Lead Handgun Bullets?

[BC38]

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.

That's good info. I had no idea Missouri Bullets was so close the being the same price. I haven't bought any in quite a while, but I know Summers used to be significantly less than pretty much anybody else I could find. Sounds like that isn't the case anymore.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's good info. I had no idea Missouri Bullets was so close the being the same price. I haven't bought any in quite a while, but I know Summers used to be significantly less than pretty much anybody else I could find. Sounds like that isn't the case anymore.

I didn't check them all but I did check the 44 Magnum SWC bullets and MB was on 50¢ more for the lot of 500 bullets.

 

[78bagger]

I shoot a lot of SNS Casting bullets. All my range ammo in 38 spl and 357 is 158 g SWC Hy-tek coated with a 16-17 Brinell. Never had an issue and, while I haven't ordered any this year, they were always prompt with delivery. I thought of myself as the mailman's personal trainer.

 

[smithra_66]

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.

and I'm even lower volume than that. I just pan lube my bullets and then use the Lee sizers. Takes longer but even less cost for people who want to get into it easily.

 

[smithra_66]

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...

Sometimes in a thread, however, there may be other options that the OP didn't think of. It's okay if the topic goes to that. It's a benefit for the whole audience.

 

[old tanker]

Another vote for Matt's Bullets. Most especially if you are looking to load for your Webley in .455 or BSR in .38-200.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I've been casting bullets for over 40 years, and much prefer my home cast bullets to most commercial. I have traded into some commercially cast bullets, and even bought a few hundred here and there over the years when for whatever reason it wasn't convenient to cast. I've had good results with Missouri Bullet Co, Redline Bullets, and maybe another one or two I'm not remembering at the moment. My main complaint is that most commercially cast bullets use a beveled base mold for speed and ease of casting, and I just don't like them as well as a flat based bullet.

 

[BC38]

I've been casting bullets for over 40 years, and much prefer my home cast bullets to most commercial. I have traded into some commercially cast bullets, and even bought a few hundred here and there over the years when for whatever reason it wasn't convenient to cast. I've had good results with Missouri Bullet Co, Redline Bullets, and maybe another one or two I'm not remembering at the moment. My main complaint is that most commercially cast bullets use a beveled base mold for speed and ease of casting, and I just don't like them as well as a flat based bullet.

Just curious, but why do you prefer flat based bullets? Seems to me like a very slight bevel around the bottom edge would help with centering/seating and reduce the possibility of shaving lead off the bullet in the seating process.

 

[rockquarry]

When you run a bevel base bullet through a lubrisizer, the bevel base doesn't provide a flat seal when it bottoms out in the lubrisizer. This leaves a messy lube ring on the beveled area. Unless you're loading on expensive, fast, motorized loading equipment, there is no advantage to bevel based bullets.

On regular loading equipment, bevel based bullets are no easier or more difficult to load than a flat based bullet. Unless a flat based version of a bullet design in unavailable, most bullet casters won't buy a bevel based design. As for accuracy, there is no difference between the two designs.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I'm just an old graduate of the school of Elmer Keith.

 

[BC38]

I didn't check them all but I did check the 44 Magnum SWC bullets and MB was on 50¢ more for the lot of 500 bullets.

You might want to take another look. Summers doesn't have near as wide a variety of bullets to offer, but they are anywhere from 1.5 cents to 2.3 cents cheaper per round for all of their comparable offerings (same weights within 5 grains or less).
And the biggest savings was on a 500 count box of 240gr coated bullets. (?)
See the table below to compare prices.

 

[Tex1001]

On regular loading equipment, bevel based bullets are no easier or more difficult to load than a flat based bullet. Unless a flat based version of a bullet design in unavailable, most bullet casters won't buy a bevel based design. As for accuracy, there is no difference between the two designs.

I've found that some commercial bevel base bullets lend
themselves well to adding a gas check.

 

[rockquarry]

I've found that some commercial bevel base bullets lend
themselves well to adding a gas check.

I can seen how this might be possible, but I'd be concerned with base distortion unless really done carefully. Out of dozens of moulds, I think I have fewer than five with a bevel base design. I don't recall any of these that a gas check would work well on, though they could be crimped on during the sizing stage - more of a stunt than something useful.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sometimes in a thread, however, there may be other options that the OP didn't think of. It's okay if the topic goes to that. It's a benefit for the whole audience.

That may be true but that's not your choice.
The management of this forum asks us not to go off topic.
There is an infraction for Off Topic which carries 1 point.
Of course these slight OT posts don't rise to that infraction but it is still requested we stay on topic and try to answer the question the OP asked about.

I'm fairly sure the OP would have asked about setting up for casting if that was his intention.
Thank you...

 

[Harrison]

I have had really good results with Bayou Bullets. HyTek coated, never had a leading problem.

For tother cast lead bullets I have used Rim Rock or Western

I have used nothing but coated Bayou Bullets for the past five years. They shoot great, no lubricant smoke and no barrel leading. Also you can get them in different colors. I highly recommend them. They ship promptly.

 

[growr]

One that has not been mentioned yet is Chey-Cast Bullets in Cheyenne Wyoming. Outstanding performance and quality!

Randy

 

[Nevada Ed]

I still like lead bullets for my 38 and 357 revolvers, when I find a good deal
and can stock up.

I don't shoot lead in my pistols but have moved to 9mm coated,
for a cheap target load that does not lead my barrels, for my practice and chrony times.

 

[orionengnr]

When I started reloading, I bought whatever I could find, mostly at gun shows. As I branched out, I bought a few boxes of Penn Bullets and a ew others I cannot remember.
Since then, I have been buying Missouri Bullets exclusively. Good folks, good selection, great product.

 

[BillBro]

Stateline Bullets, Matts Bullets, Rimrock, Western Bullets, GT Bullets ( if youre not in a hurry). These are where I buy from, all safe bets.

 

[Norman77]

I got into casting even before the license of purchase for my first two handguns arrived. It was a long waiting, a year in total. Well, when i finally got them, i had 50+ pounds of wadcutters, 158 SWC and 9 mm truncated cones ready to go. Out of a 6 cavity tumble lube mold, you can churn them out by the truckton. Casting is a nice, relaxing activity. Working up rangescrap can get a bit messy (see pic).

However, for the Ruger No. 1 i got a box of commercial lead bullets, from the Missouri bullet company. They made their way from the over the pond to Germany.
Good stuff.