cast boolits in Canada

[longshotz]

Good Day
New to the site, so hello to all from here in BC.

My first post is on trying to access cast WFN boolits (suitable for moose) in Canada. A number of commercial casters here, but none list the WFN style that seems the projectile of choice for large ungulates in the 500-1000 lb. category.

FYI. My rifle of choice is the 45-70 Marlin 1895. I have used a number of other calibers over some 45 years of moose hunting but now conditions have dictated this is now the caliber of choice and my preference is cast projectiles in the 350-400gr GC design.

There are a number of entirely suitable boolits produced in your fine country, but unfortunately the current bunch of losers in DC don't allow us canucks to export ammo, reloading components etc. without a mountain of paperwork; hence the source in Canada. Ideally a manufacturer of cast boolits, of the type I describe, in the US who already has the export paperwork in place is another workable option.

I have a cast boolit available, RCBS 405 RNGPGC, BHN 20 which I am shooting now for target practice and plunking, but my research indicates there are better choices, IE the WFN style for hunting.

I may look at casting my own at some later date but for the foreseeable future purchase is the best option.

Thanks all.

[Geezer in NH]

The bullet you have kills moose no problem.

[44man]

The good people in Canada have one problem, they vote in liberals that take control of what they don't like.
I shipped boolit lube to Canada and had to label is as WAX or I could not ship it. Of course it is mostly wax but I dared not say bullet lube.
Canada is like kalifornia, people give away liberty to feel warm and fuzzy. I have a hard time feeling sorry about it.
We lose liberty and freedom all the time in the US from liberals. I am sure you know how I feel, one vote tossed in the trash with no voice.
Canada chose to stay with the Queen when it could have been under our constitution and the USA. But long live the Queen. Everything you need or buy up there is triple what we buy. My $80 bow will cost you $1000 up there.
Everything costs more but if you get laid off, you will collect more from taxpayers then you earned while working so you live better then I ever did when I worked. How do you vote? Same with blacks and illegals here, vote for free. Obumbler wants criminals and illegals to vote.
You are not free!
Our country is at a turning point, almost 19 TRILLION in debt because of liberals. I have great fear we will be like Canada or Europe.
Sorry for the rant but you up there are the cause. Will the Canucks join in the revolution to come?

[Norbrat]

44man, wow, what a rant!!

But the reason our friends who are NOT US citizens find it difficult to get ammunition components directly from the US is because of US laws which make it impossible to EXPORT from the US without some kind of permit, even for small quantities of benign items like cast bullets.

Longshotz, if you want to PM me, I have a range of suitable moulds so I can cast up a few samples for you to try.

Absolutely no problems with me mailing a bunch of bullets to you from Australia; our Govt is not paranoid about them falling into the hands of terrorists!

[Retumbo]

Little thing called ITAR.

[blackthorn]

As much as it pains me to say, 44 Man is (for the most part) correct! BUT---there are both good and bad things on both sides of the border and it is what it is! Just remember, there are many Canadians who value freedom just as there are many Americans who do not!

[45-70 Chevroner]

As much as it pains me to say, 44 Man is (for the most part) correct! BUT---there are both good and bad things on both sides of the border and it is what it is! Just remember, there are many Canadians who value freedom just as there are many Americans who do not!

And "those" Americans who do not are only looking for a free ride. When the revolution comes it will be open season on the, well you know who they are!.

[longbow]

Norbrat has it right.

It is not Canadian laws that are the problem, it is US laws ~ ATF and Homeland Security have made it very difficult to export form the States. In fact it is illegal for anyone in the US who does not possess an FFL to export any gun items or reloading materials including empty brass and boolits/bullets.

I can bring 5000 rounds of loaded ammunition into Canada without a problem but if I am caught in the US with it I am committing a crime in the US and if a US citizen mails even one cast boolit across the border they have committed a crime if they do not have an FFL.

Having said that, overall there is far more freedom with respect to purchasing and owning firearms in the US than there is in Canada.

Longbow

[BCRider]

Way to turn a thread on bullet style into a political soapbox! Time and place gentlemen?

Hey Longshotz, have you considered a mold and casting your own? You don't need to get into casting wholesale but if you're only using these bullets for hunting and sighting in then you'll only need a few dozen per year. And that many can be done with an old soup can, a propane torch or camp stove and a bullet mold. Lubing can be done with with a stick of wax bullet lube warmed up slightly and used as a "crayon" to jam the grooves full or you can melt it and pan lube the few dozen you would need. So really the only three NEW things you need to cast your own is a mold, some lead salvaged from the backstop at your regular range and a stick of bullet lube. The rest you likely have already or should have around for other uses.

