D&J Bullets Poor Consistency

Master Blaster · December 18, 2000, 08:33 AM

Greetings all,

Since I recently started reloading I am looking for a source for good cast lead bullets. My local shop stocks
D&J, so tahts what I bought. .357 LSWC for my .38 loads they worked fine and seemed consistant in size. The .45
200 gr LSWC were very inconsistant, 2 different bullet shapes in the same box weights ranging from 200gr to 217grains. Am i expecting too much I wondered that the 200LSWC weight near 200gr??? I called D&J 3X and they never returned my call. Local store says they come like that sometimes!!!!! I ordered some bullets from Carroll in Ct. $45.00 per 1000 200 gr .45 LSWC guess what they all weigh 200gr + - 1 gr. very consistant.

I note that several of you use D&J what gives??? Will the weight variation affect accuracy??

Doug 29 · December 18, 2000, 02:12 PM

Could you post the addy for that bulet supplier in Ct.? That's very good consistency for commercial cast bullets. I wouldn't mess with any company that behaves like D&J treated you!

jim-alex · December 18, 2000, 05:21 PM

Doug29:
I ordered from Carroll Bullets a number of times. Pretty good, prices decent. Web site is http://www.carrollbullets.com
Mailing address is 19 Charter Ave., Stafford Springs, CT
06076.

Check out T&T also. They have good prices on Star Brand.
Regards, Jim

Banzai · December 18, 2000, 08:16 PM

Master, I had the same problem with DJ in 9mm and 40 lead. One box of each was enough to cure me of their brand!! I melted 'em all down and cast some of my own, then switched to Berry's plated.

Tom

Doug 29 · December 20, 2000, 12:36 AM

Thanks, Jim! Commercial bullets weighing that close sound good.

DaMan · December 20, 2000, 07:51 AM

I also had some questions about the recent crop of D&J Bullets, but I note their website has been "temporarily" suspended. Makes you wonder, if they were having a hard time and were just dumping their rejects recently.

Quality used to be very good!

Regards! DaMan

PS - Now I need a good source for the 9mm 147gr. LSWC bullets sized to .356". TIA!

WESHOOT2 · December 20, 2000, 05:40 PM

http://www.bull-x.com

DaMan · December 21, 2000, 11:05 AM

WESHOOT2, thanks for the Bull-X recommendation. I'm going to order a small quantity of their 147gr. flat points to try out.

It's really a pitty that D&J has slipped. I REALLY liked their 9mm 147gr LSWC .356". They used the #929 SAECO style bullet. The most accurate design I've found for the 9mm.

But alas, I sent them an e-mail trying to order a quantity and got NO answer! Some customer service!!!!!!

I'd like to try some other 147gr. SWC and flat point designs, But am still looking for a source that can provide good quality bullets using the #929 SAECO style bullet.

I hope I don't have to go back to casting my own! Much too time consuming and messy!

Regards! DaMan

bk40 · December 21, 2000, 02:07 PM

I'll 2nd Weshoot on Bull-X lead bullets, used them for many years with great results in .357, .401 and .452

I've used some of D&Js jacketed bullets with no problems in the past... FWIW the folks at Zero bullets have told me they made some of the jacketed bullets for D&J...

17 grain variation is way to much, very poor technique and quality contol imo.

CrowShooter · December 23, 2000, 05:44 AM

D & J has never made jacketed bullets. They used to buy quite a few from Zero, and re-package them. They have also used Hornady in the past. Not sure what they are doing now, as I have heard they have fallen on bad times.......

R

sw627pc · December 25, 2000, 07:06 PM

I had a slightly different problem with D&J bullets. The weights weren't bad (not great, but okay). My problem is that I had specifically asked for .429 200 grain round nose flat points for a .44-40. What I got was .431 200 grain RN-FP. These don't work very well as loading them without bulging the case neck is extremely difficult. If the bullets aren't perfectly straight you end up pulling them because they won't chamber. Guess I'll have to look at Carroll bullets (Bull-X doesn't have what I want listed)

December 18, 2000, 08:16 PM	#4
Banzai Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 275	Master, I had the same problem with DJ in 9mm and 40 lead. One box of each was enough to cure me of their brand!! I melted 'em all down and cast some of my own, then switched to Berry's plated. Tom __________________ A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration! You can never be too rich, too skinny, or too well armed! Wake up and realize that you have the moral imperative of action..!!!

