The Original CZ Forum
GENERAL => Ammunition, questions, and handloading techniques => Topic started by: JD Miller on August 21, 2019, 08:55:03 PM
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Do you reloaders like using cast bullets , 9mm ? or prefer copper jacketed?
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Coated lead is the thing right now for a LOT of guys. Blue Bullets, Precision Bullets, Acme Bullets
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I load coated 135rn, .357 diameter. Lots of em. . .
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I load a lot of coated 9mm bullets. So far they are just fine.
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Some pistols can shoot lead bullets and be only slightly "dirtier" than if they'd had jacketed ammo shot through them. My P07 .40 is like that.
Some pistols just get downright nasty shooting lead bullets. Not just the black residue from the powder but also spots of lead in the barrel that have to be removed.
The coating on the lead bullets is supposed to eliminate that because the lead never contacts the barrel, just the coating contacts the barrel.
A lot of the lead stuck in the barrel problem is supposed to be related to barrel/bullet diameter. People find that a slightly larger OD lead bullet (say .357 inch or even .358 inch diameter) results in less lead left in the barrel. Again, coated bullets are supposed to eliminate that need to shoot a larger OD bullet to combat leading in the barrel.
Coated bullets are easy to find, easy to reload and about as cheap as lead bullets.
So far, I've not found a lead or coated bullet (or the right powder/charge weight) for my CZ 9MM pistols that shoots as good as the jacketed hollow points I usually shoot in them. Still looking/working on that.
Lots of experience here (on the forum) with reloading for CZ pistols though, so keep asking and you'll get advice on components and technique.
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Do you reloaders like using cast bullets , 9mm ? or prefer copper jacketed?
Depends on what you mean by "like". Lead bullets are used in almost every caliber for cheap inexpensive shooting. What most shooters call "plinking". They can be half the price of a jacketed bullet, and with bullets being 2 or 3 times more expensive than any other component, that's saying a lot !!
Would I use them if I was building the "ultimate, end-all, world-beater target cartridge", probably not. Nor would I use them for the "ultimate, elephant-stopping, self-defense round". But if I want to go out with my family and shoot 600-1000 rounds in an afternoon and have a fun time, then 'Yes'. They are accurate enough to be competitive. They can pack enough punch to ring or knock down steel targets.
So 'yes', I like them because they fill a definite niche in my shooting life.
;)
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I load coated for use in Steel Challenge matches. Cheap, plenty accurate enough and safer than jacketed when shooting steel at closer distances.
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I've been using coated lead for 9, 45 acp/colt, 38/357 for some time now and it has worked out well for me. Only place where I use jacketed any more is 44.
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For max accuracy in MY guns - (Precision Delta) PD 124 JHP!!
I like coated but not accurate enough for competition. If I miss I wanna know it was ME, not some other variable.
Like someone else said - my CZ pistols don't like the coated bullets - I have leading issues. Still tinkering with various bullets and poweders to eliminate that. Why am I still tinkering - cause I find it fun and educational.
For the Scorpion - Acme coated in .357 and it is very happy and accurate enough for me to have fun with. Best accuracy is still the PD bullet.
All my competitions I shoot the PD bullet.
For the CZ pistols I load to 130PF for competition, for the Scorption I load hotter cause it seems to function a little better. Only have a few 1000 rounds through that so far.
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Ok coated boolets now days.... I still use bare cast in my SA revolvers .44 &.45
I just pulled out a metal ammo can full of my friends 9mm reloads . These are Bare cast bullets from probably 25 years ago at least 500 rds maybe 1000... Heavy can.... He didnt mark his powder , though I know he isnt a hot loader
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Reduced cost is why most people use coated bullets. I use Blue Bullets in my CZ Shadow, 85Combat, Czechmate, tactical sport, P-10C, and Shadow Line Compact. and have shot about 30,000 of them with no leading or accuracy issues.
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For range practice I shoot coated cast 124 gr. These days, if one shops around a bit, HP FMJ bullets (9mm) can be found for not much more than cost that cast & coated. Have tried some of these economical HP FMJ and when my present supply of cast/coated runs out will probably go to all FMJ.
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I buy cast bullets from a local source and then I powder coat them myself! $55 bucks per 1K then the time to coat and I have to size them myself! For me it is well worth the extra effort in the resizing step. These bullets shoot as good as anything I have ever used in the past, no matter what they were, jacketed, plated or other commercial coated bullets. I'm lucky to have such a good source and a cheap one to boot!
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I have shot well over 30K cast and coated bullets. Great bullets and for sure a staple for economical range practice. They are perfect for that. Down the road try some of the economical FMJ HP bullets that are out there. Don't rule these bullets out. Maybe you will like them but maybe not.
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Switched to coated lead in 9mm & 45 ACP and never looked back. To me, these shoot better than the plated I was using. Occasionally, I also load uncoated 45 ACP. No leading issues, and are as accurate as I am.
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I buy cast bullets from a local source and then I powder coat them myself! $55 bucks per 1K then the time to coat and I have to size them myself! For me it is well worth the extra effort in the resizing step. These bullets shoot as good as anything I have ever used in the past, no matter what they were, jacketed, plated or other commercial coated bullets. I'm lucky to have such a good source and a cheap one to boot!
