Why bother with 22's when I can shoot 38's

[theleo]

I did the math on some 38 specials I was reloading this morning, it came to the total of $7/100. At 7 cents a shot for 38's my 22 stash will remain protected.

[Wazukie]

What bullet are you using for that cost?

I load my .45 for .17 per round.  That is for bullet, powder and primer.  Brass is free.

[2labs]

What bullet are you using for that cost?

I load my .45 for .17 per round.  That is for bullet, powder and primer.  Brass is free.

That's about what I came up with loading Berry's bullets in .45. .7 sounds cheap!

[theleo]

Home cast wadcutters?

Close, round nose flat points.

[theleo]

What bullet are you using for that cost?

I load my .45 for .17 per round.  That is for bullet, powder and primer.  Brass is free.

154 grain RNFP. Lead was free, tin was 14.99/lb. The lead to tin ratio is 30 : 1 for these, my math shows about a penny per bullet for tin, lube was $2.20/stick one stick lubes roughly 1,500 of these bullets (add postage and split postage across a dozen sticks) to the tune of about a penny a piece, powder is 3 grains out of a jug of 4 pounds that I bought $81.21, brass was free, primers were $4.00/100.

[Bill W]

you using pure lead or wheelweights?  If wheelweights all you need to do is get it hotter to make it fill the mould out.

[theleo]

you using pure lead or wheelweights?  If wheelweights all you need to do is get it hotter to make it fill the mould out.

Range scrap for pistol bullets. I cast 20 to 1 for the rifle bullets using pure lead (.458's for 45-90/45-70 and .313's/.314's for a trio of 32-20's).

[Bill W]

you could cut your costs for the pistol bullets by leaving out the tin.  It shouldn't make a difference.  At 25 yards pistol bullets don't need to be pretty to hit the black. 

Range lead for pistol bullets have some tin in them unless they are .22 rimfire splashes.

[jdb]

I just started shooting a .22 hornet for the same reason. I can use it for varmints for the same price I was shooting my .22 mag

[theleo]

I just started shooting a .22 hornet for the same reason. I can use it for varmints for the same price I was shooting my .22 mag

Standard or k-hornet?

[jdb]

Standard but I've been kicking around the idea of reaming it to a K

[jasnt]

I did the math on some 38 specials I was reloading this morning, it came to the total of $7/100. At 7 cents a shot for 38's my 22 stash will remain protected.

im in pretty much the same boat with my 44mag and 9mm. Cast is awesome! Free lead is even better!

[theleo]

I did the math on some 38 specials I was reloading this morning, it came to the total of $7/100. At 7 cents a shot for 38's my 22 stash will remain protected.

im in pretty much the same boat with my 44mag and 9mm. Cast is awesome! Free lead is even better!

I have yet to pay for lead, and since I'm up to about 600lb of pure soft lead I probably won't be in the near futue.
The majority of my 44 bullets are hollow points, I'd hate to see the retail cost for 500 44cal HP's is these days.

[bobcat]

Isn't your time worth anything?

[theleo]

Isn't your time worth anything?

I had that discussion on another board no to long ago. Basically, the time I spend reloading and casting comes out of time I'd have been sitting on my butt watching TV. So no, the time I spend reloading ain't worth a thing. The only way I can see putting a dollar amount on my time is if I would be otherwise doing overtime at work, but if I need to do OT I do it and not reload instead.

[Bill W]

what moulds are you using for casting your bullets?   I have a .44 HP mould that came from Slovenia.  Sure does beat the Lee HP mould for quality.

[JDHasty]

I just started shooting a .22 hornet for the same reason. I can use it for varmints for the same price I was shooting my .22 mag

Oh absolutely!  I don't take a 22 mag to Montana any more, just take 1,700 rounds of 22 Hornet instead.  Everything the 22 mag does the Hornet does better.  The only place I still use it is in orchards and close in rock chuck shooting spots that disallow center fire rifles. 

[theleo]

what moulds are you using for casting your bullets?   I have a .44 HP mould that came from Slovenia.  Sure does beat the Lee HP mould for quality.

