Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: halfpipe88 on March 13, 2013, 11:44:22 AM

Title: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: halfpipe88 on March 13, 2013, 11:44:22 AM: I'm going to be reloading some store-bought lead 9mm bullets, but I've heard some talk that lead bullets aren't very good for your barrel. Is that a myth or true?
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: high country on March 13, 2013, 12:30:54 PM: They don't like to go fast, and when you see leading (buildup of lead)....clean the barrel. It might be 10 shots, it might be 1,000 every gun is different.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: halfpipe88 on March 13, 2013, 02:38:54 PM: Does anyone have a good recipe for 9mm lead bullets? Right now I've got some Hodgdon HS-6 powder with CCI primers.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: Ice Cap on March 13, 2013, 03:19:50 PM: What weight bullets are they?
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: MarkDozier on March 14, 2013, 12:51:59 AM: Have something, just an ideal really,,,
USE A LOADING MANUAL
:yike:

If your shooting jacketed bullets already take the barrel and soak if for about 3 hours in SIMPLE GREEN, rinsee in clean water, Dry completely. CPL the outside of the barrel and you should be good to go.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: sirmissalot on March 14, 2013, 10:26:04 AM: Quote from: high country on March 13, 2013, 12:30:54 PM
They don't like to go fast, and when you see leading (buildup of lead)....clean the barrel. It might be 10 shots, it might be 1,000 every gun is different.

Do you think moly coating them would help highcountry?
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: CP on March 14, 2013, 10:32:17 AM: After shooting the lead bullets just fire a few jacket bullets through it. That will clean out most of the lead fouling.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 14, 2013, 10:46:50 AM: Quote from: CP on March 14, 2013, 10:32:17 AM
After shooting the lead bullets just fire a few jacket bullets through it. That will clean out most of the lead fouling.

I've heard this quite a bit. The general consensus among pistol shooters is DON"T DO IT! :bdid:

I shot thousands of lead bullets through my Browning Hi-Power when I shot Practical Pistol in the 1980's with no ill effects.
I cleaned the gun religiously afterwards. At the time, I loaded with Unique powder because I also shot Skeet, and had a lot of it... I've since changed to Ramshot powder, but there are a lot of good ones out there.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: CP on March 14, 2013, 11:16:57 AM: Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on March 14, 2013, 10:46:50 AM
Quote from: CP on March 14, 2013, 10:32:17 AM
After shooting the lead bullets just fire a few jacket bullets through it. That will clean out most of the lead fouling.

I've heard this quite a bit. The general consensus among pistol shooters is DON"T DO IT! :bdid:

Why not?
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 14, 2013, 12:14:54 PM: Quote from: CP on March 14, 2013, 11:16:57 AM
Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on March 14, 2013, 10:46:50 AM
Quote from: CP on March 14, 2013, 10:32:17 AM
After shooting the lead bullets just fire a few jacket bullets through it. That will clean out most of the lead fouling.

I've heard this quite a bit. The general consensus among pistol shooters is DON"T DO IT! :bdid:

Why not?

Same reason you wouldn't shoot a round in the barrel that has a lot of oil or other obstruction. Possible damage to the barrel, I guess. :dunno: I've seen barrels that were damaged (Ringed or Bulged) from shooting a round behind a bullet stuck in the bore from a "squib load", but can't say that i've seen any damage from shooting a Jacketed Bullet after shooting Lead. I've mixed them up when shooting old loads, but never to clean the lead out.... Must be more of a personal choice than anything.
I know a guy that bought an SKS, and took it out and shot it without even cleaning the Cosmoline out of it! Amazingly, he didn't blow the gun up, but he did complain that it didn't function properly. :yike:
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: hillbilli on March 14, 2013, 05:10:57 PM: lead bullets are softer than jacketed, try to keep velocities below about 1150.. and what velocity leading really starts will depend on the hardness of the bullets as well. Folks have been loading and shooting lead for longer than anything else, and it is usually cheaper to buy and load than anything else. I use W231 for loading 9mm. My XD does fine with plain lead. It is a little dirtier than jacketed, but it's cheaper too..
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: high country on March 14, 2013, 08:57:34 PM: There is just a ton of variables, bullet dia is the key and lube is right there too. The hardness....it all adds up. I shoved some 180's to 1350 today without issue, but have leaded up a barrel right away before too...it all depends on the variables.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: actionshooter on March 14, 2013, 09:58:50 PM: I don't shoot lead anymore, I strictly shoot copper washed now. When I did shoot lead, it was for about 5 years and about 60,000 rounds.
If you shoot good quality bullets (I preferred redline) and clean the barrel religiously, there is nothing wrong with shooting lead.
Title: Re: Shooting lead bullets through XDm
Post by: halfpipe88 on March 19, 2013, 07:06:25 AM: Quote from: Ice Cap on March 13, 2013, 03:19:50 PM
What weight bullets are they?

124 gr.