Casting Poll

Do you Cast?

  • Yes

    Votes: 64 71.9%
  • No

    Votes: 18 20.2%
  • No, but seriously considering it

    Votes: 7 7.9%

  • Total voters
    89
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I slowly morphed from shooting jacketed. To buying some cast. To casting some. To casting a lot of what I shoot.
Obviously my 5.56, 22-250, 240Wby, and 300 WM are not getting cast bullets.
The rest seem to like cast almost as well as jacketed.
 
I slowly morphed from shooting jacketed. To buying some cast. To casting some. To casting a lot of what I shoot.
Obviously my 5.56, 22-250, 240Wby, and 300 WM are not getting cast bullets.
The rest seem to like cast almost as well as jacketed.

This is exactly what I would have typed (with the exception of the specific calibers mentioned)

I can honestly say that I enjoy casting almost as much as shooting.

*edit* I also enjoy scrounging up lead.

My wife hates it when I bail out of the car at intersections to grab a handful of wheelweights just laying there, you know like treasure!
 
I had absolutely no interest in casting bullets until I hit about 64 years old then all of the sudden, I decided I could reload for less than half the cost of shooting store bought jacketed bullets. 9mm cost about a dime to load. Same for 45 ACP and other pistols. Paper targets do not know the difference. Also now have son and grandson going to range with me and they shoot my reloads. (They don't reload and can't afford to buy ammo these days). Of course, we like shooting my milsurps so those I provide ammo for. I now find I really enjoy casting and powder coating. It is not nearly as big a job as I used to think. When 6 cavity mold is working well, I can cast a thousand in less than an hour. About the same for powder coating. I find that when mold is hot, cast a bunch of them.
 
Last edited:
You need another category - "Not now, but used to, and still could if I wanted to or the need arises." ;)
I used to cast a lot of different 38, 44 and 45 caliber handgun bullets. I even tinkered around with casting a few 30 caliber bullets for my 30-30. I still have all of the equipment, as well as a good stash of lead and lead alloys.
It's just that I kind of got bored with casting bullets, and back then, commercial cast bullets (which I still use a lot of) weren't all that expensive. I mean sure, even back then I could cast them cheaper myself. But why? I didn't enjoy casting bullets, and I could afford (still can) to buy commercially cast bullets anyway.
 
Timing for me was all off. I used to build X-ray facilities for Doctor's offices, and I gave away enough lead scrap to last a caster a lifetime. Problem then was, I didn't really understand casting was worthwhile for reloaders, until I got old.....and I've probably had enough lead exposure already.....so I probably ought to pass.
 
Last edited:
I bought everything I needed to cast all the calibers I shoot in handguns and black powder rifles . I practiced a little bit and then put all of that to the side because I have a local caster that is very reasonably priced, and powder coats.

Should that supply be impeded for any reason I’m ready to start up and make my own.
 
I cast and load for 18 calibers. Lately I have been working up loads with cast bullets for 22-250, 7mm-08, 45-70, and 6.5CM. Believe it or not I'm getting very close to jacketed bullets with the 6.5cm at 100 yards. Browning Xbolt with a 26" barrel.
 
Though I haven't fired up the pot in a while, yes, I do cast.
It truly is another hobby in itself, that supports the reloading and shooting hobbies.
So, I cast, I reload, I shoot. And then repeat.

For the record, I still load and shoot with commercial bullets, cast, plated, and jacketed.
But, for me, there is something very satisfying in casting, loading and then shooting a round that was "made" by me.
 
I can cast for most anything I reload but in some instances it is more economical time wise to purchase cast by others. I have many pounds of lead and lots of molds. If things get bad buying bullets I have already made and tested my own bullets. I will never be unable to make my own ammo if need be.
 
I went with no, but I am remotely considering it. Most commercial cast prices aren’t too bad for what I shoot. If I got into shotgun slugs that might change though. I at least collect any free lead I can get incidentally. I figure I can always trade it for something else too.
 
Yes I have but not currently. (voted yes) I’ll get back to it when I need another hobby but I have too many irons in the fire right now. It’s nice knowing I can though.
 
Last edited:
No, and not really considering it, even though I shoot a fair amount of cast... rifle and pistol. For me, it's a time thing.... I barely have time to reload, let alone starting to cast. It is what it is.

I get my rifle bullets from RimRock/LaserCast, and my specialty bullets from Montana Bullet Works. Yes, Montana is expensive, but the quality is unsurpassed. I get the majority of my pistol bullets from all the usual suspects... although I have a friend of mine who volunteered to cast me up some .45 Colt bullets. He's retired... and has time to burn! ;)
 
homemade.jpg Yuppers, some firearms work best with special loads.
Some like to be fed the same thing the Army fed them. Either way you can makem
Ideal .460, 405gr RNFB
 
^^^^ I just cast 200 of those monsters for the Quigley and 100 Lee 400 gr hollow base. As long as the pot was full & hot, I added 1,200 Lyman 200 gr SWC FB, 600 Lyman 158 grain SWC FB. They are all sized and lubed, ready to load tomorrow on the Dillon for 45 ACP and 357 Magnum.
 
My revolver reloading started with 38 Special working up to 45 Colt was entirely (99.5%) cast handloads. I have some guns that have not fired a jacketed bulet as long as they have been in my posession (5, 44 agnums, 3, 45 ACP, 3, 38 Spedial, 2, 357 Magnums). Casting opens up a whole new, very satisfying world of reloading...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top