Lead Handgun Bullets?

[mtgianni]

Look at the labels on your old bullets. Try to match the same BHN hardness you have been happy with. This should avoid a too hard lube. I would skip over anything that says "hard cast". This is a marketing misnomer with no standard that can result in bullets that will not obturate to fill the throats and barrel. It is usually accompanied by a lube that is too hard to fill the grooves as it passes them.
Consider shooting powder coated bullets as an alternative, which can help with a too hard bullet.

 

[rockquarry]

Look at the labels on your old bullets. Try to match the same BHN hardness you have been happy with. This should avoid a too hard lube. I would skip over anything that says "hard cast". This is a marketing misnomer with no standard that can result in bullets that will not obturate to fill the throats and barrel. It is usually accompanied by a lube that is too hard to fill the grooves as it passes them.
Consider shooting powder coated bullets as an alternative, which can help with a too hard bullet.

You're right about "hard cast" that has become a fad term these days. Based on the way it's often mentioned, it's apparent few really know what it means but the words sound good to them and they feel like they know what they are talking about even if they don't.

I think years ago many of us used bullets that were much harder than necessary, especially in handgun chamberings. We quickly learned about bore leading, inaccuracy, etc.

The editor of the Cast Bullet Association magazine put it best some time back when he mentioned that the most accurate cast bullet was generally the softest bullet that would handle the load and velocity and not lead the bore.

He was speaking about cast bullet rifle loads in the context, but I've found the same advice also works for handgun cartridges. It takes some effort, sometimes a lot of effort to get everything just right, but it's worth the trouble.

 

[Roofuss]

Another vote for Rimrock Boolits. I usually buy enough to get free shipping. Seem like really good folks.

Frankie and his dad, Frank, Sr. are class people and always willing to help .
Have dealt with them for years, never any problems .

 

[cmj8591]

Casting bullets is like having a wood stove. They're great if you have a lot of free wood and lots of free time to process it. Casting is great if you have a source for scrap bullet metal and time to do it. If you have to buy metal and you don't need to cast a bullet to fit an obsolete bore, you're better off buying them.

Magnus bullets has the best swaged lead bullets. I used to load them for my bullseye 45 loads. I don't think he's selling direct these days and I don't see any of his swaged bullets for sale but you can get his hard cast stuff from Mid South.

 

[smithra_66]

I stand by NOW IS THE TIME. It is an easy area to control "Supply Issues" in both manufacturing and shipping!

Ivan

yep. The best time to start reloading/casting was 10 years ago. The 2nd best time was yesterday. If those two are unavailable, then start NOW.

It's like investing.

 

[smithra_66]

I've had an order in at Missouri for a good while. Hmmmm.

Have you guys ordered any Missouri Bullets lately? What was the turn around?

This was always my problem before I started casting. Companies would spin up then fold, and even if it was a big brand, they were always out of stock when I needed them, or there was a long wait. I can go downstairs anytime I want and be back with a couple hundred bullets in an hour or two.

I also shoot BPCR and it's pretty much impossible to not cast for that sport. There's no way you can ensure consistency in lube and hardness from batch to batch, and commercial bullets for that discipline are like 5x what it costs me to cast better quality ones!

Also when you cast your own, you can use SPG lube and holy cow is that stuff good. Leading simply doesn't exist anymore with smokeless or black, and black powder fouling simply doesn't harden.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Casting bullets is like having a wood stove. They're great if you have a lot of free wood and lots of free time to process it. Casting is great if you have a source for scrap bullet metal and time to do it. If you have to buy metal and you don't need to cast a bullet to fit an obsolete bore, you're better off buying them.

Magnus bullets has the best swaged lead bullets. I used to load them for my bullseye 45 loads. I don't think he's selling direct these days and I don't see any of his swaged bullets for sale but you can get his hard cast stuff from Mid South.

I do. I keep about a ton of WW's on hand. I cast most of my bullets between the end of deer season Jan !st and start of turkey season March 20th. Too cold to fish. So I make my bullets then. As sated above keeping a large supply of powder & primers on hand the shortages haven't crimped my shooting one bit..........I also pour my own #8 shot.......Another great cost savings.

 

[lrrifleman]

I started casting around 2000, I bought the whole setup, then a few years later I had my accident and became disabled. I have gotten back into casting, but the majority of my 9s are Glocks, so I need to powder coat them.

Honestly, if I were to go into casting today, I would go powder coating over the need to lubrisize the bullets. I've found that the setup for powder coating is maybe 30-40% of the price of a lubrisizer!

 

[rockquarry]

I started casting around 2000, I bought the whole setup, then a few years later I had my accident and became disabled. I have gotten back into casting, but the majority of my 9s are Glocks, so I need to powder coat them.

