Cheapest cast .45-70 plinker bullets?

[Tallinar]

I'm looking around for the cheapest deal I can find for a .45-70 bullet suitable for low pressure plinker loads. I don't need anything with tremendous performance, just something that will work for casual plinking, loaded with Trail Boss (going to be doing a little bit of cowboy shooting with .45-70 for fun).

So far searching online, I can't find anything more appealing than Missouri Bullet's #2 Buffalo - 300gr RNFP at $35.00 per 200. I've bought several thousand cowboy bullets from them in the past for .45's, .44's, and .38's. I've been completely satisfied with them, and plan to continue doing business with them for those bullets indefinitely.

For .458 diameter bullets though, can anyone top that for price? Bullet weight is irrelevant.
Thanks.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Why not get you a Lee Mold and cast your own ? It is easy, fun, and very econonical. Mold will cost you about $20. Good used ones are oput there delivered for $15. Get some wheel weights and away you go.
Head over to Castboolits sight and read up. I have been around casting since I was 4 (my dad & his navy buddy). Once you start casting your own you will start enjoying the freedom of never being out of ammo.
Absolute cheapest & light recoil projectile I have used in my 45-70´s is the lowly Round Ball. Get a .460 diameter. It can be fired at 450 FPS up to 1400 (wheelweight).
Lee makes a 340 grainer I use alot ....
Mike in Peru

 

[ljnowell]

If you are going to be buying lead than you cant do much better than Missouri Bullet. They are a perfect combination of value, quality, and customer service.

 

[Tallinar]

Why not get you a Lee Mold and cast your own ?

There's a little bit more equipment I am missing to start casting my own just yet. I do intend to get into it though. I'm just not quite ready to take the plunge.

Absolute cheapest & light recoil projectile I have used in my 45-70´s is the lowly Round Ball. Get a .460 diameter.

You know, I've never thought of using round balls. I'm going to have to research in that direction a bit more. Thanks for the idea!

Appreciate the replies so far.

 

[squarles67]

I use the 405 grain #1 Buffalo from Missouri Bullet, 39.50 for 200

 

[Tallinar]

Missionary - do you know where I could find a mold for a .460 diameter round ball? Doing a bit of reading on the matter, it seems all I can find is to do either a .457 mold, or use a .490 mold and purchase a sizer to size it down to .460.

I'd prefer to not have to purchase the sizer. In the end, if I can't get a .460, would a .457 work for my intended application without producing excessive barrel leading?

 

[MMCSRET]

39.50 for 200, that's 20 cents a piece, I can't afford that for plinking. In my loads the single most expensive component is the primer at about 3 cents. I shoot 300 rounds a week from long gun and hand gun, some times twice that and sometimes fewer but at 20 cents it ain't gonna happen.
Casting is the way to go!!!!!

 

[Tallinar]

The more I read, I am liking the round ball idea. My dad still has a melting pot from when he used to do muzzleloading. Seems like a cheap .457 Lee mold is all I'd need to get started. From what I read, many folks use these .457 round balls and just lube them up pretty good with Lee Alox. Others who are in it for more accuracy sounds like they do .490 and size down to .460. All I'm really concerned with is leading, given my application.

 

[ljnowell]

The more I read, I am liking the round ball idea. My dad still has a melting pot from when he used to do muzzleloading. Seems like a cheap .457 Lee mold is all I'd need to get started. From what I read, many folks use these .457 round balls and just lube them up pretty good with Lee Alox. Others who are in it for more accuracy sounds like they do .490 and size down to .460. All I'm really concerned with is leading, given my application.

Casting may be your best bet anyway. Its something I really want to start, just havent gotten around to doing it yet.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You can load a round ball in a 45-70 case? That sounds interesting alright. Anything I should know about how to load a round ball in a straight wall case? Same powders as a "normal" bullet would use? My mind is racing, I have to know now!!! LOL

 

[snuffy]

The round ball idea has merit, BUT you can't push them hard at all. The reason is the VERY limited bearing surface on the ball. It strips the rifling very easily, resulting in terrible accuracy and making a lead mine out of was a rifled barrel. casting them hard is one answer, but you still have to limit the velocity to around 1K.

It's being discussed over on cast boolits right now, look and learn.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=129602