How many reloaders also cast bullets? - Page 2

FrankenMauser · September 4, 2013, 11:59 PM

I have molds for, or cast for: .32 handguns, .30 caliber rifles, .32 caliber rifles, .44 caliber handguns, and .44 caliber rifles. Oh... I also have molds for .41 Mag and .40 S&W, but I don't shoot either caliber - they're used for something else.

I also have a nice supply of .32 caliber commercial cast bullets, that may last 10 years or more. I have a few thousand commercial 9mm bullets to work through, before I will pick up a mold. And, I ocassionally buy Hornady's swaged SWCs and HBWCs for .32 and .44 caliber. -They're reasonably priced, and I can't produce an equivalent bullet without investing in some new tooling.

But, I make up for the extra expense of buying a few bullets, by swaging my own .44 caliber bullets and saving substantially. I can tailor the bullets to .44 Mag or .444 Marlin, and also size them accordingly ...while paying 3 to 5 cents per bullet, versus commercial prices of $0.40+ apiece. (This is where the .40 and .41 caliber molds come in.)

Some of you have seen this before:

Those last two photos are of a bullet I recovered from an Elk.

myfriendis410 · September 5, 2013, 09:43 AM

Did I read that right 517grs.....

Awe come on that's just the hole from one of them right???

It's a Lyman 500 gr. mold but cast using ww and tin comes out to 517 give or take. That group was shot using weight sorted bullets, heat treated, sized to .4580" and lubed with my own lube recipe. I couldn't achieve those groups with any commercial lube I tried, so "went to school" and developed my own. The load was a PITA to do, and interestingly did not shoot well until a month after they were loaded. That group was on the small side of the norm so it really wasn't fair, but if I do my job the gun will shoot that load right at 1" all day long. I would love to try longer yardages but don't have the range here to do it. At 1,250 fps it is actually pretty comfortable to shoot, although you know you pulled the trigger.

Savage99 · September 5, 2013, 09:49 AM

I used to cast both pistol and rifle bullets when I was much younger.

These days I don't shoot the pistol all that much and have lost interest in Scheutezen.

While I still have the gear it's so dirty and work.

If a wanted some more cast bullets I would buy them.

David Bachelder · September 5, 2013, 12:53 PM

My answer was misleading. I cast all of my pistol bullets, I buy my rifle bullets .243 and 30-06.

spacecoast · September 5, 2013, 01:35 PM

FrankenMauser -

Can you talk a little more about those "frankenbullets" you have displayed? I think I see both a .444 Marlin and a .44 Mag cartridge, both of which have bullets based on a .40 S&W piece of brass and a lead core. Is that right?

I guess I never thought about a piece of brass serving as the "jacket" for a bullet but... why not? The .40 S&W brass is a near-perfect fit for the .44 Mag case.

David Bachelder · September 5, 2013, 01:47 PM

My answer was misleading. I cast all of my pistol bullets, I buy my rifle bullets .243 and 30-06.

millerwb · September 5, 2013, 08:55 PM

I cast almost every bullet I shoot (223, 44, 40, 45, 380, 9) and I have molds for 38/357 for when I get one. I just need to get a 30-06 mold.

Rangefinder · September 5, 2013, 10:17 PM

Here is a .30 Cal done in similar fashion to Frankenmauser's. This is my HD version made from 5.7x28 for my AK. Made for close quarters, core is compressed 7 1/2 shot.

What it looks like after impact...

Loaded...

spacecoast · September 6, 2013, 05:33 AM

Rangefinder -

Thanks! What's the "assembled" weight on those bullets and what kind of load do you use under them?

It's very cool to see the innovation of those multi-part bullets.

Rangefinder · September 6, 2013, 06:36 AM

Finished weight can be as light as 100gr for frangible up to 195gr for full length solid cores. Bottom photo is a little misleading--just noticed I uploaded the 7.62x54 instead of the x39...

It runs in both.

