Curiosity about what calibers you fellas cast. Not the cartridges so much as the caliber...

Me? Number of cartridges in parenthesis if more than one.

.17
.22
.257
.308 (2)
.357
.375
.40 (2)
.457
.50

.22 (a bunch)
.25 (a few)
6.5mm (one)
.30 (a helluva bunch)
.32 pistol (a bunch)
.32 rifle (a bunch)
.35 pistol (a bunch)
.40 rifle (one)
.45 pistol (a bunch)
.45 rifle (hardly any anymore)

.22 (3)
.22 handgun
.25
.270
.30 rifle
.30 handgun (3)
.338
.355/356 (2)
.358 rifle
.358 handgun (3)
.360 handgun
.375 handgun
.375 rifle
.40/10mm
.411 handgun
.412 rifle
.416
.44 (3)
.45 handgun (3)
.45 rifle
.501
12 gauge slug
00 Buckshot

* .270
* .308
* .338
* .38/357 (2)
* 9 mm
* .375
* .44 (2)
* .452 (3)
* .459

memtb

.224 (2)
.243
.257
.284 (2)
.375
.458 (3)
.357
.400
.430 (2)
.452
.445, .490 and .495 Round Ball molds

Forgot about the .380 roundball. Might have to cook up a squill load for the .38-55. 😁

Any 22cal molds with gas checks.

Sold the K-Hornet w/ mould awhile back but still cast for the .22 GTC. The Hornet used a Lyman 225438 gas checked bullet, the other is a cf version of the .22 RF.

Both my 22 molds are gas checked. Lyman 225438 22 Cal RN/GC 44 Grain and RCBS 82007 22-55-SP 55Grain.

Rifle
25-(2)
30- (2)
38
50-Muzzleloader

Pistol
40
45-(2)

After reviewing the responses I’m inclined to think we need to rewrite the Loony Tunes theme song. Some of you fellas make me feel like a genuine rookie. 😁

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!

There is but one rookie here, Dan, and it is I.

.358"
.410"
.429"
.452"
.454"

Good thread, Loony Dan.

Dan is dodging a bit, as he is at Doctorate level (he's the Campfire Jesuit that was on a quest for 22 rimfire substitutes) and probably found (created) a well found avenue.

Perhaps cartridges mentioned are in order.

I can speak only for myself, but I really enjoy handguns. I knew I couldn't afford to shoot them as much as I'd like or get the practice in to fully enjoy them without having more economical, yet precision bullets at hand.

Home brewing your projectiles keep what could be dormant arms functioning at top levels. This is especially true if one owns a gun in what is defunct at time when ammo ceases to exist or just isn't practical.

My cartridges that get this nod are:

22 Jet
Hornady defunct its only commercially available bullet (.222) and it shoots best with a cast (.224). The nominal size of the throats, which keeps forcing cone wear down.
22 Hornet- The Hornet doesn't need jacketed bullets to be at it's best. The 221, 222 and 223 also have a lot of practical room up to 3,000 fps. Someone mentioned 22 moulds. I have a Herter's, two NEI's and an LBT that cover 38-70 grains. 22's, within reason, have a ton of potential and a lot of experimentation with a minimum amount of expenditure in alloy and funds.This is also the best "trainer" caliber out there. Anything in 22 teaches, simply because none in a handgun or rifle creates flinches.

32 S&W Long, 32 H&R, 32-20, 327 Federal, 30 Mauser and Tokarev, 30 Carbine
These 30 caliber handgun rounds have a ton of potential, all of them. There aren't many decent jacketed bullets that accommodate them at reduced levels, nor are there many that make them the ballistic devils they are all, quite literally, capable of. Imagine a load that knocks the pants off of the next larger caliber, the 357-358, with the same or exceedingly greater BC with the use of quieter or less of a "loud"powder charge. The 30 caliber handguns do easily what anything larger cannot do without more noise, pressure, racket and recoil: duplicate the 22 LR in noise, racket and a little step in recoil. They can be made easily to have the same flight path. Nothing larger has these attributes.

The 38 S&W
Not a dire need for most, but if one wants greater accuracy and a tailored load for this often owned but seldom used cartridge, casting is the route for best results. Using soft, undersized bullets for the throat is a half assed attempt at getting one to work at its best. The only reason for caring is there are some really decent irons in 38 S&W.

40-411 Caliber
The rage on the Campfire seems to be 10mm Autos. It's odd I've been loading cast 180-200gr. fodder for several years for the 40 and 10mm without knowing how awesome they were. The loads that kept the guns fed never knew they would be bear stoppers or demand the price tags boutique companies load "custom" ammo for. My loads don't hobble and seem to have flatter noses than the ones deemed "best", but I'll shut up since Cor-Bon, others and Buffalo Bore have many buffaloed into buying stuff one can readily make oneself at a fraction of what bear defense is going for. We'll even not post the actual hardness tests of the over the counter component makers here....
The 41 caliber is mentioned here because few jacketed bullets exist for it, despite being a caliber that can readily be used in both rifle and handgun application.
In a handgun it's best cast options make it a step above the 35's and right with the 44's. It would be downright difficult to be proficient with a 41 caliber handgun shooting jacketed bullets without some decent dinero and an even better supply chain of components. It's being phased out.

44 Special
Anyone that uses the 44 Special realizes two things: The 44 Magnum isn't really needed for most things and factory 44 Specials have a great deal room for improvement. It, along with the 45 Colt, are what "mid magnum" is all about. They can keel over most anything and if pepped up a bit beyond anemic factory levels can do so, easily, inside of a hundred yards and kill big game without a lot of nonsense, a flat nose and some decent bullet weight. If there are any factory loads with the bullets capable of what one can cast and load themselves can do, I am not aware of it.

45-70

I've used the 45-70 at Trapdoor levels, in Ruger #1's with 500 grain stompers and in Marlin level loads in handguns ad riflesfor hunting deer, all with home brewed cast bullets of some iteration.

A friend asked what we could get for his sister for her house gun, a Marlin 1895 carbine. Some Unique, a Winchester 410 shot cup, some Winchester 9 shot topped off by a pure lead .459 round ball mould creation crimped for cycling and as a "conversation" starter made a pretty good house defense item for a young single lady. Inside a house and not enough far outside of it, it would get things done.
Again, just another thing you can't go out and buy right now, if not ever.

Nicely written and well thought out post, HawkI.

.243
308.
3585.
378.
413
452-3
454
4585

I cast:
50 caliber round ball
9mm
38 full wadcutter
38/357 SWC
40/10mm
41 Magnum
44 Special/Magnum SWC
45 ACP
45 Colt SWC

30 Carbine
45-70

All from straight clip on wheelweights except for the round ball which I cast from cable sheathing.

rookie....

.375 ball, .451,ball, .530 ball, 9mm, 38/357, 41, 45, 452, .459-45/70, .308/30-30, .375 winchester, 44 mag., learning from this site. Oh, .457 ball also. Ruger old army...

I cast and size to.310, .360, .432, .453, .503

some
[img]https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...nXxq68C3sAKKu3bNdx_hshtw&oe=621D9564[/img]

Lost count, but most of the usuals mentioned here. I have some odd antique molds friends have given me and I don't know what the diameter is on the castings. Been shooting 308's lately and also some 35's. I have molds for 22's to 45 and one 58 cal that I have zero use for

Rider,
That list does not make you a rookie. I’ve been casting my own for almost 40 yrs. and your list is the same as my current one.