.454 Lead Round Balls

[Rudedog]

I'm sure in light of recent events and the on going shortage of regular ammunition to include .22 long rifle. What gives with .454 round ball for cap and ball revolvers?
I can't find any period. Not locally or through any online or catalog sources.
Are all the preppers and survivalists stocking up on these too?

 

[[email protected]]

I will probably have some for sale next month. 9.00 hundred shipped in flat
Rate box.

 

[ihctractor]

My local black powder shop says he's having trouble getting percussion caps and lead balls because the manufactures are using all the components and manpower to make modern ammo to try and meet that demand.
Black powder shooters are pretty low priority to the manufactures right now.

 

[Patocazador]

You may have to cast your own.

 

[damoc]

I had the same trouble something is not right blackpower shooting should not be affected survivalists,preppers or hoarders buying a few extra rounds.

 

[EljaySL]

Again, look at who makes a lot of this stuff. Hornady, CCI, Remington. They're busy.

 

[swathdiver]

Grafs and Sons has them in stock...

 

[1KPerDay]

PM blarby on this forum... he might have some ready.

 

[EljaySL]

re: Grafs That's a good reminder - they've been coming in and out of stock there but last I saw they were pretty much well supplied again.

I don't know, when I saw they were out of everything except 457s at my local BassPro and ToW and Grafs were out of the common sizes (at the time) I started casting. Even then the molds went out of stock a week later so I wasn't the only one with that idea. For a while there you couldn't get handles anywhere - I ended up having to backorder some to run some molds that didn't come with handles. I put in backorders for both Lee and Lyman handles just in case, and I ended up with 1-2 extra sets. So I guess I'm a handle hoarder now.

 

[Rudedog]

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered some from Track of the Wolf.
$10 per 100.

 

[Patocazador]

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered some from Track of the Wolf.
$10 per 100.

At that price I'd buy a mould and cast them for sure. 10 cents each for a round ball is robbery IMO.

 

[Rudedog]

You are right Patocazador. I do have a mould somewhere but no melter/furnace and ladle, guess I'll have to set money aside.

 

[EljaySL]

10 cents each is what they've been running for at least the last couple of years.

Anyway, you don't need a lot of stuff to get rolling. Ladle's $20 which you don't have to have if you buy a downpour but it's nicer to use a ladle anyway. Lee mold's $20. Electric furnace is $60 or if you have a camp stove or something you can just get a cast iron pot of some kind. Thermometer's nice but not critical. Eye protection I assume you have. I use welders gloves which is really handy. Hot plate $20 is nice but not critical (if you want to pre-heat stuff). rotometals has decent prices on 99.9% pure lead and free shipping if you buy a decent amount or you can skulk around on casting forums and get somewhat harder lead for less. I'd stick with the known good stuff for cap and ball at least to start.

You should check the prices on the larger balls, by the way. If you shoot anything in the .60+ range the commercial balls are crazy expensive.

 

[Goody3086]

I get mine from here, 250 for $18 plus shipping.

http://www.whyteleatherworks.com/

 

[Rudedog]

Thanks Goody 3086! Never heard of them before.