Hello. I started casting about 15 years ago, but haven't for the past 9 years due to accident injuries. When I was casting, it was almost exclusively for handguns. When I resume this spring, it will be exclusively for handguns.
I would cast the following: 124 gr 9mm truncated cone, 150 gr 38 wadcutter, 158 gr 38 round nose, 160 gr 38 semi wadcutter, a 210 gr 41 flat nose, and a 200 gr 45 H&G 68 SWC. I used salvaged wheel weights ... I have about 300 pounds that I bought from a local junk yard. I would cold quench what I cast.
Using my 38 wadcutter load as an example, 50 rounds using a powderpuff load of WW231, and 150 gr wadcutters, a finished box would cost me about 60 cents in material, plus my time. At that time, about 9 years ago, I saved about $8 a box, and these loads performed well out of my K38 at 20, 25, and 50 yards.
When I shot PPC with my other K38, I used a 160 gr round nose, and my material cost was about 63 cents a box. Performance wise, on the 25 yard PPC course, I was shooting a 98% average.
I found comparable performance and savings when I cast and loaded 41 and 45 bullets. I loaded the 41s more like 41 Specials as opposed to Magnums. The only time I used gas checks was when I loaded 357 Magnums.
The benefit that I kept in mind, was that I could shoot affordably when bullets got expensive. Additionally, I was/am able to trade bullets with local shooters needing bullets in exchange for either wheel weights, cash, or other items that I could use. As we have seen with the surge in prices and shortages, I have had the capability of still being able to load and shoot accurate ammo without paying exorbitant prices.
I would cast the following: 124 gr 9mm truncated cone, 150 gr 38 wadcutter, 158 gr 38 round nose, 160 gr 38 semi wadcutter, a 210 gr 41 flat nose, and a 200 gr 45 H&G 68 SWC. I used salvaged wheel weights ... I have about 300 pounds that I bought from a local junk yard. I would cold quench what I cast.
Using my 38 wadcutter load as an example, 50 rounds using a powderpuff load of WW231, and 150 gr wadcutters, a finished box would cost me about 60 cents in material, plus my time. At that time, about 9 years ago, I saved about $8 a box, and these loads performed well out of my K38 at 20, 25, and 50 yards.
When I shot PPC with my other K38, I used a 160 gr round nose, and my material cost was about 63 cents a box. Performance wise, on the 25 yard PPC course, I was shooting a 98% average.
I found comparable performance and savings when I cast and loaded 41 and 45 bullets. I loaded the 41s more like 41 Specials as opposed to Magnums. The only time I used gas checks was when I loaded 357 Magnums.
The benefit that I kept in mind, was that I could shoot affordably when bullets got expensive. Additionally, I was/am able to trade bullets with local shooters needing bullets in exchange for either wheel weights, cash, or other items that I could use. As we have seen with the surge in prices and shortages, I have had the capability of still being able to load and shoot accurate ammo without paying exorbitant prices.
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