Okay, I'll concede the first point. I'll rephrase. Even with gas checks, it's not recommended to drive cast bullets to the same velocities as jacketed bullets. How's that for weasel words?KD5NRH wrote:Sure it can; as long as you don't mind your bore looking like you've been shooting black powder loads. I've used cast and swaged bullets in working up loads and general testing, but it does require a lot of brush time afterwards, and in some guns I wouldn't recommend shooting too many before cleaning due to the amount of buildup.WildBill wrote:Even with gas checks, a cast bullet can't be driven to the same velocity as a jacketed bullet.
Of course, if you happen to run across a box of the old "Western Nevada West Coast Bullet" 230gr .45 LRNs, they're nearly as hard as jacketed. I've recovered a couple from clay that, except for the rifling marks, were less than .002 off in any dimension from an unfired one. I had to melt one just to prove to myself that it was really lead: even melted into a little flat disc, it was still really hard to bend or scratch. I never noticed lead buildup from those, and I wouldn't bother looking for HPs made from that alloy.Also, cast bullets are usually alloyed so they are harder than swaged or "pure" lead bullets so they don't expand as well. The lead core of a jacketed hollow point is softer than a "normal" cast bullet.
Hardness is not the only issue with cast bullets versus jacketed. In addition to being softer than copper, lead has a much lower melting point. Hot gases from the ignition of the gun powder can melt the surface of the lead bullet.
When I cast bullets, I used linotype metal, which was very hard. I never had any leading problems with any of my cast bullets. I even shot cast bullets [at low velocities]in my rifles - .30 M1 Carbine, .308Win and .222 Rem.
And to coronel - It seems like you keep asking the same question until you hear the answer you want to hear. No one here has recommended using cast or swaged bullets as self defense loads. Obviously, no one here can stop you if you wish to do so, but there is no reason to do so.
Expanding a little on Mike1951s comments: Even with gas checks, a cast bullet can't be driven to the same velocity as a jacketed bullet. Also, cast bullets are usually alloyed so they are harder than swaged or "pure" lead bullets so they don't expand as well. The lead core of a jacketed hollow point is softer than a "normal" cast bullet.