Hard cast bullets are not "lead" bullets.

[DadSmith]

Hard Cast Bullets in Polygonal Barrels

Hard Cast Bullets in Polygonal Barrels

www.buffalobore.com

After you read this understand that coated hard cast bullets can be fired at fmj velocity in your handguns. In fact I took a fmj 115gr 9mm and a hard cast 16 BNH 115gr 9mm took a hammer to both the fmj flattened out much more than the hard cast and with less hits. Fmj are filled with soft lead not hard cast alloy.

 

[76Too]

I guess I need to read the article, but I admittedly always thought hard cast meant water dropped lead cast.

I’ve been wrong before though, I’m sure of it.

 

[dennismassie]

I believe that "hard cast" refers to the amount of tin and/or linotype (high tin content) added to the alloy. The higher the tin content, the harder the alloy. Water-dropping increases the hardness very little in comparison to the addition of tin to the melt.

 

[Michigan Slim]

For truly hard cast bullets you need both tin and antimony. Both are found in linotype. For water quenching to be of any effect at all you need that antimony. You may also see a shrinkage of 0.001" with the water drop. For the hardest bullets (boolits!) I use straight linotype. These are for my M1 carbine, my .30-30s, .38-55s and my 45-70s. For most others I just use straight wheel weight alloy. 9mm is special and gets a little harder alloy but not straight lino.

 

[DadSmith]

Hard cast is actually an alloy and it is not pure lead. Antimony and tin is what makes it harder as Slim said. For Magnums I'd live to find some at 21bnh. Coated with hi tech coating and 16bnh I'm able to load to normal fmj velocity without lead fouling.

 

[55fairlane]

No need to gas check hard cast?

 

[Michigan Slim]

No need to gas check hard cast?

Not at pistol velocities. You can for the magnums and run at higher velocities. My .30-30 and .30 carbine bullets are gas checked and ALOX lubed.