Getting into casting??

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Rivardo

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I was told years back reloading would save me money... ...lol I keep getting the itch to cast bullets for a 30cal as it could be an economical way to shoot more? Just wondering what your experiences have been
 
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I broke even long ago. I cast for 9mm .357/38sp .45 acp and 45-70. 6 cavity molds are $60and 45-70 2 cavity is $30. Lead pot is $125. Scrounging lead takes some time, but even a bad day I'm paying 25 cents a pound. Usually less. It doesn't take too many boxes of 45-70 to cover all of it.
 
Yup. Reloading a 45-70 with cast I save close to $2/round.

An average 180 grain bullet is about $.013/piece.

Bought the molds but made the pot out of scrap. This is really a process where you can spend as little or as much as you want. Some guys only use an old pot and a ladle
 
You can do it on the cheap, but be warned it is like crack to some folk. I may have broke even, maybe not.
Learned alot
Met alot of new peaple
Shared what I know
Turned my back yard into a toxic waste site
Do things many others won't try or don't understand
Proven quite a few twits they are wrong
Did things my way
Found a new shooting passion, loading reduced loads for milsurps, I find it relaxing, making the rounds, testing, getting a good load and cracking off 50 for about 10 bucks.

Cost priceless
Be safe
 
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35 different bullet molds later, I still enjoy casting my own. Except when I move and 2400 lbs of lead and 700 lbs of bullets have to be carried to the new place. I had 124gr 9mm down to $2.45 a box of 50, same for 200 gr swc 45 acp box of 50.
 
I've done a little casting of .44mag bullets, years ago, because I had the mold, the time and found it interesting.
Wouldn't do it now because cast bullets are cheap and my time is precious.:pirate:
 
Abuddy of mine bought a new 45-70 this summer, factory ammo was $3 a round, we homeloaded a bunch for him using commercial bought 405 gr cast at $ .75 per round, home cast should cut that in half as well so we can go from $3 to under $.40 a round with a small $150 investment in tooling/pot. We know it never works out this way but mathematically a return on investmen would be realize after less than 60 rounds for this rifle.
 
I have a local mechanic that sells me 5 gallon buckets of wheel weights for $20. A fully processed bucket has been giving me between 100-120 pounds of cleaned lead. 7000 grains to a pound, you can see how cheap that is. I cast up about 650 230gr .45 projectiles the other week for a total material cost of $4.21. I also powder coat my projectiles so I don't have to mess with sticky/waxy lubes.
 
if you like to shoot and have more than a few guns it pays in the long term to cast. the cost of factory ammo will continue to climb in price.
 
There are startup costs to be sure. Smelting setup, casting pot, molds, sizers, toaster oven.
However, using a six cavity LEE mold, the 1st thousand cast bullets buys the mold. The next thousand and subsequent thousand bullets are free.
Most home casters will gravitate to powder coating their bullets saving the lubrisizer costs. Powder coating has revolutionized casting your own bullets, eliminating the lubing step....
 
I have 2 moulds after I tested the waters with lee moulds. One for 9mm that does cup points, flat point, and hp. The other is for 30 cal in my 30-30. 9mm costs me right around 4 cents a shot. 30-30 is 13 cents a shot. I would say that saves money considering cheap 9mm fmj is $16 a box of 50 plus tax and 30-30 is $20 a box of 20 plus tax.
 
Depends on why you wanna start... I'm a frugal shooter. Gave up my rimfires when bulk became scarce, and started casting for my 'surps. I had read of reloading for decades, but only started about 2 years ago...

I have found reloading, and casting as enjoyable a hobby as shooting itself. I'm assured it's going to feel mundane soon, and a chore there after...for now I can't seem beat the fun of taking a rifle, exploring it, and wringing the best I can from it.
 
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