9mm: Who uses cast bullets ?

[JD Miller]

Do you reloaders like using cast bullets , 9mm ? or prefer copper jacketed?

[Crawl]

Coated lead is the thing right now for a LOT of guys. Blue Bullets, Precision Bullets, Acme Bullets

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[Earl Keese]

I load coated 135rn, .357 diameter. Lots of em. . .

[DWARREN]

I load a lot of coated 9mm bullets. So far they are just fine.

[M1A4ME]

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.

[Wobbly]

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.

 

[Earl Keese]

I load coated for use in Steel Challenge matches. Cheap, plenty accurate enough and safer than jacketed when shooting steel at closer distances.

[tde44]

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.

[Dan_69GTX]

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.

[JD Miller]

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

[Bossgobbler]

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.

[nettle]

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.

[m1a_scoutguy]

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!

[nettle]

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.

[SharpShooterNJ]

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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