Best Bullets for Reloading

[oddshooter]

If I'm not trying to ring out tiny little groups testing my handloading efforts, I mostly plink cans and steel gongs.

I'm frugal, so I look for the least expense to produce plinker rounds that can make steel sing. When buying, I spend from $.08 to $.12 for cast lead. Plated can hit $.20 per bullet. Jacketed can sell for $.25 and up.

New brass is the most expensive component $.25, but it can be scrounged or be reused a dozen times $.02? Primers and powders are used and lost $.10?
Unless you collect lead and then cast your bullets, be prepared to have bullets as your biggest expense per round. Sized correctly for your gun's dimensions; cast lead, whether you do casting or someone else does it, is your best pricing.

These are guesstimates, but reasonably close.

"Best" bullet is a question you can only ask for ONE gun. Even in one caliber from one manufacturer; chambers are different sizes, barrel grove diameters are different. There is no way one bullet will fit all the guns out there if you are looking for consistency and accuracy. Sorry about the answer, but I don't think you can buy a bulk order of one bullet unless you are willing to take groups of 4" to 8" at 25 yards. Most shooters like under 2" and some like me want under 1" group. That's why I handload. Testing is required to determine Best.


Prescut

 

[Lowa]

I really don't care who makes it, cast lead works most of the time.

If I need better bullets, I get Hornady XTP or I order from Matt's Bullets.

Cast are easier to load, have better loads, and cost less.

I only reload for revolvers, never 9mm. Save the time, save the money, make them 44 instead. 50 44s should cost you about as much as factory 9mm, yes? Better cost savings, better use of reloading time and components. More fun, anyway.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I cast my own bullets for everything I shoot/own. From 22 hornet to 45/110 and everything in between!

Same here. from .32 to 45-70 and everything in between.

 

[glenwolde]

I pretty much shoot only poly-coated lead bullets. For the most part these are time-tested designs that are as accurate as any jacketed bullet at less cost. I have the equipment to cast my own but it is time consuming. I prefer to buy my cast bullets. I've had many suppliers go out of business on me. If your source goes out of business it's not a problem to find the same bullet from someone else.

My current suppliers of bullets are SNS, Acme, or Brazos Precision. Acme has wonderful packaging and I like their designs without lube grooves but they are probably the most expensive. Brazos is the cheapest but they sell by the pound so the quantities are odd. But all three make fine bullets.

The ability to always find cast bullets of the same design is important to me. I don't like constantly changing ammunition. I've been shooting 158 gr LSWC with 4.0 gr of W231 in .38 Special for 45 years.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

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The ability to always find cast bullets of the same design is important to me. I don't like constantly changing ammunition. I've been shooting 158 gr LSWC with 4.0 gr of W231 in .38 Special for 45 years.

That is my favorite LSWC .38 Special load hands down and one of my 3 best loads!

The other two are loaded with 148gr WC bullets.
148gr DEWC over 3.4gr W231
148gr HBWC over 3.2gr W231

 

[CH4]

Mostly all used for plinking, so whatever I find cheapest. I do have Speer Gold Dots and Hornady XTPs in the common calibers for self defense loads.

 

[growr]

The very BEST bullet are ones that you actually have on hand.
Randy