Casting with pure lead

[samdweezel05]

Can a pure lead bullet ever be used? Say in a plinking round for a .45acp or 9mm? What if a GC is used. I have a lot of pure and would like to try some of it as is.

[wills]

A little tin, like one part tin to 30 lead helps the fill out. The alloy police will not arrest you if you try pure lead.

[samdweezel05]

I little tin, like one part tin to 30 lead helps the fill out. The alloy police will not arrest you if you try pure lead.

not worried about the alloy police but leading could be an issue.

[wills]

The two most common causes of leading
1 Boolit too small
2 Alloy too hard
And these are interrelated.

If the boolit is small, blow by causes leading. If the alloy is soft enough, the boolit can (or may) obdurate (slug up) to a tight seal. However if the lead is too hard, the boolit will not obdurate and you get blowby and therefore leading.

[runfiverun]

winchester and remington used 40-1 alloy in stuff like the 45 colt,38 special and a bunch of other cartridges for about 100 sumthin years so i would say soft to near pure works just fine.
and pure could do the same in those low pressure rounds.
if that's what i had i'd sure try it.
if nothing else you'll become a better caster from using straight lead.

[357shooter]

In 357 and 380acp I add 1.5-2% solder to pure, they shoot great with no leading. The 45acp should be good, never loaded for 9mm. Cycling with the soft lead is probably more of a concern than the pressure, or leading. You may have to run the pot a little hotter.

[500MAG]

Sizing & lubing are more of a concern for leading.

[R.M.]

Most 22s are pretty soft, yet they get sent down the tube at over 1000f/s. What's that tell you?

[alfloyd]

22 LR slugs have a BHN of 6.5.
They are a little harder than pure lead at 5.0 BHN.

Lafaun

[WHITETAIL]

+1 on adding a little tin.:idea:

[imashooter2]

There was an old rancher out of Missouri named Elmer that shot simple lead tin alloy. Word on the street is that he pushed them pretty hard and got acceptable results.

[R.M.]

22 LR slugs have a BHN of 6.5.
They are a little harder than pure lead at 5.0 BHN.
Lafaun
Depends on the manufacturer. I've tested a few, and Eley is dead soft (5 BHN). I think the Federal was up to 9 BHN
Nevertheless, it shows us that soft lead can withstand 1,000 f/s or better.

[alfloyd]

I have melted down about 1200 lbs of 22LR slugs. They were all mixed togeather and the average BHN was 6.5. That is what I use to make lead wire with.

Lafaun

[Defcon-One]

Yeah, It will work OK. As others have said, fit is critical and use a good lube too. Keep velocity relatively low and you should be OK. Might have a little clean-up after a couple hundred rounds.

Gas Checks cost a lot. Unless you make your own, I would not consider them as a part of any economy load. Besides, you probably can make it work without them. Adding 1% Tin is always better, but if you don't have it or don't want to use it, then go with the pure lead!