soft bullet that is driven too fast can also lead the bore. I have shot pure lead bullets at nearly 2000 fps in rifles with no gas checks. Can be done with paper patches.
I have also had extremely hard bullets that leaded terribly due to poor lube and poor fit.
When I was casting bullets for the cowboy crowd, I strove for a Brinnell hardness of 11-12. No one ever had a problem with leading that ever told me.