BoolitBullet
10-06-2013, 02:00 AM
Hello All,
I am just cutting my teeth on reloading. My aim is to shoot my 7mm rem mag more (a lot more) without going broke and to shoot it when I want, i.e., not having to wait for the local stores to replenish their ammunition stock. Reading the Lyman 49Th Edition Reloading Handbook, it made mention of casting. Seems another good way to shoot for less. This led me to purchase and start reading the Lyman 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook (I am on Chapter 9). Diving into the forums here, I tried to find out if casting for this caliber is even a good idea. I've tried searching the older threads, but still haven't found exactly what I am looking for. So, I guess I'll have to ask you masters of casting directly.
Is casting for a 7mm rem mag a good idea?
If so, do you have any recommendations on equipment? Reading the Lyman handbook, I think I need, in no particular order, a melting pot, a boolit mold (or is it mould), mold handles, an ingot mold, flux, a hammer for the sprue plate, boolit lube, and a sizing die. Did I miss anything? Right now, I am leaning towards a Lee Pro 4 pot. Do I need any other reloading dies other than my current Lee full size resizing die, collet die, dead length bullet seating die, and factory crimp die to properly seat the boolit into the cartridge case?
I have no idea which mold is the right one for me. Being new to reloading as a whole, the whole bullet/boolit selection process is somewhat daunting. Do I want a lighter boolit (130 gr), or a heavier 160 gr boolit (160 gr)? Do I want a round nose, flat nose, semi-point, truncated cone? :| I can't say that Chapter 4 of the casting handbook left me very confident here.
Another question, reading the handbook, it seems that boolits are happier flying slower than their jacketed cousins. Does this mean that long range shooting/hunting is compromised with boolits?
Finally, please, point me any previous threads that you would consider required reading for the beginner reloader/caster .
Thank you for any help. Now to get back to reading the handbook...
I am just cutting my teeth on reloading. My aim is to shoot my 7mm rem mag more (a lot more) without going broke and to shoot it when I want, i.e., not having to wait for the local stores to replenish their ammunition stock. Reading the Lyman 49Th Edition Reloading Handbook, it made mention of casting. Seems another good way to shoot for less. This led me to purchase and start reading the Lyman 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook (I am on Chapter 9). Diving into the forums here, I tried to find out if casting for this caliber is even a good idea. I've tried searching the older threads, but still haven't found exactly what I am looking for. So, I guess I'll have to ask you masters of casting directly.
Is casting for a 7mm rem mag a good idea?
If so, do you have any recommendations on equipment? Reading the Lyman handbook, I think I need, in no particular order, a melting pot, a boolit mold (or is it mould), mold handles, an ingot mold, flux, a hammer for the sprue plate, boolit lube, and a sizing die. Did I miss anything? Right now, I am leaning towards a Lee Pro 4 pot. Do I need any other reloading dies other than my current Lee full size resizing die, collet die, dead length bullet seating die, and factory crimp die to properly seat the boolit into the cartridge case?
I have no idea which mold is the right one for me. Being new to reloading as a whole, the whole bullet/boolit selection process is somewhat daunting. Do I want a lighter boolit (130 gr), or a heavier 160 gr boolit (160 gr)? Do I want a round nose, flat nose, semi-point, truncated cone? :| I can't say that Chapter 4 of the casting handbook left me very confident here.
Another question, reading the handbook, it seems that boolits are happier flying slower than their jacketed cousins. Does this mean that long range shooting/hunting is compromised with boolits?
Finally, please, point me any previous threads that you would consider required reading for the beginner reloader/caster .
Thank you for any help. Now to get back to reading the handbook...