Another reloading question

[918collector]

I wonder how heavy of a cast bullet is available for the 9x18? I can load the Lee 95 grainer without trouble but I have a whole bunch of really soft lead (sheathing lead) that was given to me and figured if I could slow the bullet down, I might could shoot some of it up without leading the barrel.
I believe standard loads are around 1000 fps which would soon leave streaks (don't ask me how I know) but if I slowed it down to about 700 fps or so, I could get away with it. Of course, if I drop the velocity too much, it might not function. I figure I could balance that out with a heavier bullet if necessary.

Anybody messed around with this?

[juniustaylor]

So far I'm seeing 95 grains is the biggest cast bullet from MidwayUSA. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=319163 I'd probably add some tin, antimony, or both to your soft lead. The only bullet casting I've done was for my .50 cal muzzleloader. I was using the same composition as the bullets listed above. 92% lead, 2% tin, 6% antimony. These are relatively hard bullets that should expand nicely rather than shattering. Then you wouldn't have to mess with slowing the bullet down and such and wondering about the pistol cycling. However, I don't see why you couldn't make a 100 grain bullet if you could find a .365" diameter mold for it.
???

[normsutton]

918collector

I use a lee mould for the 9 x 18, when casting drop the bullet into water it harden the bullet, weigh your bullets , my bullets weigh out with this lee mold about 101.8 and I get no leading even in a CZ-82 using 4 grns of W 231 or 4 grns of unique





NORM

[leadhead2]

If that lead is pure lead (soft) , droping them in water will not harden them.
The lead has to have some tin and anomony added.
Denny

[normsutton]

leadhead2

it will harden, not to the degree of tin and antimony, but it will be harden enough for the 9 x 18 at volatiles 900 fps

NORM

[anjdrifter]

I have been using the same load as (thanks )to Norm ..when casting I use old wheel weights ...I have also used pure lead which I mix with the wheel weights and not a trace of leading yet..

[918collector]

I've never been sophisticated enough to get a hardness tester but I have heard of tempering the bullets before. As they will only be lubed and not sized, it should work. I've just never done it with dead soft lead before. All the casting I've ever done for black powder was soft lead. Never saw a need for the hard stuff there.

I have a fair amount of wheelweights and was even lucky enough to find some scrap linotype but I'm hoarding that for rifle bullets.

The Lee mold is great. Never cast anything so easy in my life. No leading in any of the other 9x18s.