View Poll Results: How many reloaders also cast their own bullets?
Don't cast and don't plan to start	24	26.09%
Used to cast but don't any more	4	4.35%
Don't cast now but plan to start in the future	12	13.04%
Cast some of my own lead bullets but buy others	11	11.96%
Cast all my own lead bullets	41	44.57%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

September 4, 2013, 11:59 PM	#26
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I have molds for, or cast for: .32 handguns, .30 caliber rifles, .32 caliber rifles, .44 caliber handguns, and .44 caliber rifles. Oh... I also have molds for .41 Mag and .40 S&W, but I don't shoot either caliber - they're used for something else. I also have a nice supply of .32 caliber commercial cast bullets, that may last 10 years or more. I have a few thousand commercial 9mm bullets to work through, before I will pick up a mold. And, I ocassionally buy Hornady's swaged SWCs and HBWCs for .32 and .44 caliber. -They're reasonably priced, and I can't produce an equivalent bullet without investing in some new tooling. But, I make up for the extra expense of buying a few bullets, by swaging my own .44 caliber bullets and saving substantially. I can tailor the bullets to .44 Mag or .444 Marlin, and also size them accordingly ...while paying 3 to 5 cents per bullet, versus commercial prices of $0.40+ apiece. (This is where the .40 and .41 caliber molds come in.) Some of you have seen this before: Those last two photos are of a bullet I recovered from an Elk. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

September 5, 2013, 12:53 PM	#29
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	My answer was misleading. I cast all of my pistol bullets, I buy my rifle bullets .243 and 30-06. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

September 5, 2013, 01:47 PM	#31
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	My answer was misleading. I cast all of my pistol bullets, I buy my rifle bullets .243 and 30-06. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

September 5, 2013, 08:55 PM	#32
millerwb Member Join Date: December 13, 2008 Posts: 63	How many reloaders also cast bullets? I cast almost every bullet I shoot (223, 44, 40, 45, 380, 9) and I have molds for 38/357 for when I get one. I just need to get a 30-06 mold.

September 5, 2013, 09:43 AM	#27
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 274	Did I read that right 517grs..... Awe come on that's just the hole from one of them right??? It's a Lyman 500 gr. mold but cast using ww and tin comes out to 517 give or take. That group was shot using weight sorted bullets, heat treated, sized to .4580" and lubed with my own lube recipe. I couldn't achieve those groups with any commercial lube I tried, so "went to school" and developed my own. The load was a PITA to do, and interestingly did not shoot well until a month after they were loaded. That group was on the small side of the norm so it really wasn't fair, but if I do my job the gun will shoot that load right at 1" all day long. I would love to try longer yardages but don't have the range here to do it. At 1,250 fps it is actually pretty comfortable to shoot, although you know you pulled the trigger.

September 5, 2013, 09:49 AM	#28
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	I used to cast both pistol and rifle bullets when I was much younger. These days I don't shoot the pistol all that much and have lost interest in Scheutezen. While I still have the gear it's so dirty and work. If a wanted some more cast bullets I would buy them.

September 5, 2013, 01:35 PM	#30
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	FrankenMauser - Can you talk a little more about those "frankenbullets" you have displayed? I think I see both a .444 Marlin and a .44 Mag cartridge, both of which have bullets based on a .40 S&W piece of brass and a lead core. Is that right? I guess I never thought about a piece of brass serving as the "jacket" for a bullet but... why not? The .40 S&W brass is a near-perfect fit for the .44 Mag case.

September 5, 2013, 10:17 PM	#33
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Here is a .30 Cal done in similar fashion to Frankenmauser's. This is my HD version made from 5.7x28 for my AK. Made for close quarters, core is compressed 7 1/2 shot. What it looks like after impact... Loaded... __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

September 6, 2013, 05:33 AM	#34
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Rangefinder - Thanks! What's the "assembled" weight on those bullets and what kind of load do you use under them? It's very cool to see the innovation of those multi-part bullets.

September 6, 2013, 06:36 AM	#35
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Finished weight can be as light as 100gr for frangible up to 195gr for full length solid cores. Bottom photo is a little misleading--just noticed I uploaded the 7.62x54 instead of the x39... It runs in both. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.