cast bullets in my HK USP

nedfig

New member
Is it ok to shoot lead bullets in my USP .45? I'm fixin to start reloading for it and I want the ammo to be CHEAP.

Any suggestions?
 
Stay away from the lead. Not good for the polygonal barrel. Stick w/ the copper tops, you'll be better off. Little bit more but NO HEADACHES down the road.
 
I have experience with polygonal rifling in 9MM

Berry's Copper plated bullets are great in the polygonal rifling in my Glock, excellent accuracy, and they cost $42.00 per thousand in my area at my local gun shop. This is $7 per thousand more than hardcast lead. I use 4.0 grains of titegroup federal 100 primer for about 1000 fps, and no fouling or smoke from my glock. My beretta also likes this load, and hates lead (major fouling). I shot lead once in my glock, after 50 rounds it had 2 rings of fouling; one mid barrel and one at the muzzle end. It took alot of scrubbling to get it out. The ring mid barrel was so thick that it obscured the rifling.

Note this is 9mm but should work well in .45 ACP I think they are about $5-10 more than the 9mm bullets.
 
Lead bullets can safely be used in polygonal barrels with a couple of precautions. First, you must use hard-cast lead bullets at velocities under 1,000 fps. Second, you must institute a rigid regimen of inspection and cleaning of the barrel to insure that there is no lead buildup in the chamber or bore. With that warning stated, there are many USP users who have safely fired thousands of lead bullets through their pistols.
 
I use lead bullets in all my pistols including Glocks. I do not keep my velocity under 1,000 fps. I make sure that the bullet fits the barrel and that I use a good lube such as 50/50 alox. I clean my barrel after every shooting session. I get only minumal leading and accuracy that is every bit as good as jacketed bullets. Lead is much easier to remove than copper fouling from the bore of a barrel. Just do not let the lead build up in your pistol's barrel. Every year there are millions of lead reloads fired through 1911 target guns with little or no problems. If you are apprehesive about firing lead through a polygonal barrel buy a 1911 and you can shoot all the lead through it you wish. W.R.
 
Although I would like to have a 1911, that wouldn't be condusive to the CHEAP requirement.

Thanks for all the info. I think I'll try 100 or so and see how it goes.
 
I have a USP 45 full size and have put a lot of lead reloads through it. I usually only shoot about 100 at a time, and then clean when I get home. Never had a problem with lead build up as far as I could tell. I use 200 grn. SWC, pushed out at about 700 fps. Pretty tame load, but works well and seems to be accurate enough. I wouldn't worry about, just as long as you clean your barrel regularly.
 
:)

I would have to agree with Kermit. That's one expensive piece of equipment you have there. Shooting lead thru it may not be the proper thing to do (may void its warranty and such).

Good day! :)
 
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