I use NOE moulds. It's nice when you have a problem with anything you can call there and talk with the owner and he'll walk you through what ever the problem might be. The only problem I have had dealing with them was ordering a mold for 32-20's. I placed the order off their website and got a call from the owner about an hour later. He said the mould I had ordered was out of stock and their inventory was off. He asked if it would be alright to get their last 5 cavity mould of the same design (my original order was a 4 cavity). I said not a problem and asked if he'd like my card number, as the 5 cavity was more expensive. He said, nope it's our screw up and I'll send this out first thing in the morning. It's great to do business with someone like that. I'm up to 7 moulds from there and all cast just like they're supposed to. The hollow point moulds cast bullets just as fast as the solid versions and they normally come with pins for hollow point, cup points, and flat nose bullets

[Fl0und3rz]

Jealous and tagging along. 

[Bill W]

what moulds are you using for casting your bullets?   I have a .44 HP mould that came from Slovenia.  Sure does beat the Lee HP mould for quality.

I use NOE moulds. It's nice when you have a problem with anything you can call there and talk with the owner and he'll walk you through what ever the problem might be. The only problem I have had dealing with them was ordering a mold for 32-20's. I placed the order off their website and got a call from the owner about an hour later. He said the mould I had ordered was out of stock and their inventory was off. He asked if it would be alright to get their last 5 cavity mould of the same design (my original order was a 4 cavity). I said not a problem and asked if he'd like my card number, as the 5 cavity was more expensive. He said, nope it's our screw up and I'll send this out first thing in the morning. It's great to do business with someone like that. I'm up to 7 moulds from there and all cast just like they're supposed to. The hollow point moulds cast bullets just as fast as the solid versions and they normally come with pins for hollow point, cup points, and flat nose bullets

You must be on the "cast boolits" website as that's where a lot of the NOE moulds get sold.   

[Buzz2401]

Where do you get the free lead I need like 100lbs

[theleo]

what moulds are you using for casting your bullets?   I have a .44 HP mould that came from Slovenia.  Sure does beat the Lee HP mould for quality.

I use NOE moulds. It's nice when you have a problem with anything you can call there and talk with the owner and he'll walk you through what ever the problem might be. The only problem I have had dealing with them was ordering a mold for 32-20's. I placed the order off their website and got a call from the owner about an hour later. He said the mould I had ordered was out of stock and their inventory was off. He asked if it would be alright to get their last 5 cavity mould of the same design (my original order was a 4 cavity). I said not a problem and asked if he'd like my card number, as the 5 cavity was more expensive. He said, nope it's our screw up and I'll send this out first thing in the morning. It's great to do business with someone like that. I'm up to 7 moulds from there and all cast just like they're supposed to. The hollow point moulds cast bullets just as fast as the solid versions and they normally come with pins for hollow point, cup points, and flat nose bullets

You must be on the "cast boolits" website as that's where a lot of the NOE moulds get sold.

Lots of good info on that forum but I order directly from NOE. Great company for cast stuff. The molds aren't cheap, but they've got other stuff that can definitely save you some money.

[Bill W]

How did you hear about NOE?  I'm curious about how unless you have friends on that site.

Here's what the latest handgun moulds look like that I've bought.  http://www.mp-molds.com/index.php?pr=Molds    I got this style as it can be switched from a HP to a flat nose by just reversing the insert.   I also have one of Veral Smith's flat nose WFN .357 moulds in 180 grain. 

Mostly I shoot cast bullets in rifles but do reload handgun ammo and shoot for fun.   I've shot 100 yard groups in a rifle down to .289" but those don't happen every day.

[theleo]

How did you hear about NOE?  I'm curious about how unless you have friends on that site.

Here's what the latest handgun moulds look like that I've bought.  http://www.mp-molds.com/index.php?pr=Molds    I got this style as it can be switched from a HP to a flat nose by just reversing the insert.   I also have one of Veral Smith's flat nose WFN .357 moulds in 180 grain. 

Mostly I shoot cast bullets in rifles but do reload handgun ammo and shoot for fun.   I've shot 100 yard groups in a rifle down to .289" but those don't happen every day.

They advertise in handloader quite a bit. There was also a good rite up on them last year. My first molds were lyman, but the SWC wasn't large enough. I searched around and NOE was my most affordable option. I do participate on that forum but never have in there group buys. NOE does all their business on their website these days instead of doing group buys elsewhere.