Need Lead Bullets!

[Skyrider]

I have not had much luck at finding "cheap brass" for my 45/120 Buff rifle! I ordered a 100 from Midway USA and they cost me over 2 dollars a piece, half what the 45/90 John Bodine Rolling Block brass cost.

Now anybody got a lead on where to find .45 cal hard cast bullets in the .550 grain bullet weight? I am all ears gentys.

[Blackpowder Burn]

I'd try Buffalo Arms for the bullets.

www.buffaloarms.com

[Ranch 13]

You don't want hard cast in that thing.
Take a look at the offerings from Cheycast, buffalo arms and montana bullet works. There's also a fella out of Miles City Mt. by the name of John Olsen that is casting some good bpcr bullets.

[cat1870]

I have about 50 if you want them.   You can have them if you want to pay the shipping.
That would be about $5.30 priority mail.

Cat

[cat1870]

Actually there is 40 of them and they're sized .458.

[PJ Hardtack]

Skyrider

If you're lookin' fer cheap, you sure picked the wrong calibre! T'ain't nuthin' cheap about shootin' a BPCR, especially a 45-120.

A pal has a Uberti High Wall in 45-120 and was shocked when he bought 100 Norma cases for it. Cost him $2.50 a case before S&H.
He was going to shoot store bought bullets but borrowed a mould from me to cast some up. Then it was about the powder that monster eats up ....

His 45-70 is lookin' a whole lot better to him today, but he had to have the 'Boss' gun, forgettin' that it comes with a price.

[Skyrider]

PJ, I guess we all must learn, some like myself go the long way around and dollars out of the piggy bank before reality sets in....Dah!
Yep, the buff rifle likes powder by the cupful. I finally got some bullets for that long barrel rifle, now just got to put things together.

I was wondering if reloading (casting your own lead bullets) takes very much time and how expensive is it to get the job done etc???
The last time I melted any lead, was 1950 and I was a kid back then doing fishing weights made from "lead window" weights. How many rounds can a person load in say 1 hours time?

[PJ Hardtack]

Skyrider

It is said that if someone offers you a chance to shoot his BPCR with bullets he cast/sized/lubed, brass he deprimed, sized, trimmed, annealed, washed, FL and/or neck sized, he likes you - a LOT! There is no escaping it; it is a labour intensive process, somewhat a labour of love.

I learned a trick from Mike Venturino's writings that I'll pass on .... when you cast, use gang moulds where applicable, double cavity if available in that design and more than one mould otherwise. This gives the mould time to cool, preventing overheating and lead smears on the sprue cutter and builds up a supply of bullets quickly.

A casting set up is as expensive as you want to make it. I use an old propane camp stove with cast iron lead pots as I find that ladling lead produces a better bullet than the bottom pour Lee pot I recently sold. If you'r really into BPCRs, your time will be spent between the casting pot, luber/sizer, loading bench and the range. At the risk of waxing lyrical for a moment, bullet casting is more an art form than a science.
Despite your best efforts, the area around your casting set up will quickly become lead spattered, and the first time you empty a lead pot with a drop of water, that will include the ceiling. Ask me how I know .... It CANNOT be done in an area your wife considers sacred - i.e. the house. You will be relegated to the garage or garden shed.

As for time; if time is your shortest commodity - fuggedaboudit! Using two different moulds, I recently produced 105 Lyman 515141s and 86 Lyman 457125s in 2-1/2hours - after culls. Both single cavity moulds. Always looks and feels like more, but the count tells the truth. I  find standing in one spot this long somewhat fatiguing (even on a rubber industrial mat), but it keeps the moulds hot. This is why I only cast pistol bullets intended for BP use. For smokeless, I'd just as soon buy commercial bullets by the 1000.
The bullets I cast are sitting on the bench beside the luber/sizer waiting for a rainy day. If I was really into it, I'd be weighing and sorting + or - a few grains and sorting into batches. I'm not that dedicated.

If you're still interested now, you're a keener. Otherwise, I expect that you'll be placing an order with BACO or some other supplier.  ;>)

[wolflobo76]

 It isn't cheap to shoot that rifle. I have a 45-110 with a 34" barrel on it. Got the brass from BACO and mold my own bullets . Yes it is a good idea to use two molds when casting  bullets , but i only do up 100 or so at a time using two lead melters. I don't have the time to really get into the serious target shooting just enough to keep in practice and for hunting.

[wolflobo76]

 When i'm casting bullets for my Sharps  I'm using 19lbs of wheel weight lead to 1lb of tin.  The heaviest bullets  I cast right now  are a couple of the 405grn using Lyman moulds.

[Skyrider]

I must say THANK YOU ALL who in fact contributed to this thread!!! Yes, I am finding out that shooting this heavy rascal buff guns is not cheap by any means. My time is not something I have a lot of really, so I purchased bullets from several companies that you foilks presented in your posts.

I just received some Creedmoor bullets (545 grn) from Buffalo Arms and they had been rung through the ringer via the US Mail. I finally got them all sorted out and placed downstairs. I wish I had time to make my own bullets but time is something I really don't have much off lately.

I am rather axious to shoot some of these bullets< 550 grn Montana, 545 Creedmoor by Buffalo Arms, 430 grn from Meister and 405 from Oregan Trails. I even got the wife some of those 380 grn bullets too for her 45/90. Thanks again Gents!

[wolflobo76]

  You are most welcome Skyrider.