Bad leading in barrel.

[Ike45LC]

Howdy all! I am having problems with leading in my 45 ACP XD. It seems like its only leading just before the end of the muzzle which I thought was interesting. The leading I have been getting is considerable and takes a little work with lead remover to get it out . The bullet I am using is a .451 dia 230gr RN that I cast myself. I haven't slugged my barrel yet (probably should:)) The lead I am using is just wheel weights that I quenched. I don't have a chronograph but according to my loading book these should be running at about 820fps. Since its not a gas check bullet I am thinking about backing off on the powder charge. Any tips or suggesting would be appreciated.

Ike

[rexherring]

I would try sizing them .452, mine has no problems with straight WW or even 50/50 WW lead. Also what lube? You may need more of it or a different lube.

I forgot, Welcome to the nut house.

[wv109323]

1.) Slug your Barrel
2.) if needed to to .452 ( I think you will need to be at .452)
3.) Change Lube
4.) Decrease load
Do these items in the order that I have listed and you should solve your problem Wheel Weights should be O.K. for your application.

[R.M.]

Air cooled might help too.The 45 doesn't need a very hard bullet.

[williamwaco]

All the above.

Your bullet is too hard and too small.

Lowering the powder charge will ( probably ) make it worse.

[Ike45LC]

Thanks guys I will try all of that. I am using lee alox.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Ike,

Doubt your bullet is too hard, but at those velocities you do not need a really hard bullet or gas checks. Providing of course your mold is not a gas check mold, in which case you should use the G.C.

In my 45/70, the barrel is very good and leading was always so minor as to be a non issue.

However, the light streaking of lead that I did see, always in the last couple inches of the barrel, was a constant - with every lube tried - until I began to use the White Label "BAC" lube after which the barrel is always bright and shinny.

So, I'd get a bigger sizing die - check your bore - and not being a Lee fan, change lube.

Also, forget using a Lee Factory Crimp Die if you have tumbled for one of those, if they are improperly used can and do cause problems with undersize cast bullets, and simply put a properly adjusted 3 dies set from a good manufacture will be all you need for loading in nearly 100% of the cases.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[DLCTEX]

More or better lube and boolit sized .452.

[462]

". . . leading just before the end of the muzzle . . ."

This is usually an indication of insufficient lube or an inadequate lube.

There isn't any need to water quench, and .452" is almost the standard boolit size.

[MtGun44]

Most guns need slugging, but if you want to skip it, the .45 ACP is by far the most
consistent in terms of bore size over a wide range of makers and decades of production,
for some odd reason. Use a .452 diam and you are probably good.
Soft alloy works great for .45 ACP in most guns. LLA is a marginal lube system, so
you have to get everything just right for it to work. Try double coating.

Bill

[Iron Mike Golf]

What specific bullet design are you using?

[Kull]

I don't cast my own yet but shoot lots of lead, agree with the people that are saying too small and too hard.

[243winxb]

Stop water dropping, as i said on the other forum. I run a test with oven heat treated bullets in a 45 acp. Barrel looked really bad, but accuracy never changed. http://www.photobucket.com/joe1944usa http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/IMG_4494.jpg

[badgeredd]

Most guns need slugging, but if you want to skip it, the .45 ACP is by far the most
consistent in terms of bore size over a wide range of makers and decades of production,
for some odd reason. Use a .452 diam and you are probably good.
Soft alloy works great for .45 ACP in most guns. LLA is a marginal lube system, so
you have to get everything just right for it to work. Try double coating.

Bill

+100,000,000,000

['74 sharps]

I went from buying "hardcast" bullets to casting about 30:1 lead/tin. Leading is gone in my Colt SAA's and Sharps 45-70's, and accuracy is up. Hardcast bullets are great for mail order casters as they withstand the rigors of shipping better than a soft bullet. A 22lr runs over 1000 fps with no leading and is very soft.

[MtGun44]

Do not make them harder, this is not your problem. Soft as play-doh will darn near
work in .45 ACP. Too hard is much more likely to cause leading than too soft
in the one.

Bill