Okay, so it's cast bullets

[rwsmith]

After shopping for rifle bullets and seeing nothing but 'Out Of Stock And Don't Know If We Will Ever Get Them' notices I ordered some cast bullets from an outfit that says that they can get them to me in a couple of months. I've avoided cast rifle bullets but fortunately, I've been using reduced loads so maybe I won't have to use the Lewis Lead Cleaner-Outer too much. As long as they are available I don't want to invest into casting, but I may be backed into that corner yet. Does anybody think they will be getting into casting to bypass this shortage business?

 

[Argonnakid]

I have been thinking this one over for awhile now. I have been watching a ton of videos on youtube about it and the process does seems to fairly simple. I am just concerned about getting the alloy's and such at the right precentages. I have not done any casting at all. But I'm sure if and when I do get into it, if I have any questions, I could ask them here on the forum. I would like to try casting .308 and 9mm to start with.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been casting for decades. But not to avoid shortages, Originally it was to shoot more on the money that I had

Today it is because I want projectiles that do not exist commercially.

Be patient. Shortages are always temporary. Just start buying larger quantities and keep a 6 month supply on the shelf at all times. Leave stuff on back order

 

[lebomm]

Don't sweat the alloys too profusely. A bullet is a lump of metal that will literally be thrown away. The difference made in a lead alloy by a couple of percentage points probably isn't visible in the field. If you've calculated an alloy you wish to use, and put it together with your best hobbyist's measurements, it'll be close enough ! Have fun !

Larry

 

[Skip Sackett]

Well, I cast because I can have what I want, when I want, in the number I want, to do the work I want, for the load I want, even if there is a shortage, which I don't want!

As long as my neighbors have cars, I can make bullets. They wouldn't stand for their tires to bounce all over the road, so when I take their weights, they will get them replaced. Kind of like a renewable resource!

All kidding aside, I have some really cool bullets that I cast and they are not available commercially.

With this and other aspects of reloading ammunition, all this year, I have been asking: What shortage?

 

[Bart45]

Started casting last spring, and should have started a long time ago. Easy to do, and safe if you pay attention to the pot of 600 degree molten metal in front of you. Frees me up from buying online. Cost is way less. My newest mold is for my new 27-2, and a 158gr bullet costs me .02

 

[glider1]

In Mo. primers are the problem, well Starline is running about 2 months out to, anyway bullets aren't the problem. I may start casting when I retire but right now there isn't the time.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

After shopping for rifle bullets and seeing nothing but 'Out Of Stock And Don't Know If We Will Ever Get Them' notices I ordered some cast bullets from an outfit that says that they can get them to me in a couple of months. I've avoided cast rifle bullets but fortunately, I've been using reduced loads so maybe I won't have to use the Lewis Lead Cleaner-Outer too much. As long as they are available I don't want to invest into casting, but I may be backed into that corner yet. Does anybody think they will be getting into casting to bypass this shortage business?

You should be able to find a caster more local to get bullets sooner.
Btw. I make & shoot cast in lots of calibers and leading is not a problem. Even out of a M1 garand.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Skip always takes the time to type what I was already thinking when I read the original post.

As a side note, for reduced loads to not require a gas check I find that Trail Boss is the only thing that works good as a routine. But if you have gas checks then I've not had any leaded barrels yet.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you keep a plain base 18 BHN bullet under 1800 fps you should see no leading at all if the bullet is the right size for your barrel.

Yes,yes, I know it's pressure that counts but since most of us have no way of testing pressures I'm using velocity instead.

If you use gas checked bullets or bullets with a BHN of 22 or more you can push them even harder although I rarely feel the need to push a lead bullet that hard. I have been shooting Missouri bullets' 165gr plain base bullet in my 30-30 @~1400 fps with no leading at all. (with H4895) I haven't taken any Deer with that load yet but I have no doubt it will do the job well.

 

[Rule3]

There is not real problem finding cast bullets and to get them in a reasonable time. Maybe 3-4 weeks instead of 3-4 days

They are so much less money than FMJ for range shooting it's the way to go.

