My name is George Miller, owner of KEAD Bullets.  KEAD has been in business since 1983.   There are a number of quality bullet casters in the US.   Using a good quality cast bullet will allow a person who is reloading pistol ammo is save a large amount of money if that reloader uses a lot of ammo - for example - competition shooters (IPSC, IDPA, Steel, etc.)

If you rarely shoot your handgun, stay with factory ammo.   If you shoot at indoor ranges most of the time, stay with jacketed or plated bullets.  The reason for that ?  It's the bullet lube on the cast bullets that smokes.  If you are in competition at an indoor range with lots of other folks, smoke is bad........  On the other hand, if you are the only one at an indoor range, smoke is no big deal.

What about the cost ?  Jacketed usually costs the most.  Plated is next.  Hard cast lead next.  And soft cast lead is cheapest.  Stay away from soft cast lead bullets - UNLESS you are into serious Cowboy Action shooting.  Those folks run at about 600 fps.  They need a very soft bullet.  On the other hand, the folks running 950+ fps need a very hard cast lead, plated, or jacketed bullet.

Alloys ?   The 2% tin, 6% antimony is a standard bullet alloy.  This 2/6 is good for most bullets (45 acp, 38 special, etc).  But, the Glocks will have a problem running the 2/6 in standard Glock barrels.  Glock has been saying "NO LEAD."  OK, I have about 25000 of my lead bullets thru my Glock 19 - no problems.  I can run my hard alloy (2/8 - that's 8% antimony) or any other company's lead bullet in my factory Glock - that is, if their bullet is at least a 2/8 alloy.  And, there are casting companies that produce hard bullets.

But, be careful when shopping.  Just because someone says "Hard Cast".........   Find out how "hard cast."  They might regard a 2/6 as hard cast.  OK, but not hard enough for a Glock........

The only reason that I bring up the Glock is that there are so many of them in this area - Dallas-Ft. Worth.  Many of the PD's and Sheriff's issue them or their officers like them.  And, many of the local shooters (and reloaders) run the Glock.  So, as a manufacturer, I needed something - a hard alloy (2/8) in this case - that my customers with Glocks would use in large numbers.

More later.  Be safe and have fun.