oldracer
09-27-2012, 02:40 PM
Well, until I did a few matches in the past several months, my supply of 50 cal round balls had lasted a long time but they have since dropped way off especially as I now do some practice about once a week. So I went to order some but first called several places in the San Diego area to see if they had a 0.490 sized ones and no luck. The price has jumped up from $20 a box of 100 to $22, if they had them so I tried several on-line places and only ONE had any in stock and although they are $10 to $12 a box of 100 the shipping drives the cost up.
So, I decided to buy a couple of Lee round ball molds as I have had good luck with their others and they came yesterday. Cleaned them up, lubed the sprue plate and set to work casting. In about 1.5 hours I made up nearly 400 total and had to recycle the first ones as usual so I figure I am about equal as to cost. The next time the only cost will be the electricity as I have much lead and those take much less that 500gr 45-70 bullets. The cost of them will only go down over time...........
I did have a neighbor stop and watch and was very interested that people actually shot "those old type guns" now and I told her about the range and the training etc so maybe she'll check it out.
So, I decided to buy a couple of Lee round ball molds as I have had good luck with their others and they came yesterday. Cleaned them up, lubed the sprue plate and set to work casting. In about 1.5 hours I made up nearly 400 total and had to recycle the first ones as usual so I figure I am about equal as to cost. The next time the only cost will be the electricity as I have much lead and those take much less that 500gr 45-70 bullets. The cost of them will only go down over time...........
I did have a neighbor stop and watch and was very interested that people actually shot "those old type guns" now and I told her about the range and the training etc so maybe she'll check it out.