Lead bullets...for when thats all there is

[Maine1]

I cast and shoot lead in my 45 and 10mm as it is cheap to shoot and i can cast the bullets myself.
But, with ammo prices rising and some brass getting scarce/pricey, what bullet would be the preferred type to cast for all around real world use?

I would thing a Keith type bullet would be preffered for hunting and self defense, but i am not sure if they would cycle in an auto pistol.

any suggestions?

[Blammer]

RN FP would be my bet.

[Maximilian225]

RN FP would be my bet.

+1
I agree with this wholeheartedly
Tho I do run the Lyman Devastator hollow point in my 45ACP if I was looking for one for all purpose I would go with the RN FP

[Boerrancher]

Yep the RN FP I have found works for just about everything. Not as good as maybe any one particular boolit for one particular thing, but I have found mostly due to limited funds to buy molds the RN FP seems to be my workhorse boolit.

Best Wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Echo]

I have NEVER had a problem with the Lyman 452460 SWC in any .45 I have put them through, and reliability is important in a defense weapon. Can't say about the .40 - my baby boy wanted a .40, and asked me to reload for him, to which I agreed, and sat about getting a Dillon 550B and all the acouterments, so now I can load .38 Specials, .45ACP, and .40S&W - and the little snot doesn't have a pistol yet!

Back to the .45 - a FNRN is probably a good choice, but I like the idea of the WC part of the boollit cutting a nice .452 size hole to let the sunlight inside, and what's inside, out. I believe RN entrances tend to close up - I may be wrong.

[runfiverun]

the rnfp is my preferred boolit.
good bearing surface ,and usually large grease grooves.
the holes in paper are round enough for me.
and the ones in animal are large enough also.

[Boomer Mikey]

This article by John Taffin covers the bases well:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_3_47/ai_70650327

My 45 and 9mm autos with their throated barrels handle just about anything I feed them including SWC's if I do my part in using an OAL that feeds well. As has been said many times in this thread... seating swc's to allow 10-20 thousandths of the front driving band outside of the case usually will work fine. If your auto doesn't have a throated barrel the round nose and RNFP designs will work best.

Boomer :Fire:

[nicholst55]

I have NEVER had a problem with the Lyman 452460 SWC in any .45 I have put them through, and reliability is important in a defense weapon.

At one time I was shooting my reloads through a box-stock M1911A1 (well, except for the trigger job) that I had to sign out of the Arms Room every day. I shot many, many cast Lyman 452460s through that gun, with nary a problem. I did have to use commercial or modified GI 'wadcutter' magazines, though.

I did this even though I had all the free ammo that I could shoot, courtesy of Uncle. I got bored of shooting M1911 Match Ball, and wanted to try something different. I couldn't tell you what my bullet alloy was at that time, except that it was harder than hell - I hesitate to guess how much of it was 60-40 solder! But then, it was free, too! [smilie=1:

[DLCTEX]

200 SWC or 255 SWC(Keith) for large stuff. I don't shoot much of the 255 gr. in my 1911. DALE

[Ricochet]

Lee's truncated cone styles work well.

[trickg]

When we finally settled out my Dad's things and I brought home some of his guns plus the ammo for the guns I brought home, I came back with about 300 rounds of .45 ACP loaded up with the Lyman 200 gr SWC. I had nary an issue with it. I can't speak for the 10mm, but my .45 (a Franken-fortyfive put together from a 1941 frame, and other parts) handles virtually any round you give it.

The 200 gr SWC might not be ideal for all 45s though and if I wanted to be sure that it was going to cycle properly, I'd probably go with a 230gr RN - isn't that what the original GI load was anyway?

[Lead melter]

I'll go along with the RNFP in the 45, after all the 1911 style was designed for this type slug. Never having shot any 10MM, I can only vouch for a 40 S&W. I have had excellent results with the Lee 401-175-TC design of 50/50 WW/pure alloy coated with LLA. Just be sure to pay attention to the advice from Boomer Mikey in this thread about seating...it is important.

The 50:50 alloy may not be the alltime best for auto pistols, but it does work well. My standard Springfield 1911 and 2 other slightly tricked out 1911's belonging to friends have no problems with the alloy cast in the Lee 452-228-1R mold. Accuracy is good and that somewhat soft alloy does have some expansion on harder materials like pine boards and magazines. Can't say for sure how they would do in flesh, but a bone would probably cause some expansion.