Reloading ammo for the HK USP.

reg440 · January 12th, 2005, 11:51 PM

I have a HK USP .45 and I want to reload my own ammo for
target and general plinking. I was going to use Speer 200gr.
lead SWC. I was told these lead bullets will cause excessive
fouling in this style barrel. Is this true? Is it safe? Any input
would be appreciated.

The Tourist · January 13th, 2005, 12:30 PM

If the package says \'swaged'on it, then theres a good chance the bullets will lead the barrel.

Swaged bullets are made from soft lead wire which is fed through a machine that wallops the bullet design like a cookie cutter.

I cast my own bullets. I use old truck wheels weights with arsenic or antimony in their construction and add tin or solder. I keep a bucket of ice between my knees and drop the sprue onto the table, and then drop the bullets into the ice.

I drive my 429421 (the \'no gas check'profile) slugs fairly fast through a SW 629-5, and I get minimum leading which cleans out easily with a jag of Nevr-Dull.

BTW, I shoot the same 200 grain profile you do in my USP SW .40 which was initially purchased for my Bren Ten. It is the Hensley & Gibbs 4-ganger truncated cone profile.

Bud White · January 13th, 2005, 05:37 PM

I have not had anyluck shooting lead though my 45 usp to much leading even with hard cast bullets so i just shoot jacketed out of it now.

Hk does advise against lead bullets also

silvercorvette · January 13th, 2005, 07:09 PM

I remember reading somewhere the you should never use lead bullets in guns with a barrel that has Polygonal bore. I think that many of problems with Glocks going Ka Boom is the Polygonal bore. From what I can remember (I read this a long time ago) if you do use lead make sure you keep the bore clean otherwise Ka boom. Don\'t trust my word on this because I read about it a few years ago and my memory could be faulty.

Bud White · January 13th, 2005, 07:15 PM

silvercorvette your right this is the problem with a lot of Kb\'s in the earlydays in glocks the polygonal rifling strips more lead off than a std rifled barrel ... Thats why they say no loed in them you have to stay on top of it..

i shot hard cast bullets i had cast and used in my 1911 and my ruger with no probs in 15 rounds the barrel was leaded bad in HK ... In the other guns you couldnt even tell

reg440 · January 13th, 2005, 09:23 PM

Thanks for the input guys. My mind has been made up, to avoid any
problems I think I will just stick to the jacketed bullets.

rocky · January 22nd, 2005, 11:11 PM

No problems with my .40 USP and lead bullets. Have shot over 300 rnds. so far. I do clean my gun after each time of use, so it may make all the diffrence.

Sheldon J · January 24th, 2005, 07:50 PM

I've been shooting a 200 gn SWC now for 2 years with no problem, but the bullets I buy have a very high silver content,(real shiny) and are there fore very hard. A local guy casts them N buys his lead from a silver mine in 40,000 lb lots. The only dirty part is my Unique powder that I use, I understad the new stuff is graphite free and cleaner shooting, I plan on getting some after I use up the 8 lbs I have now. PS aren't the HK's great they will cycle anything.

Bud White · January 24th, 2005, 07:57 PM

I know some people get deals must be a local thin but with it only costing me 2-3$ more for FMJ's ill stick with them .. Except in a wheelie i love heavy cast but there a outragous price anymore.

rocky · January 25th, 2005, 11:47 AM

Love my HK USP . Had it since 93' and no problems. I found the Unique powder does smoke a bit. Got some Titegroup to try once the Unique is gone.

January 12th, 2005, 11:51 PM	#1
reg440 New Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: WI Posts: 10	Reloading ammo for the HK USP. I have a HK USP .45 and I want to reload my own ammo for target and general plinking. I was going to use Speer 200gr. lead SWC. I was told these lead bullets will cause excessive fouling in this style barrel. Is this true? Is it safe? Any input would be appreciated.

January 24th, 2005, 07:50 PM	#8
Sheldon J Distinguished Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Battle Creek, Mi. Posts: 1,649	I've been shooting a 200 gn SWC now for 2 years with no problem, but the bullets I buy have a very high silver content,(real shiny) and are there fore very hard. A local guy casts them N buys his lead from a silver mine in 40,000 lb lots. The only dirty part is my Unique powder that I use, I understad the new stuff is graphite free and cleaner shooting, I plan on getting some after I use up the 8 lbs I have now. PS aren't the HK's great they will cycle anything. __________________ "The sword dose not cause the murder, and the maker of the sword dose not bear sin" Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac 11th century

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January 13th, 2005, 12:30 PM	#2
The Tourist Former Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 693	If the package says \'swaged'on it, then theres a good chance the bullets will lead the barrel. Swaged bullets are made from soft lead wire which is fed through a machine that wallops the bullet design like a cookie cutter. I cast my own bullets. I use old truck wheels weights with arsenic or antimony in their construction and add tin or solder. I keep a bucket of ice between my knees and drop the sprue onto the table, and then drop the bullets into the ice. I drive my 429421 (the \'no gas check'profile) slugs fairly fast through a SW 629-5, and I get minimum leading which cleans out easily with a jag of Nevr-Dull. BTW, I shoot the same 200 grain profile you do in my USP SW .40 which was initially purchased for my Bren Ten. It is the Hensley & Gibbs 4-ganger truncated cone profile.

January 13th, 2005, 05:37 PM	#3
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	I have not had anyluck shooting lead though my 45 usp to much leading even with hard cast bullets so i just shoot jacketed out of it now. Hk does advise against lead bullets also

January 13th, 2005, 07:09 PM	#4
silvercorvette Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 128	I remember reading somewhere the you should never use lead bullets in guns with a barrel that has Polygonal bore. I think that many of problems with Glocks going Ka Boom is the Polygonal bore. From what I can remember (I read this a long time ago) if you do use lead make sure you keep the bore clean otherwise Ka boom. Don\'t trust my word on this because I read about it a few years ago and my memory could be faulty.

January 13th, 2005, 07:15 PM	#5
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	silvercorvette your right this is the problem with a lot of Kb\'s in the earlydays in glocks the polygonal rifling strips more lead off than a std rifled barrel ... Thats why they say no loed in them you have to stay on top of it.. i shot hard cast bullets i had cast and used in my 1911 and my ruger with no probs in 15 rounds the barrel was leaded bad in HK ... In the other guns you couldnt even tell

January 13th, 2005, 09:23 PM	#6
reg440 New Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: WI Posts: 10	Thanks for the input guys. My mind has been made up, to avoid any problems I think I will just stick to the jacketed bullets.

January 22nd, 2005, 11:11 PM	#7
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 11,327	No problems with my .40 USP and lead bullets. Have shot over 300 rnds. so far. I do clean my gun after each time of use, so it may make all the diffrence.

January 24th, 2005, 07:57 PM	#9
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	I know some people get deals must be a local thin but with it only costing me 2-3$ more for FMJ's ill stick with them .. Except in a wheelie i love heavy cast but there a outragous price anymore.

January 25th, 2005, 11:47 AM	#10
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 11,327	Love my HK USP . Had it since 93' and no problems. I found the Unique powder does smoke a bit. Got some Titegroup to try once the Unique is gone.