December 20, 2000, 05:40 PM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	http://www.bull-x.com __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 25, 2000, 07:06 PM	#11
sw627pc Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2000 Posts: 453	I had a slightly different problem with D&J bullets. The weights weren't bad (not great, but okay). My problem is that I had specifically asked for .429 200 grain round nose flat points for a .44-40. What I got was .431 200 grain RN-FP. These don't work very well as loading them without bulging the case neck is extremely difficult. If the bullets aren't perfectly straight you end up pulling them because they won't chamber. Guess I'll have to look at Carroll bullets (Bull-X doesn't have what I want listed) __________________ Bob C. NRA Patron USN (Ret)

December 18, 2000, 08:33 AM	#1
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	Greetings all, Since I recently started reloading I am looking for a source for good cast lead bullets. My local shop stocks D&J, so tahts what I bought. .357 LSWC for my .38 loads they worked fine and seemed consistant in size. The .45 200 gr LSWC were very inconsistant, 2 different bullet shapes in the same box weights ranging from 200gr to 217grains. Am i expecting too much I wondered that the 200LSWC weight near 200gr??? I called D&J 3X and they never returned my call. Local store says they come like that sometimes!!!!! I ordered some bullets from Carroll in Ct. $45.00 per 1000 200 gr .45 LSWC guess what they all weigh 200gr + - 1 gr. very consistant. I note that several of you use D&J what gives??? Will the weight variation affect accuracy??

December 18, 2000, 02:12 PM	#2
Doug 29 Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 217	Could you post the addy for that bulet supplier in Ct.? That's very good consistency for commercial cast bullets. I wouldn't mess with any company that behaves like D&J treated you!

December 18, 2000, 05:21 PM	#3
jim-alex Member Join Date: March 14, 2000 Location: tired of NoVa Posts: 83	Doug29: I ordered from Carroll Bullets a number of times. Pretty good, prices decent. Web site is http://www.carrollbullets.com Mailing address is 19 Charter Ave., Stafford Springs, CT 06076. Check out T&T also. They have good prices on Star Brand. Regards, Jim

December 20, 2000, 12:36 AM	#5
Doug 29 Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 217	Thanks, Jim! Commercial bullets weighing that close sound good.

December 20, 2000, 07:51 AM	#6
DaMan Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2000 Posts: 222	I also had some questions about the recent crop of D&J Bullets, but I note their website has been "temporarily" suspended. Makes you wonder, if they were having a hard time and were just dumping their rejects recently. Quality used to be very good! Regards! DaMan PS - Now I need a good source for the 9mm 147gr. LSWC bullets sized to .356". TIA!

December 21, 2000, 11:05 AM	#8
DaMan Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2000 Posts: 222	WESHOOT2, thanks for the Bull-X recommendation. I'm going to order a small quantity of their 147gr. flat points to try out. It's really a pitty that D&J has slipped. I REALLY liked their 9mm 147gr LSWC .356". They used the #929 SAECO style bullet. The most accurate design I've found for the 9mm. But alas, I sent them an e-mail trying to order a quantity and got NO answer! Some customer service!!!!!! I'd like to try some other 147gr. SWC and flat point designs, But am still looking for a source that can provide good quality bullets using the #929 SAECO style bullet. I hope I don't have to go back to casting my own! Much too time consuming and messy! Regards! DaMan

December 21, 2000, 02:07 PM	#9
bk40 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 1999 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,004	I'll 2nd Weshoot on Bull-X lead bullets, used them for many years with great results in .357, .401 and .452 I've used some of D&Js jacketed bullets with no problems in the past... FWIW the folks at Zero bullets have told me they made some of the jacketed bullets for D&J... 17 grain variation is way to much, very poor technique and quality contol imo.

December 23, 2000, 05:44 AM	#10
CrowShooter Member Join Date: January 19, 2000 Posts: 44	D & J has never made jacketed bullets. They used to buy quite a few from Zero, and re-package them. They have also used Hornady in the past. Not sure what they are doing now, as I have heard they have fallen on bad times....... R