Cost of modern bullets compared to lead ball

[donparadowski]

Does anyone know how to avoid the $1-2 cost per bullet these days? Please don't mention ball and patch as the alternative. I am asking if anyone knows were to buy lower costing modern bullets. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. I am looking to be shooting a 50 cal. weapon.

 

[J-Bar]

Will you be using cast lead bullets or jacketed bullets in sabots?

 

[donparadowski]

I am after long range accuracy and knock down power. I am thinking of jacketed bullets in sabots

 

[rodwha]

Hornady XTPs are hard to beat and perform quite well.

 

[donparadowski]

@ rodwha

Do they make it in a non-hollow point?

 

[J-Bar]

What animal are you hunting? The XTP hollow point will do a fine job on deer.

If you are worried about penetration, try the Hornady Great Plains bullet, on sale at MidwayUSA, 50 cents each:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/53...caliber-385-grain-lead-hollow-point-box-of-20

 

[ROAshooter]

"Please don't mention ball and patch as the alternative."

sounds like a comment from a SS....inline...pellet loading....shotgun 209 primered...scoped...plastic stocked..."primitive season" shooter....

 

[Sam1911]

sounds like a comment from a SS....inline...pellet loading....shotgun 209 primered...scoped...plastic stocked..."primitive season" shooter....

Which is perfectly fine and good.

However, what gun he's using isn't the subject of the thread, so keep it on topic.

 

[rodwha]

Don: The heavier .44 and .45 bullets are not a HP. But I've read great things about the HPs, and it's what my dad often used if not a PowerBelt.

Speer Gold Dots do well also I've read.

I shoot patched ball and lead conicals so I haven't tried them, but the Hornady bullets are quite popular with sabot users.

I've been considering a barrel or rifle for hunting fields and such and want a flat shooting projectile. I've been eyeing that 250 grn SST.

 

[CraigC]

Could always use a cast pistol bullet.

 

[4v50 Gary]

If long range and knock down are your selection criteria, check out the back page article of the latest (Dec. 2015) American Rifleman. It discusses the Whitworth Rifle. I recall reading one Union surgeon's account where it dropped two horses with one hit at 500 yards. Buy a repro (much cheaper than the $6,500 for an original) and you'll have to cast your own .451 bolts.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yes indeed, and if I'm nkt mistaken, Pedersoli just started producing these again, or for the first time.

It is an excellent time to be a Whitworth man.

 

[Noz]

I know it's not what you asked but the TC MaxiBall and MaxiHunter are excellent choices if you don'r want to shoot round balls.

 

[kBob]

I recently read a decades old article on the Whitworth where in it was noted that cylindrical .451 bullets of appropriate weight and length worked as well as the hexagonal bullets.

In my research of late I found out how one got micrometer sight like accuracy with those open tangent sights back in the day. Basically a marksman had a sepperate micrometer like device he set for the correct setting for a given range and then placing this on the rear sight adjusted the rear to fit the micrometer which was then removed for the shot.

I also rather liked the "adjustment" feature on the Whitworth short range sight. The rear sight featured a little shelf and a screw hole that allowed one to chose one of several rear sight leafs to place on the elevator when it is used down. One finds the leaf that gives one the closest hits vertically. Rather than a simple hole for the screw to pass through each blade features a slot that allows windage to be adjusted for fine adjustments.

I wonder if something like that rear sight system would be allowed in competitions with the P53 Enfield and varients?

Neat stuff.

Also pre loaded cartridges where available that worked something like.....well a modern tampon applicator is the best I can do to describe it. It had tape across the open end of a larger diameter tube and then cards and felt wads and then the lubed bullet. A smaller tube was used as a plunger to shove the projectile and its card and wad straightly into the muzzle without the need for a false muzzle in the field.

-kBob

 

[BlondeBear63]

Check out this thread...

I had a bad experience over the past weekend using sabots. And it seems I am not the only one.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10110576#post10110576

I agree with Noz, check out the MaxiBall.

 

[donparadowski]

First of all I would LOVE to be shooting a hex Whitworth but I am a leftie and the weapon weighs 14 pounds I am told.

Secondly, I have been shooting center fire 200 grain blunt nosed core lock bullets for fifty years in 35 and 308 calipers. I really like how the bullet opens up and I have had friends have hollow cores break apart and the pieces end up in various cuts of their meat only to be found at the dinner table.

I found what works for me and if I can find the equivalent for my new found muzzle loading adventures great. If hollow core is superior for this application...by all means please tell me so.

 

[DD4lifeusmc]

personally I don't understand people that buy a muzzle loading black powder rifle then want to use modern components in it.
Blackhorn isn't really Black powder, and isn't really a typical substitute eithet, more advanced.
Then buys a 50 caliber just to load up a sabotted round to shoot a 40or 45 caliber bullet so he can get more velocity and possibly range and accuracy.
Then wants to question where he can buy said bullets cheaper than what he is paying.
Well you don't want patch and ball. Fine
Just buy standard all lead conicals in 50 caliber.
for example Dixiegun works has 50 cal conicals approx 350 gr maxi ball design for 32 cents each.

 

[Sam1911]

personally I don't understand people that buy a muzzle loading black powder rifle then want to use modern components in it.

Why in heaven's name not? I mean, if it just isn't your "thing," or you're a historian or devotee of primitive arts and science then by all means do what makes you happy.

(What's REALLY odd is choosing to use patched round ball and/or flintlock ignition in a firearm <ahem... "Hawken?"> about as similar to a period correct firearm as a faux-woodgrain Ford LTD station wagon is to a buckboard and team. But hey...some folks...)

For most of the rest of folks, muzzle loaders are an interesting way to play with the concept of launching projectiles and need no artificial limitations -- and/or -- are a way to greatly expand their hunting season and they'd not pick up a front-stuffer if the law didn't make them use it.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[swathdiver]

Mr. Paradowski, At what range do wish to take down what animal?

 

[frontiergander]

harvester scorpion pt gold

 

[Texas Moon]

It took me forever but I finally found a Maxi-Ball mould and cast my own.
Cost went way down.

 

[dickydalton]

All I know is that a 300 XTP hollow point .430 would act like a solid at over 100 yards out of a sabot. I once shot a deer at 187 yards with a 44 magnum and that bullet by the ballistics table would have been going a little over 900 FPS at impact. It went through a rib on each side, drilled a hole through the heart, messed up the lungs and never stopped. there was zero sign of expansion on the exit hole in the hide. If sabots are your thing the XTPs will work fine.

 

[rodwha]

Going back the OP about cost I'd suggest a lead bullet you cast yourself. It's what made me decide to cast my own.

I was shooting Kaido's FN bullets through my Ruger Old Army, but at the then $40/100 (now $50/100) + shipping expense I felt it was time to do it myself. I bought simple and inexpensive Lee equipment and molds, along with a custom mold from Accurate Molds for WFN bullets to shoot through my percussion pistols. I bought lead from a scrap yard for $1/pound. Outside of the equipment cost that gives me thirty-five 195 grn bulets for a dollar. Can't beat that price, and in no time my equipment costs were paid for.

 

[donparadowski]

The longest shot would be about 300 yards.

 

[donparadowski]

I forgot to mention deer at max of 300 yards.