Cast boolits and reloading

7403 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Predator, Aug 26, 2012

Crawdaddy

Discussion Starter · Oct 4, 2011

I have finally gotten my reloading room the way I want it and have spent the last 8 or 9 months casting my own boolits (bullets) and working up loads for every rifle pistol and shotgun I have.

Sometimes I could get a certain bullet weight to shoot right so I would go up or or down in weight.

I built a pretty good stock pile of ammo for each gun.

I did it for a few reasons.

Ammo and components got scarce there for a while
It is a lot cheaper than factory rounds
It is good plinking ammo
The bigger bullets are great for hunting.

Does anyone else cast and spend a lot of time at the range?

How much ammo do you keep around? Stock piles or just what you need for the next hunt or trip to the range?

Here are some pics.

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1 - 11 of 11 Posts

Crawdaddy

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 4, 2011

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Predator

· #3 · Feb 13, 2012

I am highly contemplating expanding my reloading into casting bullets. Unfortunately, there are a lot of components I need to acquire before undertaking that venture.

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Karl.Luhr

· #4 · Feb 15, 2012

My thoughts on reloading up a bunch of ammo...

One thought that I remember reading a long time ago was that loaded ammo has a very long life. The author stated that powder and primers are far more likely to have problems if left just sitting on the shelf. So his idea was to do as you have, stock up components then load up the ammo and use it from your stockpile. Besides it is fun to do when you can't get to the range for actual shooting. The only downside is if you are someone that is a handloader. I am a reloader, not a handloader. A handloader taylors each bullet to a certain rifle, has the bullet adjusted to sit a couple of thousands off the lands. The handloader has also matched the powder to the rifle by trying multiple powders at various charge levels. I reload mainly my 30-06 ammo using Win760/H414 powder at 52 grains behind a Nosler 165BT bullet set off by a Federal primer. Handloaders have told me that I could gain fps by changing my powder to XXXX or YYYY. I don't care about the extra fps my load is light and at the bottom of the recommended range, my important it shoots well in all my rifles. I can't remember my 45acp reload stats except it was Unique powder until I was talked into buying 8# of Herco. The only variable is whether I am loading 230gr Hornady JFP or 230gr Hard Cast Lead FP.

Karl

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Hunting Man

· #5 · Feb 15, 2012

Many years ago, I reloaded shotgun shells but never got into rifles. Now a heck of a lot older I have a desire to do some reloading. I think, the 250-3000 would be fun to experiment with. I know cost is pretty steep to get started but with retirement a few years away maybe reloading would fill some time lags. I bought a cedar chest to store my current ammo and I aquire ammo based on firearm purchases and when I can find sales. Seems ammo has doubled in cost in just the last couple of years.

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Predator

· #6 · Feb 20, 2012

factory ammo has a little bit more than doubled since I reloaded in the early "80s". reloading components also have significantly increased to the point I have been told many have gotten out of it. I have costed out components for .45 acp and can still reasonable reload for far less that buying over the counter factory loads. and if I am successful in finding a source for lead, I will save much more casting my own bullets.

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ugotit33

· #7 · Jun 28, 2012

Percussion rife

Hi
First
I like your set up a lot I'm impressed nice work space.
Looks like a Barnnet Jackle on the wall. I have one and they are a great
shooter and accurate.
Second
I'm new to muzzle loading just rebuilt a percussion .694 bore barrel rifle.
What powder do I use? and grain per what ball do I use.
Weight etc.
I have don a lot of rifle and hand gun reloading but this is the first
crack at muzzle loading and shooting.
By the way I'm not a hunter but can, I'm a vegetarian for 43 years, so no need to bring home meat but can if and when the time is needed.
I'm a target shooter, do stock pile ammo, dies, lead etc the collapse is at hand or coming.
Cheers

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Predator

· #8 · Jul 16, 2012

Crawdaddy said:
I have finally gotten my reloading room the way I want it and have spent the last 8 or 9 months casting my own boolits (bullets) and working up loads for every rifle pistol and shotgun I have.

Sometimes I could get a certain bullet weight to shoot right so I would go up or or down in weight.

I built a pretty good stock pile of ammo for each gun.

I did it for a few reasons.

Ammo and components got scarce there for a while
It is a lot cheaper than factory rounds
It is good plinking ammo
The bigger bullets are great for hunting.

Does anyone else cast and spend a lot of time at the range?

How much ammo do you keep around? Stock piles or just what you need for the next hunt or trip to the range?

Here are some pics.

X

doing it all now. I cast my first bullets on memorial day, about 450 .452 230gr bullets. reloaded them and have about 100 left.

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timberghost

· #9 · Jul 17, 2012

These are great pics. Don't know how I missed these pics.

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quigleysharps4570

· #10 · Aug 13, 2012

Crawdaddy said:
Does anyone else cast and spend a lot of time at the range?

How much ammo do you keep around? Stock piles or just what you need for the next hunt or trip to the range?

Another bullet caster here Crawdaddy. Cast for 45-70, 45-60, 30-30, .45 Colt, .44 mag and for my muzzleloaders in .40 caliber, .50 caliber and .54 caliber and my blackpowder revolvers in .36 and .44 caliber. Far as ammo laying around...alot...and enough reloading supplies to last a day or two...50 lbs. of blackpowder alone sitting here. Also enough 3lb. coffee cans full of bullets and roundballs to last a long time.

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Predator

· #11 · Aug 26, 2012

So far, I have cast over a 1000 rounds of 45acp.
And since joining a local pistol club, I have acquired a few thousand rounds of brass and a virtually endless supply of alloy for casting. my ownly cost now appears to be powder and primers. don't get me wrong though. smelting the range lead is a very dirty job* and one always has to keep an eye out for a live round that tends to make its way into the floor sweepings. "keeping an eye out" was an unintended pun. I am currently waiting on a new 9mm mold for my wifes pistol.

*smelting range lead keeps bullet casting from seaming too much like free ammo.

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