Help finding R.E.A.L. Balls/Bullets

Jayhawk Dan · October 8, 2015, 01:50 PM

I need some assistance please.

I am looking for a commercial source for R.E.A.L. (Rifling Engaged At Loading) bullets because I don't want to begin casting lead bullets. I've been searching this forum for "REAL Bullets" to no avail. So if you know of a source please share it with me, and if there is already a thread on this subject, please direct me to it! Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Jayhawk Dan

bedbugbilly · October 8, 2015, 03:14 PM

Try over on Castboolits. Doesn't cost anything to join - lots of casters there. Not sure if any are casting REAL or not but perhaps. If you post a WTB or go to the vendor section - you might scare some up. When you post, be sure to state what caliber you are looking for.

maillemaker · October 8, 2015, 04:38 PM

Just wanted to say that casting is very easy.

You can get a Lee mold with handles for about $20. A ladle for another $20, and a small lee pot for $33. I buy lead from Rotometals.

Or you can get a bottom-pour Lee pot for about $70 and eliminate the ladle. Though ladle pouring works best for some kinds of bullets.

Steve

dr1445 · October 8, 2015, 04:55 PM

+ 1 on MM comments on casting. i did not want to get into casting either but after i got a 10lb melter filled with soft lead for $5 i started casting. finding cast conicals for revolvers is more of a hassle than casting once you get setup. while my melter is bottom pour i get more consistent results with a ladle casting both balls and conicals.

rodwhaincamo · October 8, 2015, 10:59 PM

It was the lack of conical/bullets for my cap n ball pistols that got me into casting. The only game in town (then) sold his for $40+ shipping (now $50) for 100, which just wasn't going to work for me. A pound of lead was $1 (that's 35 bullets that weigh 195 grns) and the equipment costs for Lee (as stated) made it worthwhile, though my custom mold was a bit pricey. But then I got to design it myself too.

Doc Hoy · October 11, 2015, 12:56 PM

In addition, I was once a strict adherent to the ladle.

I have recently gotten good with the bottom pour pot and now I don't even know where my ladle is.

bedbugbilly · October 11, 2015, 08:59 PM

I've never used a bottom pour . . . I always figured I'd get more lead not he bench and outside of the mold than on the inside! I have cast 50 some years with a 10# pot, a Lyman bottom pour ladle over a propane single burner hot plate.

A big +1 to what the fellows say on casting . . it can be done on a budget and a few hours of casting will give a person lots of lead balls/bullets. I how even cast over a wood fire and hot coals.

The weather has been very pleasant here and I am in the midst of my yearly casting. Between yesterday afternoon and this afternoon, I've run over 1,000 .358 RN for 38 cartridge loading - that's with double cavity Idel/Lyman molds. Tomorrow I hope to knock another 500 out and then switch to RB casting for an afternoon.

OP - if you decide to start casting - Titan Reloading has good prices on the Lee molds which produce a nice REAL bullet. They also have god prices on the Lee pots, etc. If you know any plumbers or similar - they often have soft lead that they removed from cast iron soil pipe joints, etc. Or, a local salvage yard.

Unfortunately, casting can become an "addiction" just like anything else . . . I used to get by with perhaps a half dozen molds . . . last count, I now have around fifty or so and am always on the look out for "new designs" to try! But hey . . . it keeps me out of the bars and brothels . . . so there is a plus to it!

Doc Hoy · October 12, 2015, 06:12 AM

Titan Reloading is great for Lee products.

darkgael · October 12, 2015, 06:45 AM

A note to the OP.....AFAIK, there is no commercial source for the R.E.A.L bullets.....you cant buy them in a store. You might find someone willing to cast some for you. Maybe.
The best route, as the other posters have suggested is to buy a Lee mould and cast them yourself.
About casting......I have a bottom pour furnace (two actually) which i use for gang moulds when I am casting a lot of .45s.
Normally use a bottom pour ladle.....a Rowell #1....holds a pound of melt....absolutely the berries.
Pete

