Why are lead bullets lubed?
What does bullet lube do? I’ll bet most of you answered that bullet lube lubricates the passage of the bullet down a rifled bore, to eliminate galling of a soft metal as it traverses a hard metal cutting edge.
How hard should lead be for bullets?
Pure lead has a Brinell hardness # of about 4. Most hard cast bullets will have a Brinell hardness # of 11 to 30 and as such are several times harder than lead. Hard cast bullets can be alloyed and designed for hunting large and dangerous game where deep penetration is needed – a lead bullet cannot be used this way.
Is it safe to cast lead bullets?
👉 For more insights, check out this resource.
Just like handloading, bullet casting is as safe or as dangerous as you make it. Bullet casting inherently involves hot metal, both the molten alloy that we fashion bullets from and the hot moulds and lead pots. Even very small splashes of molten lead can cause nasty burns and leather does wonders for preventing them.
What are hard cast lead bullets?
There are swaged and cast lead bullets. Swaged bullets are usually coated and can be easily manufactured with a hollow point. Hard cast bullets are a lead alloy with tin and antimon added for hardness.
👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.
Why do cast bullets have grooves?
this is done to relieve pressure by reducing bearing surface. So, those grooves are considered pressure relief grooves, not lube grooves, but there is no reason those grooves could not carry lube as hard cast bullets do.
What is a soft lead bullet?
Soft-point bullets expose the soft lead-alloy core on the forward part of the bullet most likely to be deformed when striking a target. A core of pure lead is softer than a core of lead alloyed with metals like antimony and tin.
Are hard cast bullets bad for your gun?
If a bullet is too hard and driven at slow speeds, it may not bump up, seal the bore and could lead the barrel. Especially if it is on the small side for the bore. A too soft bullet that is driven too fast can also lead the bore.
Can you get lead poisoning from making bullets?
Although fewer than 100 cases of lead poisoning from bullet fragments have been reported, cases are likely to be underreported. Symptoms can be mild and non-specific. Unless a patient is potentially exposed to lead through their occupation, they are unlikely to have their blood lead levels tested.
What is the best lead for casting bullets?
One of the hardest and most accurate alloys for casting bullets is linotype metal, which is 4 percent tin and about 11 percent antimony. It can be bought at some print shops or as scrap. It is usually a good bit more expensive than scrap lead, but it makes great bullets if you want top accuracy.
Should I lube my bullets?
The lube does several things; 1) makes it easier to seat the bullet, 2) less chance of scratching or damaging the bullet, 3) produce a more consistent seating depth as seating pressure is more uniform, 4) provides a more even release of the bullet when fired, which helps to keep the bullet aligned to the barrel.
