Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Cast bullets load basics

Can someone point me toward a good resource for loading cast bullets? I've been loading jacketed for quite some time, but just bought 500 cast bullets that I would like to try. Don't know if it matters but it's a 190 Ranch Dog bullet in a .357 maximum Contender carbine.

I'll suggest you get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet handbook. Read it, digest it, and come back here if you have any questions. If I were a professor teaching a college-level handloading course, this book would be on the required reading list if not the course textbook itself.

What gnoahhh said! Also, be sure to check out the cast boolits forum website.

Don

If it takes a text book I'll probably say, $uck it and just shoot jacketed bullets. Surely it's not that complicated is it?

The Lymann cast bullet handbook is a very good resource and well worth the money. No, you don't need a textbook but you might find the articles in the first half of the book worth it.

Read Glen Fryxell’s articles www.lasc.us/articlesfryxell.htm

Now for absolute basics with your 357 max, not that much different than jacketed but you might want to bell the case mouths slightly more to ease seating bullets. When I had my 357 max contender I found AA 1680 the best powder for 200 gr cast bullets and would recommend working up loads with the same powder.

Biathlonman,

You're gonna need load data for your lead bullets, of which the Lyman books (either the Cast Bullet handbook or the 49th Edition reloading manual) contain big time. So, they are much more than "how to" books.

Don

Do either of those manuals list the .357 maximum?

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook does not, but the Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Handbook does. BTW, great reloading manual for non-lead bullet loads as well.

Don