RE: Is it just my imagination, or are cast bullets way dirtier than factory ammo?
By dirty it sounds like you mean carbon fouled. Usually people use faster powders with cast, than jacketed, and alot of the faster powders can be dirty. For instance, my 44 mag 240gr cast load is 10gr of Unique. Dirty as all get out. My 240gr XTP load is 23.5gr of H110. Usually a very clean load.