October 8, 2015, 03:14 PM	#2
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,290	Try over on Castboolits. Doesn't cost anything to join - lots of casters there. Not sure if any are casting REAL or not but perhaps. If you post a WTB or go to the vendor section - you might scare some up. When you post, be sure to state what caliber you are looking for. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 11, 2015, 12:56 PM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Maillemaker plus two In addition, I was once a strict adherent to the ladle. I have recently gotten good with the bottom pour pot and now I don't even know where my ladle is. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 11, 2015, 08:59 PM	#7
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,290	I've never used a bottom pour . . . I always figured I'd get more lead not he bench and outside of the mold than on the inside! I have cast 50 some years with a 10# pot, a Lyman bottom pour ladle over a propane single burner hot plate. A big +1 to what the fellows say on casting . . it can be done on a budget and a few hours of casting will give a person lots of lead balls/bullets. I how even cast over a wood fire and hot coals. The weather has been very pleasant here and I am in the midst of my yearly casting. Between yesterday afternoon and this afternoon, I've run over 1,000 .358 RN for 38 cartridge loading - that's with double cavity Idel/Lyman molds. Tomorrow I hope to knock another 500 out and then switch to RB casting for an afternoon. OP - if you decide to start casting - Titan Reloading has good prices on the Lee molds which produce a nice REAL bullet. They also have god prices on the Lee pots, etc. If you know any plumbers or similar - they often have soft lead that they removed from cast iron soil pipe joints, etc. Or, a local salvage yard. Unfortunately, casting can become an "addiction" just like anything else . . . I used to get by with perhaps a half dozen molds . . . last count, I now have around fifty or so and am always on the look out for "new designs" to try! But hey . . . it keeps me out of the bars and brothels . . . so there is a plus to it! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 12, 2015, 06:12 AM	#8
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	BBB + 1 Titan Reloading is great for Lee products. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 12, 2015, 06:45 AM	#9
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	REAL A note to the OP.....AFAIK, there is no commercial source for the R.E.A.L bullets.....you cant buy them in a store. You might find someone willing to cast some for you. Maybe. The best route, as the other posters have suggested is to buy a Lee mould and cast them yourself. About casting......I have a bottom pour furnace (two actually) which i use for gang moulds when I am casting a lot of .45s. Normally use a bottom pour ladle.....a Rowell #1....holds a pound of melt....absolutely the berries. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

October 8, 2015, 01:50 PM	#1
Jayhawk Dan Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Posts: 1	Help finding R.E.A.L. Balls/Bullets I need some assistance please. I am looking for a commercial source for R.E.A.L. (Rifling Engaged At Loading) bullets because I don't want to begin casting lead bullets. I've been searching this forum for "REAL Bullets" to no avail. So if you know of a source please share it with me, and if there is already a thread on this subject, please direct me to it! Thanks in advance for your assistance. Jayhawk Dan

October 8, 2015, 04:38 PM	#3
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Just wanted to say that casting is very easy. You can get a Lee mold with handles for about $20. A ladle for another $20, and a small lee pot for $33. I buy lead from Rotometals. Or you can get a bottom-pour Lee pot for about $70 and eliminate the ladle. Though ladle pouring works best for some kinds of bullets. Steve

October 8, 2015, 04:55 PM	#4
dr1445 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2009 Location: CT Posts: 199	+ 1 on MM comments on casting. i did not want to get into casting either but after i got a 10lb melter filled with soft lead for $5 i started casting. finding cast conicals for revolvers is more of a hassle than casting once you get setup. while my melter is bottom pour i get more consistent results with a ladle casting both balls and conicals.

October 8, 2015, 10:59 PM	#5
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	It was the lack of conical/bullets for my cap n ball pistols that got me into casting. The only game in town (then) sold his for $40+ shipping (now $50) for 100, which just wasn't going to work for me. A pound of lead was $1 (that's 35 bullets that weigh 195 grns) and the equipment costs for Lee (as stated) made it worthwhile, though my custom mold was a bit pricey. But then I got to design it myself too.