Ok, I am trying to figure out if a 125g polymer coated lead SWC, 18BHN, will function well in my gun. It is a 5th gen with a cut barrel, not polygonal, so it should grab the rifling fine, I was just not sure how well SWC's would cycle in a semi auto.
backstory, I have been reloading for over 12yrs, 9mm, 45acp, 223, 30-06. I have only used copper jacketed or plated bullets with 1 exception. I tried some non coated 230g lubed lead bullets for my 45acp over 10yrs back with terrible results. No idea on the hardness. I had major problems trying to seat the bullets, even after flaring the case mouth. I kept mangling the bullets, shaving off pieces of lead on the case and leaving dents or rings on the bullets. I also got my dies stuck a couple times when lead shavings got inside. Needless to say I stuck to jacketed and plated bullets after that.
Currently with there being a shortage I have to take what I can find and am trying to decide whether to mess with lead in general and specifically these lead SWC bullets I found, or if I should save my money and wait until I can find some of what I normally use.
backstory, I have been reloading for over 12yrs, 9mm, 45acp, 223, 30-06. I have only used copper jacketed or plated bullets with 1 exception. I tried some non coated 230g lubed lead bullets for my 45acp over 10yrs back with terrible results. No idea on the hardness. I had major problems trying to seat the bullets, even after flaring the case mouth. I kept mangling the bullets, shaving off pieces of lead on the case and leaving dents or rings on the bullets. I also got my dies stuck a couple times when lead shavings got inside. Needless to say I stuck to jacketed and plated bullets after that.
Currently with there being a shortage I have to take what I can find and am trying to decide whether to mess with lead in general and specifically these lead SWC bullets I found, or if I should save my money and wait until I can find some of what I normally use.