 

[venomballistics]

everyone should have a few cast rifle loads.
While not all calibers and rifles will take to it, the many that can make for some interesting loads that fill roles you never thought a particular rifle ever would.
Imagine a 30-06 load with a 150G flat point at somewhere between 1000 and 1300 FPS ...
in the beginning you might laugh off such a notion in a rifle that wound produce 3000 FPS in the same weight.
Really, you get to extend the rifle into the lower range of game animals and varmints this way.
30-06 can make a fine squirrel rifle, bunny buster, yote harvester, p dog popper, chuck chopper, paper puncher, and still make its way back up to its generally accepted roles with deer, big cats, bear, elk etc.
Embrace cast rifle bullets.
While they do not replace BTSP's, they themselves are irreplaceable.
Hope you chose your rifle well. after this foray into reloading, it might never leave your shoulder

 

[novalty]

As long as my neighbors have cars, I can make bullets. They wouldn't stand for their tires to bounce all over the road, so when I take their weights, they will get them replaced. Kind of like a renewable resource!

You may also check out your local Wally-World parking lot at the beginning of each month--to avoid any confrontation with neighbors.

The most important tool a caster can own.

 

[mikld]

Keep shopping around, you can still find some out there with product; I placed an order with Rim Rock Bullets on Wedensday and they shipped the order (500 pcs) Thursday...

I've been casting (and collecting lead!) for about 17 years and have a good stock of lead on hand (mebbe 1200 lbs). Starting casting now may be a bit problematic, but shopping around and K.I.S.S., is can be done.

With the current run on everything firearm related, lead for bullets may get hard to find too. Wheel weight alloy (or anything slightly harder than pure lead) is still relativele easy to find. Bullet fit is more important for good, clean accurate shooting than a hard BHN. You'll need to know the groove diameter of your gun's barrel (slug it) and the diameter of your bullets (.002" over groove diameter is a good start). Before you buy any lead or equipment do some research; Lyman's 3rd Edition Cast Bullet Handbook (if you can find a 3rd Edition. Much better for beginners than the 4th). Also read Frixell's From Ingot to Target http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_textonly2.pdf Casting may be too involved for you, some folks don't enjoy it much...

 

[Rollbar]

As long as my neighbors have cars, I can make bullets. They wouldn't stand for their tires to bounce all over the road, so when I take their weights, they will get them replaced. Kind of like a renewable resource!

That's why I'm always missing wheel weights

Glad I carry every day I'll be watching now

 

[Rule3]

Be sure to look at the roof (ruff for your Northerners) all those Wally Worlds.

There are more surveillance cameras than the Pentagon.

Be sure a wear a good disguise.

 

[novalty]

Be sure a wear a good disguise.

Watch out for falling wheel weights!

 

[Nevada Ed]

It is like any thing else............
If you get to see it done in person or have some one tell you the little secrets needed to make everything work right ,you will be turing out bullets that look as good as factory bullets.

I have the money to do it but but will hold off right now,since things are not that tight around here as yet.........but the gas prices sure have me ticked off !!

 

[gwpercle]

One of the reasons I have bullet moulds and reloading tools for every firearm I own is so I don't have to worry about "Sold Out" , " Not In Stock ", " Not Available" etc. every time a panic happens...which is happening a lot. Whenever I need ammo or bullets I just make all I need or want. Lee products can get you started very economicaly. The only "alloy " I use, and I mean for all rifle, revolver and semi-auto handgun bullets is straight air cooled wheel-weights. The only thing I buy when on sale and readily available is primers and powder and these items have a long shelf life. When you are the manufacturer you no longer are dependent on others.
gary

 

[Smithhound]

I've always looked at shooting hand cast lead rifle bullets as a graduation course in handloading. When you cast your own bullet and then work up a load that hits very close to the same POA/POI as your jacketed bullet loads for a fraction of the cost it just makes you feel you've accomplished something.
Casting and handloading to me are a form of meditaion and relaxation. It's work and time but I get a great deal of enjoyment from it. I don't watch alot of TV, not a nightclub person so if i spend a few nights in the shop or an afternoon outside alloying then I've spent my free time the way I like.
I'm about to start casting .222/.223 gc bullets for a Model 53 as these are getting harder to find, I've got hundreds of pounds of Lino and printers type material to play with, I'm looking forward to a load of around 1100fps in this 8 3/8" gun.
That's the other joy of casting, being able to make oddball stuff you just can't find. I like getting an old rifle that hasn't been fired in 40 or 50 years shooting again for friends, puts a big smile on thier faces to shoot Granddads old gun.
RD