My conclusions:
1. Interesting hobby on its own
2. Saves money, supposedly (see #6)
3. Allows to make ammo in some odd calibers which cannot be found
4. Powder coating is a better choice
5. Everyone who successfully casts, has a big stash of lead anyhow acquired from the old days
6. No any more cheap and reliable source of lead is available now to make casting viable for those who want to enter into it now (unless in #3 situation).
7. Casting will be a dyeing hobby due to #6
I was really interested in casting, but I have no one who is demolishing 100 year old houses or re-balancing 20 year old tires. Buying led even at local scrap yards does not save me much for popular calibers, as long as bullets are widely available such as Campro.
Last edited by serg777; 12-01-2023 at 07:06 PM.
I cast for 45/70,45/60,54sharps,577 Pritchett,62,58 ,54round ball and 41cal bullet for a Swiss 1851 feldstutzer
I cast .45 round ball, .50 round ball, Minnie, and R.E.A.L for my Hawken rifles.
I need to cast for .45 Colt and ACP, .44, .38/.357, .303Br w/gas check, .303 savage (idk about gas check), and maybe a nice mould for my 30/30's?
At this point I'm still happy to buy 9mm off the shelf, but just about anything else is getting stupid.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” Sun Tzu, Art of War 475-221 B.C.
9mm x2, 45, 223, 308 x2, 12 gauge x2
I’ve done alox but too messy for me. I prefer powder coating.
I cast 12 gauge slugs and buck shot, 410, 9mm, 357/38, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 450 Bushmaster, 45-70, 30 Cal (.308-.311). I powder coat.
Recently I have been making jacketed bullets using 40 brass for 45 cal projectiles and 45 ACP brass for 45-70 projectiles. I use existing dies that I have, mainly 308 and 243 and 300 Wby.
If anyone is interested in this, go on Youtube and look up Mannyca, this is where I started, but I have gone way beyond what he does with great results. I have an abundance of 40 brass, which I do not load or shoot and I use 45 ACP with small primer pockets, which I have no other use for.
Cheers
Last edited by dodger59; 12-03-2023 at 12:49 PM. Reason: error corrected
Another company is Accurate moulds. I have two, 577 snider aluminum and 45-70 brass. They can be had is custom sizes.
Smokeless powder is just a passing fad. #1 gun rule,carry one.