Cast lead cycling in the AR

RabidPitWeasle · 04-13-2008, 08:43 PM

Picked up about 5000rds of .223 at an auction Sat and about 1/4 of it is cast lead bullets. I'm trying to decide if shooting these though my AR's is going to work,crud build up, cycling probs?
Never seen cast lead loaded .223 befor, some of this ammo looks deadly

jerry · 04-13-2008, 08:47 PM

At the pressure an AR needs to function, I'd think that the projectile would be moving too fast causing leading. It may also shave off and clog the gas system. Just thinking out loud.

Mooseman684 · 04-13-2008, 09:14 PM

Pull a bullet and see if they were cast with Gas checks !!!
Rich

RabidPitWeasle · 04-13-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

Pull a bullet and see if they were cast with Gas checks !!!
Rich

Yes some do, and are marked I'm guessing thats a good thing. Heres a pic of a few rounds

Mooseman684 · 04-13-2008, 09:31 PM

Gas checks will help, but you will still get some leading unless they are a very Hard composition...I wonder about the color coding...any clues ?

RabidPitWeasle · 04-13-2008, 09:35 PM

Color codes were for the diff bullet weight, style and powder. I got LOTS of diff styles of bullets, very cool only paid $90 for the whole lot. Got lucky

Mooseman684 · 04-13-2008, 09:42 PM

90 bucks for 5000 rounds....Thats as good as me getting that 1897 Winchester Shotgun for 10 Bucks Yesterday !!!
YOU scored even if you dispose of all the lead ammo...
Rich

RabidPitWeasle · 04-13-2008, 09:51 PM

I bid and didnt reilize how much I snagged, also got about the same amount in 9mm in all sorts of configurations for about twice the price . Still was a good day, of course I had to wait all day for what I was eyeballin, sale started at 10:00am-7:00pm I was there till the end.

Beer Forever · 04-13-2008, 10:23 PM

I would not shoot cast lead in an AR, no way. That is just me.

at4rxj · 04-13-2008, 10:59 PM

pull the bullets and use the brass/poweder/primers

you use the bullets for fishing weights

big boomer · 04-13-2008, 11:07 PM

Do you have a bolt gun too that you can shoot the lead in otherwise pull the bullets and reload the brass with the right stuff.

lefty o · 04-14-2008, 02:17 PM

i wouldnt use lead in a gas gun, plus firing others peoples reloads make me very nervous!

GlockMeister · 04-14-2008, 02:22 PM

I think I'll agree with what LeftyO just said.

wunhunglo · 04-14-2008, 02:34 PM

No way would I fire reloads bought at an auction, I won't even fire my buddies' reloads. Do the sensible thing and pull all the reloads.

Little note: When our handguns & semi auto rifles were confiscated by the government, we were paid so much for every live round; everyone I know was reloading like mad to claim as much cash as possible. We loaded all sorts of crap with any powder possible, any charge weight, any bullet, sized or not, some with no powder, just in case the police had any intention of keeping any of our ammo for themselves!! I hope you haven't picked up some old Brit stuff???

DWARREN123 · 04-14-2008, 04:52 PM

The main thinking is not to use lead in a firearm that uses gas to operate it, lead can get into the gas hole in the barrel and cause problems.
Never fire reloads you don't have perfect comfidence in.

RabidPitWeasle · 04-14-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big boomer

Do you have a bolt gun too that you can shoot the lead in otherwise pull the bullets and reload the brass with the right stuff.

One gun I dont have is a .223 bolt, but now I got a good reason to go buy one.

The guy who reloaded was very careful marking all the batches of ammo. He did it right and put alot of time into his hobby.

Still I'll agree with you guys that running lead through an AR is not a good idea, I'm so picky about my guns anyway.

thanks

04-13-2008, 08:43 PM	#1
RabidPitWeasle Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NorthDakota Posts: 83 Trader Rating: (0)	Cast lead cycling in the AR Picked up about 5000rds of .223 at an auction Sat and about 1/4 of it is cast lead bullets. I'm trying to decide if shooting these though my AR's is going to work,crud build up, cycling probs? Never seen cast lead loaded .223 befor, some of this ammo looks deadly

04-13-2008, 09:14 PM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,200 Trader Rating: (0)	Pull a bullet and see if they were cast with Gas checks !!! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-13-2008, 09:31 PM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,200 Trader Rating: (0)	Gas checks will help, but you will still get some leading unless they are a very Hard composition...I wonder about the color coding...any clues ? __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-13-2008, 09:42 PM	#7
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,200 Trader Rating: (0)	90 bucks for 5000 rounds....Thats as good as me getting that 1897 Winchester Shotgun for 10 Bucks Yesterday !!! YOU scored even if you dispose of all the lead ammo... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-13-2008, 10:23 PM	#9
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,694 Trader Rating: (0)	I would not shoot cast lead in an AR, no way. That is just me. __________________ Paramedic sks forever

04-13-2008, 08:47 PM	#2
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,759 Trader Rating: (0)	At the pressure an AR needs to function, I'd think that the projectile would be moving too fast causing leading. It may also shave off and clog the gas system. Just thinking out loud.

04-13-2008, 09:35 PM	#6
RabidPitWeasle Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NorthDakota Posts: 83 Trader Rating: (0)	Color codes were for the diff bullet weight, style and powder. I got LOTS of diff styles of bullets, very cool only paid $90 for the whole lot. Got lucky

04-13-2008, 09:51 PM	#8
RabidPitWeasle Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NorthDakota Posts: 83 Trader Rating: (0)	I bid and didnt reilize how much I snagged, also got about the same amount in 9mm in all sorts of configurations for about twice the price . Still was a good day, of course I had to wait all day for what I was eyeballin, sale started at 10:00am-7:00pm I was there till the end.

04-13-2008, 10:59 PM	#10
at4rxj Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802 Trader Rating: (0)	pull the bullets and use the brass/poweder/primers you use the bullets for fishing weights __________________ modulARweapons.com

04-13-2008, 11:07 PM	#11
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 721 Trader Rating: (0)	Do you have a bolt gun too that you can shoot the lead in otherwise pull the bullets and reload the brass with the right stuff.

04-14-2008, 02:17 PM	#12
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,672 Trader Rating: (0)	i wouldnt use lead in a gas gun, plus firing others peoples reloads make me very nervous!

04-14-2008, 02:22 PM	#13
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,882 Trader Rating: (0)	I think I'll agree with what LeftyO just said. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

04-14-2008, 02:34 PM	#14
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,309 Trader Rating: (0)	No way would I fire reloads bought at an auction, I won't even fire my buddies' reloads. Do the sensible thing and pull all the reloads. Little note: When our handguns & semi auto rifles were confiscated by the government, we were paid so much for every live round; everyone I know was reloading like mad to claim as much cash as possible. We loaded all sorts of crap with any powder possible, any charge weight, any bullet, sized or not, some with no powder, just in case the police had any intention of keeping any of our ammo for themselves!! I hope you haven't picked up some old Brit stuff???

04-14-2008, 04:52 PM	#15
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 735 Trader Rating: (0)	The main thinking is not to use lead in a firearm that uses gas to operate it, lead can get into the gas hole in the barrel and cause problems. Never fire reloads you don't have perfect comfidence in. __________________ Have a nice day!