lead vs. jacketed

[capstan]

For revolvers,I load both types of bullets but I think there are many who prefer lead bullets. For those who load mostly lead, do you find that the lead bullets are more accurate, typically? Or is it primarily the lower cost of lead bullets that is the main reason for usin them,or is it because of less wear on the barrel with lead vs jacketed or a combination of these factors. Just curious. I like the wadcutters because they are relatively cheap and shoot real well for milder loads, for practice. I know that many here also like the (hard) lead bullets for hotter loads instead of jacketed. for hotter loads Ive been using jacketed bullets but I may start trying the hard lead to se if the accuracy improves.

[bmcgilvray]

I generally like lead for inexpensive practice. I'm not a disciple of cast bullets to the point of running them in everything, using them for everything. I don't really like using lead for hot loads, preferring jacketed bullets for the purpose.

Having said that, I use a lot of lead.

[Trapdoor]

I prefer using the original style slugs that my frontier firearms used. No one local sells them so I bought moulds and casting my own lead.

[smkummer]

Much info is available about loads/casting etc.. I am on the believe that cast bullets can be as accurate and more than jacketed up to a certain velocity point. You as a bullet caster determine quality control with varibles such as alloy, weight range, sizing diameter and range testing to determine which bullets shoot best in YOUR gun. I still have on my wall a group of .85" that is one ragged hole of 5 shots at 25 yards indoor with a 6 in. python and a cast plain base wadcutter bullets. Gas checks extend the velocity envelope. My .357 range loads are around 1100 FPS, so as of yet I am getting as good of groups with a plain base hard (water dropped-20 BHN scale)cast bullet as any jacketed bullet. One advantage jacketed bullets have is the ability to run a hard jacket around a very soft core (JSP or JHP design) to produce a bullet that will expand easily without leading the bore. If one were to cast a bullet soft enough to expand, it may also cause above normal leading at normal or higher velocities. Generally someone using cast bullets for hunting at higher velocities has to rely on a Keith bullet design to do its job of bullet penetration (often both in and out of the critter) to have the best terminal effect as bullet expansion is almost nill with a hard cast bullet.

[MMCSRET]

I cast for all my revolver cartridges, I found and bought obsolete molds for the original bullet designs. I mate the design, alloy, and propellant to the revolver and the combination makes for an accurate cartridge that just can't be duplicated with a mass produced jacketed bullet. 38 New Police (38 S&W) is the perfect example; and 32-20 is another. My Colt and S&W 38 Special revolvers shoot better with a 158 gr. round nose cast soft (Lyman 358311) than with any other design I have tried. My opinion, summed up, yes, cast are more accurate, but it takes time and trial to pin it down. And they are cheaper, Yes.

[Frank V]

I shoot mostly lead in my handguns, I've found if you stay in a reasonable velocity range (usually within the loading manual loads) I don't have much leading, mostly none, good accuracy, & all the power I require.
That said I ALWASE use factory loads in a defense gun.
Frank

[Glennster]

Lead seems to shoot better for me......

[z4lunch]

Lead
I bought a new Defender a month back and that was the first time in 26 years of shooting pistols I ran jacketed bullets down a pistol.
Steve

[kennyb]

i shoot lead 95% of the time across a number of calibers...works great for me