Thread: Bullet casting - is it worth it

Originally Posted by Bill999

roberts 151 cast hollow points are awesome
i use em in my 308 and 300blk

when does anything firearm related pass the economy test?

I suppose only when you gather meat. But yes...

I cast for 9mm, 38 /357. 44mag, 45acp.32s&w,303brit,308,7.62x39. I have molds for many others I don't cast for with over 50molds in my collection and have been casting for 51 years. Havent bought a projectile in all that time. Casting is cost effective and a great hobby. Pure lead isn't much use unless casting for BP or low velocity target or hollow base projectiles and you will need to blend alloys to get good results. a very common mix is 50/50 lead to wheel weight or range lead then add by weight 2% tin. (best source of tin is from pewter bought at garage sales) . I have developed lubes for cast projectiles that can run up to 3000fps but for most applications these days will just powder coat. I import specific powders from the US. My shooting and casting is a hobby only and a typical cost for loading a 127grain 9mm is 10cents with the biggest cost being the primer. Lee products have really improved in recent years and are very good value. There are dedicated webb sites devoted to casting and much can be learned from them. There are a number of familiar names here that are common to these webb sites . My recommendation is to give it a go.

Originally Posted by Bill999

roberts 151 cast hollow points are awesome
i use em in my 308 and 300blk

when does anything firearm related pass the economy test?

You could go broke saving all that money!

Originally Posted by Cordite

A very useful very short video in that regard. Girl has a neurological condition btw, it's not just her Southern drawl:

I watched that video at least 10 times and I still don't have a clue what she is going on about ? . Do you think having the sound on will help

On a serious note , if you where to go on the premise of " What value does this have " you have already answered your question . No
You would save more money by buying meat at the supermarket but no you go hunting , you don't do it for the money you do it for the enjoyment . That is where the value is .

Save money, yes once you have garnered all the appropriate gear.
I shot IHMSA pistol, 45 rounds per match and some days shot 5 -6 matches. Around 250 -300 rounds per day. No way could I afford to shoot often if I had to pay top dollar for match 7mm & 30cal bullets.
I loaded for straight walled pistol calibers; 357 Mag, 357 Super Mag, 32 Mag, and for Rifle calibers; 22 Hornet, .223, 7BR, 30BR, 30 Herret, 7mm Super mag, 30-30 and others. You can find very accurate lead bullets in nearly every caliber.
The lead is cheap if you scrounge wheel weights from tyre shops and sort the zinc from the lead. Straight wheel-weights are almost perfect for most applications. You don't want hard bullets but, ie, 100% linotype but a soft mix about equivalent to the standard Lyman #2 mix.

I agree with some that maybe the shop bought lead bullets are OK for the straight walled cases but I never went down that track. My 357 & 357 Super Mag pistols with a RCBS 200gr cast bullet were very accurate out to 200 meters.

I gave it all away about twelve months ago when I got rid of all my pistols and bought a F-Class rifle to dabble with.

I used to spend half a day every three or four months and turn out maybe 300 - 400 bullets per hour, enough for many shoots.

Peter