Casting not your cup of tea?

[Murphy]

When I began casting over 20 years ago, I got into it for 2 reasons. One was the money factor. Number two was I couldn't buy them boolits Skeeter was always talking about, nor .44 slugs that Keith fella used.

At one point in time, I was casting and shooting 3,000 boolits a month for my own use. Then I got into it as a part time business. I bought a Magma Master Caster & a Star sizer with the auto feed tubes. I probably cast 200,000 rounds in the course of 4-5 years.

Then I slowed down, way down. I wasn't shooting nearly as much and had given up trying to make much money at selling boolits.

Now I cast for 2 simple reasons. Once again for economical purposes, but more than anything else it's the only way to get the boolit I want to use. And there is that chase for the 'right load' for any given gun I own. All hand crafted with pride.

Thanks,

Murphy

[Dale53]

Boerrancher;
Thanks for your service. I cannot claim head injury (well, nothing serious, at least) but I CAN claim agitation. I worked for thirty years in a rather stressful occupation (nothing like being in combat, I assure you) but would end up the day feeling "less than perfect". A couple of hours at the reloading bench and "all would be fine, again"). I could actually feel the stress leaving just minutes into the reloading task. Helped me to keep my sanity while others were losing theirs.

I would rather shoot than cast bullets or reload but I do NOT find those tasks distasteful. In fact, they still help me maintain my stability. My wife is a wonderful cook and seamstress (including quilter) and it appears that she feels pretty much the same about her hobbies/work.

I truly believe that "doers" are blessed and that certainly includes US. ("Doers" are people that "do things" whether it is sewing, wood carving, working on cars, or writing or photography.)

Dale53

[joeb33050]

But I'm curious, has anybody tried it and just not liked casting, or do you know of someone like that. Anyone out there feel that casting is just a onerous chore that must be done to keep oneself supplied with bullets?

I've been casting sinjce 1960 and do not like casting, do not enjoy it, don't like the work or the burns or the smell or the heat.
I get satisfaction from having the bullets cast, inspected, weighed, sized, lubed and on the shelf; but would rather not do the work.
Same with reloading.
I shoot rifle bullets, ~100 per week on average.
I change the alloy, mold, size or lube quantity (# grooves lubed) almost every time I shoot.
I'm not crazy about the shooting, either. The range is 100 miles from home, solid 2-1/2 hours each way. It is either very hot, raining, or windy. About 93 yesterday, 147% relative humidity, little to no wind, everyone on the line soaked with sweat and holding/using a sweat mopper.
I like to/want to know "what happens when..." It's all about learning, for me, and always has been that way.
If any of you casting-likers can cast ~perfect bullets, let me know and I'll mail you alloy and mold and let you take over; won't charge you a dime!
joe b.

[Bass Ackward]

If you make casting / reloading like work, it will seem like work. What happens is that we lose our sense of judgement believing that EVERYTHING must be cast, or loaded by us. Even the gun areas that interest us can affect reality. The real problem comes because and when we aren't set up for volume. Then this single purpose can ruin us to casting in general if we are not careful. 22LR is a major sourse of blamer fodder. And if it's an automatic, I automatically buy my stuff.

Plus, if I am any indication, I'd say that we all have periods where we enjoy casting and periods where casting becomes inconvenient as our interests and focus change. And instead of using casting for relaxation, I like to be relaxed before I begin. Rifleman tend to be the most satisfied casters. Rifles are generally lower volume operations. Care, precision and enjoyment are the result. Handgun ammo for me is only reloaded if it is for specific performance levels and it is still not molded from single cavities.

Why even the time of year makes a big difference on my outlook. I cast 98% of my stock in the months of January through March. There is little competition for this time period, so I find casting a relaxing distraction from reruns. Putting on cloths for safety just fits right in with staying warm. And when I am comfortable I mold better bullets as a result. I can mold quicker, and waiting periods for antimony mixes are less of a headache. I shoot better comfortable and relaxed too. So if June rolls around and a particular stock is running low, I prepare to buy some stock for the rest of the year and adjust my volume schedule next winter.

So determining what and when you should be casting and / or reloading for can greatly affect your enjoyment of the hobby. You shouldn't let cost drive every train or casting control your shooting enjoyment. But if you have an itch to have a Gattling gun, cowboy up and prepare for the pain. Again, if anything you want to shoot makes casting / reloading like work, I find you will soon want another hobby.

[Boerrancher]

I am sure that this will most assuredly get me labeled as a nut case, but unlike those of you who cast and reload so you can shoot, I am just the opposite. I shoot so that I cast and reload. Even before I was injured, I developed a love for the hobby. When I was in my teens and early 20's I worked for my father's friend, the one that taught me how to cast. Since we were in the well drilling business, and didn't work much in the winter, so most of our time was spent casting, reloading, and building custom rifles and custom stocks.