Honestly, if I were to go into casting today, I would go powder coating over the need to lubrisize the bullets. I've found that the setup for powder coating is maybe 30-40% of the price of a lubrisizer!

Maybe we get what we pay for. I use three lubrisizers, two SAECOs and a Lyman, but haven't bought one in a long time. Amortized over tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousand bullets sized and lubricated, the cost would have to be incredibly small.

I'm not familiar with powder coating bullets; may work fine, but until the cast bullet accuracy folks start using the process, I can get by fine with conventional equipment. It continues to work very well for all rifle and handgun cast bullets.

 

[tmd17]

The OP asked specifically about buying lead bullets. It has been years since I bought any bullets, clad or lead. As I shoot about 10,000 hand gun rounds per year, there is no way I could afford that much with out casting my own.

But if I HAD to buy projectiles, I would go with Bayou Bullets. A while back I traded for a batch of them to see if I wanted to switch from Powder Coat to Hi-Tek. While I decided to keep powder coating, I did find that Bayou makes quality cast bullets at a fair price.

 

[glenwolde]

Yes, casting companies come and go, but I've found that any particular cast 158gr SWC is much the same as the rest. I really haven't found a noticeable variation in accuracy. Cosmetic differences yes but that never seems to actually transfer to results on paper.

I used to cast and I still have everything I need to cast my own. I'd rather buy them and spend that time shooting. But the equipment is packed up and available if need be. I'm one of those odd people that reload to shoot and don't really enjoy reloading all that much. Not that I hate it mind you. It is interesting which is not necessarily the same as fun.

 

[Grayfox]

I appreciate all the input. I'll do some checking and place an order somewhere.
I also appreciate the suggestion, but I have no interest in casting my own. I can barely find time to reload as it is.

 

[NFrameFred]

I've used Missouri, Rimrock, Bayou and others, but mostly the last few years have been buying from ACME. Looks like they've about gone away from the usual staple to all powder coated offerings. Price wise they compare pretty good, but a bonus is they ship in nifty wooden boxes that are fastened together with square dovetail joints for strength. They seem to shoot as well as any I've tried and they test pretty good for weight consistency. Advertised at BHN 16.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Yes, casting companies come and go, but I've found that any particular cast 158gr SWC is much the same as the rest. I really haven't found a noticeable variation in accuracy. Cosmetic differences yes but that never seems to actually transfer to results on paper.

I used to cast and I still have everything I need to cast my own. I'd rather buy them and spend that time shooting. But the equipment is packed up and available if need be. I'm one of those odd people that reload to shoot and don't really enjoy reloading all that much. Not that I hate it mind you. It is interesting which is not necessarily the same as fun.

I see and honor your point.........But it beats watching TV.

 

[venomballistics]

I've used Missouri, Rimrock, Bayou and others, but mostly the last few years have been buying from ACME. Looks like they've about gone away from the usual staple to all powder coated offerings. Price wise they compare pretty good, but a bonus is they ship in nifty wooden boxes that are fastened together with square dovetail joints for strength. They seem to shoot as well as any I've tried and they test pretty good for weight consistency. Advertised at BHN 16.

I've used them from time to time.
The boxes are a cool gimmick

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Guys, please get back on topic. The OP isn't asking anything about casting bullets so we don't need to discuss that in this thread.

Give the OP suggestions on where to buy and why. Thank you...

 

[Model19man]

I've been using Jerry's mostly because he is right around the corner from my house. But his powder coated SWC's are great and reasonable too.

Reloading Supplies, Reloading Equipment - Jerrys Reloading - Tulsa, Ok

 

[Ken6PPC]

I have used a LOT of bullets from this manufacturer, and I can't recommend them highly enough!
The Blue Bullets

 

[BC38]

Another vote for Summers Enterprises! Donny is a class act.

Add one more vote for Donny. I've ordered from him several times and never been disappointed. He sells both traditionally lubed lead, and Hi-Tek powder-coated bullets, and his prices are as good or better than I have seen anywhere else. Unfortunately he only offers the most common calibers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Add one more vote for Donny. I've ordered from him several times and never been disappointed. He sells both traditionally lubed lead, and Hi-Tek powder-coated bullets, and his prices are as good or better than I have seen anywhere else. Unfortunately he only offers the most common calibers.

I have no doubt they make good bullets but their prices are within 50¢ to $1 of that from Missouri Bullets. I just checked Summers Enterprises and they are only offering 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP bullets right now. Missouri Bullets is offering 17 different calibers both lead and Hi-Tek coated bullets.

I have no affiliation with them, I'm just a satisfied customer for years now ever since they started selling bullets.