Back after Obama was elected in Nov 2008 and before his swearing in I bought powder, primers, bullets, cases etc. because I was worried for obvious reasons. Well I was proved wrong, or so I thought. Fortunately I kept my supplies not knowing about Covid and for the last election. Well I didn't see a bullet shortage coming back then as bullets were plentiful. Not so much anymore, so I am in the process of getting into the bullet casting business. But surprise surprise, at the moment there are no bullet molds to be found. I have back ordered a few but have not yet acquired the casting furnace. Better late than never. Lets pray we have enough time to prepare. If I have to hunt to eat, bullets will be essential.
Cast Your Own
- Thread starter kamml
- Start date
I love casting, and shooting cast, bullets (boolits). Keep your hardness and sizing correct, and your speed appropriate, and they are very accurate and effective on game.
I cast for handgun/pistol calibers, as well as 30-30. Used to cart for 45/70, and I sure do miss that one.
I have a .40 cal multi cavity mold but, but I got rid of my .40 a long time ago. Let me know if you are interested and I'll make you a deal. It's never been used.
I cast for handgun/pistol calibers, as well as 30-30. Used to cart for 45/70, and I sure do miss that one.
I have a .40 cal multi cavity mold but, but I got rid of my .40 a long time ago. Let me know if you are interested and I'll make you a deal. It's never been used.
Safari Hunt
Well-Known Member
I pick up wheel weights for bullets and sinkers. Our local gun club has the "Cowboy" shoots with plenty of lead discs laying on the ground. If I was really ambitious, I could dig in the backstop berms for bullets.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
Getting lead is not nearly so easy as it used to be but it can be done as Safari Hunt mentioned above. IF the shooting range you go to will allow it. As with most things in the world, restrictions are constantly being added to every aspect of our daily lives and I'm seeing ranges forbidding digging lead from the backstop. You can order clean lead from places like Rotometal and while far more expensive than free range scrap or lead from a scrap yard the Rotometal ingots will be a lot cheaper than commercial bullets. You can get away with pure clip on wheel weights for practically all handgun bullets and I've used them exclusively for the 32-20 up to 1,280 ft/sec, with no gas check, and had no problem with leading. But that's almost a moot point since clip on wheel weights are about all gone anyhow. I've been casting since the late 1970's when I was casting not only for my own shooting but to sell to a local shooting range and it pays for itself many times over. Very comforting to know you have buckets full of bullets on the cheap laying under your loading bench. And as EastTnHunter said, if you get good bullet fit and hardness you can load full power loads for hunting in a lot of the typical "woods deer cartridges" that operate around 2,000 ft/sec. What I like to do with those cartridges is to chose a bullet a little heavier than factory loads so you drop velocity down a bit and then load for full power. Some people are using loads considerably lighter than that and killing deer just fine too. Say something like 1,700 ft/sec. For hunting bullets a mix of 50% clip on wheel weights and 50% pure lead works pretty darned good.
Something that I never tried until just a few years ago is adding Tin to the alloy since I started as a broke college kid casting in my dorm room. (Try THAT nowadays and see what you'd get! )
Keeping cost at a bare minimum was a necessity back then but now I am willing to spend a bit more to get better bullets. Tin can be had from Rotometals for less than $20/lb and you just need 1% to 2% to get a very noticeable improvement with mold fillout among other desirable characteristics.
I assume you have found the castboolits.com website if you are interested in casting your own. I wish I'd had a resource like that back when I started as I had nothing but myself and my roommate to learn by doing.
I have noticed that most casting equipment has been sold out too. Gas checks even are gone except for the odd calibers and they are spotty as far as availability. I have 2,000 each in 22, 30 & 35 caliber but only 1,000 in 8mm, 44 & 45 caliber. For lower velocity practice loads you can shoot without them using "shotgun" powders to save money.
Something that I never tried until just a few years ago is adding Tin to the alloy since I started as a broke college kid casting in my dorm room. (Try THAT nowadays and see what you'd get! )
Keeping cost at a bare minimum was a necessity back then but now I am willing to spend a bit more to get better bullets. Tin can be had from Rotometals for less than $20/lb and you just need 1% to 2% to get a very noticeable improvement with mold fillout among other desirable characteristics. I assume you have found the castboolits.com website if you are interested in casting your own. I wish I'd had a resource like that back when I started as I had nothing but myself and my roommate to learn by doing.
I have noticed that most casting equipment has been sold out too. Gas checks even are gone except for the odd calibers and they are spotty as far as availability. I have 2,000 each in 22, 30 & 35 caliber but only 1,000 in 8mm, 44 & 45 caliber. For lower velocity practice loads you can shoot without them using "shotgun" powders to save money.
Chaneylake
Well-Known Member
Try "Buffalo Arms" 208.263.6953. For casting supplies.
Roto Metals for lead.
Your best source for lead can possibly be an AT&T employee. They are constantly digging up lead wraps used on underground cable splices and replacing with a more environmentally wrap.
Roto Metals for lead.
Your best source for lead can possibly be an AT&T employee. They are constantly digging up lead wraps used on underground cable splices and replacing with a more environmentally wrap.
Safari Hunt
Well-Known Member
My casting is done with Lee moulds. Lead doesn't stick to aluminum. Been using them for years and like the .430, 240 gr. SWC and .358, 158 gr. SWC.
As mentioned, the lead I get is the disks formed by the Cowboy competition who shoot at heavy steel targets. They hit, flatten and fall to the ground. My son brought about 4 lbs. a while back.
As mentioned, the lead I get is the disks formed by the Cowboy competition who shoot at heavy steel targets. They hit, flatten and fall to the ground. My son brought about 4 lbs. a while back.