I don't have the tools to do the gun smithing work or to cut stocks, I never used power tools for the stocks, only hammers, chisels, draw knives, rasps and files. It just didn't seem right to not work the wood by hand. I helped put myself through college with my custom built rifles. But back to the original topic of casting, There is one aspect of it that I don't like and that is smelting the WW's or other scrap lead. Years ago I didn't mind it, but now it takes me so dang long to do a big batch because I have to break it down into several smaller batches spread out over several days. I am not strong enough or coordinated enough to handle a heavy pot full of molten lead. Yep, smelting is the draw back for me.

Best Wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[DLCTEX]

I began casting as a kid, casting toy soldiers. I liked the casting aspect so much that I would melt down perfectly good soldiers and cast them again. I had always had a fascination with the idea of casting boolits, but never got into it until the passing of a friend who had done some casting. His widow had some of his casting stuff and I bought the pot, a couple molds, and about 300# of lead and WW ingots from her to help her out and the addiction began. I like to cast to escape the pressures of work, and I now shoot to cast, and no longer cast to shoot. I was casting for my 1911 primarily, but recently acquired a 38 special in an offer I couldn't refuse, now I own 8 molds for it. I would never cast commercially as it would become work, not fun, but I cast a lot of boolits and give them away. Did I say I love casting? DALE

[smirker]

This is for Boerrancher.Thank you for your service to you country.I am sorry you were injured but glad you are alive.I am also glad that something as simple as bullet casting gives you focus and allows you to de-compress when you need to.Keep casting and shooting,and good luck with your recovery

[runfiveslittlegirl]

see murphy's post and paste here >>------> <------<<




dawns dad

[oldsoldier]

I cast to shoot and shoot to cast, well it does keep me with enough to keep shooting.

[.38 Special]

Elmer Keith, of all people, wrote in Sixguns that casting was a hard and unpleasant job. So the OP can take comfort in company, perhaps.

For me, I sort of enjoy it. I tend to look forward to my once or twice a month casting sessions, but after a few hours at the pot I'm ready for it to be over. I think I get more satisfaction from having made the product than from the process of making it. And of course loading and shooting (accurately, we hope!) the homemade pills is quite a reward.

In an age where nearly any cast boolit can be store-bought, I guess the fact that I'm still casting my own speaks louder than words.

[Dale53]

My father encouraged me to shoot with him. Due to the expense (I assume) he thought it would be a good idea if I learned to cast bullets and reload (I was a teenager of 13 or 14). He bought me Elmer Keith's book "Sixguns and Cartridges" (little blue book printed in 1936) and I followed Elmer's directions EXPLICITLY. I credit that with my "instant" success (accuracy and NEVER any leading). Elmer got it right all of those years ago.

Very little has changed in my lifetime. I get a kick out of remembering when I would cast 50 bullets in a little Lyman cast iron pot on the kitchen stove with a dipper while using a single cavity mould and think that I had really done something. Some time later I met an older fellow (probably in his early thirties) at a local gun club. He took me to his home and showed me his shop where he and his brother would cast a couple of thousand bullets in a day!! Changed my thinking right on the spot. I then studied bullet casting in volume with him.

My father ended up with the benefit of excellent reloaded ammo beyond all of his expectations (as did I).

I have been casting, loading and shooting ever since (it'll soon be sixty years of pleasant (for the most part) work.

Some years ago, I decided to build a utility building to house a permanent, dedicated casting station. Then, I put in an electric wall heater and air conditioner and insulated the building so I could have an all season work shop. It has worked better than I expected. I am blessed.

Dale53

[trickg]

My father encouraged me to shoot with him. Due to the expense (I assume) he thought it would be a good idea if I learned to cast bullets and reload (I was a teenager of 13 or 14). He bought me Elmer Keith's book "Sixguns and Cartridges" (little blue book printed in 1936) and I followed Elmer's directions EXPLICITLY. I credit that with my "instant" success (accuracy and NEVER any leading). Elmer got it right all of those years ago.

Dale53

It's interesting that you should mention "Sixguns" because Dad had pretty much all of Elmer's books, shared a fair amount of correspondence with Elmer, (I have photocopies of those letters, as well as a trace of Elmer's large left hand) and in general, thought Elmer knew what he was talking about. Dad was also good at casting bullets and to my knowledge, he never had leading problems either.

I had a conversation with my Mom the other night about the fact that she wants to sell the house, and wanted to know what I might want out of the stuff of Dad's that is still there. The books by Elmer Keith are high on my list.

[buckweet]

anyone on here sell round balls ?

.36 .45 .50 .58 .62 ?

[madcaster]

I have thought about giving up casting,even done it once-but I WON'T make THAT mistake again!

[RayinNH]

buckweet see link.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=66306

Ray