Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting source for hard cast hunting projectiles

in my lever rifles and revolvers, I only shoot hardcast. I don't shoot them much, but need to get more.

I used to buy my projectiles from Beartooth, but the last order I placed was nearly a year ago, and I still haven't seen the bullets.

I understand Cast Performance is backlogged as well. Same for Leadhead (never ordered from either of those).

Can any of you recommend a provider for 38 cal (.357 Mag) in a ~185 gr FNGC's? thanks in advance.

I realize this forum is for the casting group, but I figure yall are more likely to have an answer than other forums.

Sound of silence, hey? Why do you think that might be?

one of the fine fellows on this forum has offered to make me some. 180gr WNGC's. they look very similar to the ones I used to buy from Beartooth.

thanks

Have you tried putting your wanted ad on the Cast Boolits website ?

Yes! Montana Bullet Works. Just a few weeks back I contacted Bruce with an unusual issue and Bruce took care of me. The bullets he sent me are beautiful, excellent and accurate!!!

Alan

I don’t know about ordering since I pour my own. Have heard good things about Montana bullets. I’d try calling first and make sure they have what you need.

I received my Montana Bullet Works order within 2 weeks of ordering. Bruce had to special order/cast mine.

The term "hardcast" and ''hunting projectiles'' are not really compatible. Anything much over 15 or 16 Bhn is getting into the area of brittle, likely fragmenting at higher velocities. Below say 15 Bhn and softer, then we are talking a soft ductile bullet that holds together well. Millions of buffalo were killed with Bhn 10 or so.

My shed. I cast em hard enough they can't be fingernail scratched. Good enough for a gas check

Fragmenting depends on the antimonial content, nose and impact speed.

Wheelweight metal has the same attributes under 15 BHN as it does up to as hard as they can be heat treated, which can exceed 30 BHN, the "reaction" is also similarly dependent on what is posted above, as it is for any lead alloy.

High antimonial alloys fragment in large, non- ductile pieces; wheelweight and similar alloys are not high in antimony.
Softer bullets don't always hold together well either. It all depends on my first sentence.

The 357 Magnum (or even a 357 Maximum or 35 Whelen) is not going give any problems in the hunting field cast hard with the correct alloy for its intended purpose.

Yep. And I seriously doubt you could push a hard cast bullet fast enough from a 357 mag in a Revolver or Lever Gun To fragment.
I’ve pushed a 180 gr WNFP Hard Cast bullet as fast as you could with a max load of WW-296 and never ever had one come apart. That’s with a bhn of 18.

Pure lead launched at 1600 fps. Dead deer 80 yards out there. Retained weight was ballpark 295 gr.




Hard cast is a bizarre concept that mostly serves to keep shipped bullets from getting dinged up in transit.

.30 cal 180 grains into soft sand. BHN 8-9 range. Retained weight 179gr.



There be a reason or three why some folks start casting their own.

Great shooting their DD. I have found my cast handgun bullets to usually be substantially more accurate than most jacketed bullets. And I’ve killed a ton of hogs with them too.
Along with quite a few deer and varmints.
The great thing about hard cast bullets is they tend not to lead the Bore like pure lead bullets do.
Guess I’m just too damn lazy to scrub lead out of my barrels. 😬

My experience has differed somewhat. In years gone by I experienced leading with cast bullets I'd purchased (hard cast). These days I kneel before his majesty of the realm, King Fit. Over the course of the last 15 years or so I've experienced leading but one time, that from a harder alloy than I'd previously shot with the .30 Sneezer. The King says things must fit. His wife the Queen demands the alloy hardness be appropriate to the peak pressure. Multiply alloy BHN by 1422 and you will find the pressure required to obturate the bullet properly, thus telling the leading devil to kiss your backside.

I shoot pure in my muzzle loaders, BHN 6-7 in BP cartridge guns, BHN 9 in the Sneezer and my .22 CF toy w/o issues. BHN 11-12 (roughly wheel weight equivalent) in my .30-30 at velocities up to the neighborhood of 2150 fps. I have also used some Lyman #2 alloy in a .22 K-Hornet with success.

100 yards .22 K-Hornet cast bullets - zero leading, velocity in the 2700 fps realm.

DD is correct; you can get leading with hard cast, pure lead, whatever.

22 rimfire bullets aren't "hard" by any stretch, yet many rifles and handguns drive tacks, even cheap ones.

Fit, finish, pressure and lube determine much success.

King Fit. Queen Obturation. Love it. And correct of course.

When I was shooting cast bullet comp in the 80's with Elmer Shook, we used pure linotype, water quenched, heat treated, with gas checks. 308 Winchester caliber and Hart SS Barrels we shot cast bullets in never saw a copper jacket bullet...never.

Undersize bullets will deposit a lot of lead vapor in the barrel, and a .0005-.0015 is a very good thing on the bullet dia.over size...know the bore dia of your barrel.

Cleaning with bronze bristle brushes with FINE Bronze wool wound in the bristles is needed from time to time to remove the lead.

For commercial vendor, check out GT bullets in Ga. George is an avid cast bullet shooter in pistols and rilfes and will alter his mix and sizing Dia for your needs.

I ordered George's HP with a soft alloy mix in the

9mm 130g hp- expanded to 69 caliber

40g-180g HP expanded to 85 caliber

45 200g hp expanded to 95 caliber



http://www.gtbullets.com/

Billy Goat,
I can help you get the bullets you desire. PM me if you're still looking.

Thanks, Dinny