You do all that to save a half cent per round, or do you just enjoy the process?
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There's a difference in terms of salaries and costs in USA for sure (I know there is, especially for some jobs).
If I can save about 40$ for 1000 rounds, that's a lot. I try to pick whatever costs less and works, for training.
At the moment I'm paying about 3-3.5 cents (€) per bullet, 1.7 cents per primer, and about 1 cent per cartridge in terms of powder. That's about 6€ for 100 rounds. Factory rounds cost 10-14€ / 50, so from 20 to 28 for 100 rounds and it's nothing special, just FMJ bullets with a really hot load. That is using cast bullets (in training)
For competitions I'm using slightly better components, unless I find what works better.
Color coated bullets
Murom primers (2.5 cents per primer) -> they are soft like federal, just not as consistent
Same powder (at the moment)
Once fired brass, which costs me about 30€ / 1000. Hard to find enough to use them all in competitions so I have to buy them for important matches.
Up to 20 yards, accuracy is enough for training, maybe not the best available. I can still hit stuff at further distances but not with consistency
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You do all that to save a half-cent per round, or do you just enjoy the process?
LOL, Yea I guess so Earl. I guess I never did the math, hows it works out to only 1/2 cent per rd? I guess if you figure time then it might only be that much. Powder coating is no big deal at all, my buddy and I can do a couple of thousand bullets in less than an hour and the PC powder is fairly cheap. If you are figuring the casting then I can see where you're coming from but with that said my buddy has been casting for 15 years or more, I'll have to ask him I guess, he has all the high-speed high tech casting stuff that has been paid for many times over so no issues there. As far as to lead/antimony he pays for and buys very little if anything, he has great sources for metal! I have nothing invested other than time & a few pounds of powder coating powder, Harbour Freight powder is $6 bucks a pound out the door and a pound does 1000s++++ of bullets, cheap cheap! I have bought some better more expensive powders that cost twice that amount but they do work better and a pound does close to 10K of 148grn 9mm bullets! I still buy bullets online just for variety and for the total cost I can come close to my local price, but have never beat it, YET, I'm always looking though ! I have come close with discount codes from Galant and the normal price on Summers Ent,but for actual $$$ going out of my hand,not counting time I'm always less $$ getting local. ;)
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LOL, Yea I guess so Earl. I guess I never did the math, hows it works out to only 1/2 cent per rd? I guess if you figure time then it might only be that much. Powder coating is no big deal at all, my buddy and I can do a couple of thousand bullets in less than an hour and the PC powder is fairly cheap. If you are figuring the casting then I can see where you're coming from but with that said my buddy has been casting for 15 years or more, I'll have to ask him I guess, he has all the high-speed high tech casting stuff that has been paid for many times over so no issues there. As far as to lead/antimony he pays for and buys very little if anything, he has great sources for metal! I have nothing invested other than time & a few pounds of powder coating powder, Harbour Freight powder is $6 bucks a pound out the door and a pound does 1000s++++ of bullets, cheap cheap! I have bought some better more expensive powders that cost twice that amount but they do work better and a pound does close to 10K of 148grn 9mm bullets! I still buy bullets online just for variety and for the total cost I can come close to my local price, but have never beat it, YET, I'm always looking though ! I have come close with discount codes from Galant and the normal price on Summers Ent,but for actual $$$ going out of my hand,not counting time I'm always less $$ getting local. ;)
To be clear, not being critical just curious. You mentioned $55/1000 (.05/rd) and I usually buy at .06/rd so that's where I get the 1/2 cent difference. To be fair, .06/rd is generally a Black Friday deal so you have to stock up. I never seem to catch up reloading for matches and practice, but if I had time I'd love to cast/coat/swage my own.
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To be clear, not being critical just curious. You mentioned $55/1000 (.05/rd) and I usually buy at .06/rd so that's where I get the 1/2 cent difference. To be fair, .06/rd is generally a Black Friday deal so you have to stock up. I never seem to catch up reloading for matches and practice, but if I had time I'd love to cast/coat/swage my own.
Absolutely Earl, no worries at all! I assumed it was more inquisitive than anything. Yes, I know there are deals out there, but this is my buddies everyday price, and that's for 128 grn 9mm up to 230grn 45acp bullets and anything in between. Like I said he has been doing it "forever" and is very good at it! That's the trouble with SALES, when there are sales I don't have money and when I have money there aren't any sales... LOL we all know how that works out! ;) I feel lucky that I have access to cheap bullets, luckier than most I guess, as I said I will buy online but I always wait for Sales/discount codes,etc, I use the Code for the Galant bullets and I think it was $217 for 3300 124grn RN bullets so that's pretty darn good price also and I don't have to coat or size them, LOL When ya ad that up its a tick under $66 bucks per 1K, and for store-bought and shipped that's a darn good deal I think !
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Do you reloaders like using cast bullets , 9mm ? or prefer copper jacketed?
Yes I like cast in my 9MM.
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I really like HiTek coated lead bullets and use them a lot. Only exception is the PD 124gr JHP that I also load. Have found nothing more accurate out of my CZs, and at a good price for the quality and accuracy they give.