[44man]

True that we have too many restrictions but it was demoncrats. I remember sending a check out of state when a kid, to buy a revolver, came in the mail.
I went through customs in Canada with a bow but my friend was yanked over to open his case, looked like a gun case but was a bow. I could not have a bow stabilizer in carry on and had to take it to my duffle bag where they loaded carts. At destination my bow case was all broken inside from the monkeys working bags. I worked 42 years for United and treated guns and bows like my own. In fact ALL bags were handled by me and my crew with respect.
As airline employees, we got no respect in Canada. I never seen warm feelings for Americans anywhere I went.
I did meet many good people on fishing trips though. Kindness was still based on money spent.
We met a beautiful girl on the plane and asked what she would do without a place to stay. She said, "just go to the hospital and say she felt sick, get a room for the night free."
Everyone I met on the hunting trip were laid off but collected more money from tax payers then they earned at work. I kind of know the politics up there.
Import and export are controlled by both the US and Canada, don't blame us only, we have to abide by Canada's rules.
Thousands cross to the US to pay for health care out of pocket because to stand in line up there, you die first.

[44man]

Canadians are good people but you put the creeps in power. same here with the nut we have, not his color and we respect the office but not the man. He is a Muslim, not born in the US and does not even have a SS number that is his, stolen from a person long dead.
You want politics out of the discussion but sorry, it is why you can't get stuff. Now we face Hillary and the socialist Bernie, communist all the way and the young flock to him for free stuff.
Our gun freedoms are politics and they want to take them from us. Canada is NOT free. Could I carry up there? Could I hunt with a revolver?

[Retumbo]

I see a lot of people buy into hearsay and some have their tin foil hats too tight.

[kiwi]

44man, wow, what a rant!!

But the reason our friends who are NOT US citizens find it difficult to get ammunition components directly from the US is because of US laws which make it impossible to EXPORT from the US without some kind of permit, even for small quantities of benign items like cast bullets.

Longshotz, if you want to PM me, I have a range of suitable moulds so I can cast up a few samples for you to try.

Absolutely no problems with me mailing a bunch of bullets to you from Australia; our Govt is not paranoid about them falling into the hands of terrorists!


Longshotz,
I have no trouble sending cast boolits to Canada either the postage is a little steep because of the weight, the mould I have is the Mihec 462-420 HB
the HB is 390 grain and the FB 415 grain, If you pay the postage I'll be happy to send some samples, Below is my listing on Trade me Kiwi version of Ebay
PM if you are interested,
Robert.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hunting-shooting/reloading/projectiles/auction-1023138006.htm

[wistlepig1]

Welcome Long shotz to Castbullits, I no nothing helpful about 45 70's.
Welcome!

[longbow]

We do have problems with lack of variety in Canada and many US firms won't ship to Canada due to both US export regulations and some quirky Canadian regulations so we find ourselves looking at what we want on the internet but have no access. Sometimes one can simply drive across the border to make a purchase but in this case even if longshotz was near the border he would not be able to buy boolits to bring home.

Your best bet might be to buy a mould to cast what you want then have someone do the casting if you are not prepared to do it. Not that casting is difficult but there is a learning curve and you need the equipment along with a supply of alloy.

Where are you in BC? I am in the Kootenays (Southeastern BC) and would have no problem casting up some boolits for you then shipping to you. Depending on how many you want that is. I would have no problem casting up a couple hundred for you. You pay for lead and mould, I'll cast then send boolits and mould to you. No charge for my time. Hmmm, I guess you would want them sized and lubed too. Again, no problem except I do not have a sizer for .45-70. I can make one though and Lee's are cheap. Need to know your groove diameter for sizing.

If I still had a .45-70 I'd likely just buy the mould myself as it would be a good excuse for another mould!

If that will help you out I am willing.

Longbow

[44man]

There ya go, good man. Wish I could help out too.

[longbow]

Seems awful silly to have to go through all these gyrations just to get some boolits. I can maybe understand the issue if someone wanted to export tens of thousands of rounds of loaded ammunition (especially military calibers) or tons of powder but lead boolits or empty brass!?!

Makes one wonder... but then bureaucrats are not to be figured out.

Longbow

[sawzall]

longshotz, private message "mt chambers" here on the forum. He lives in Saskatchewan and casts and sells many styles of cast boolits. Top notch guy from everything I have heard. I've never purchased any from him as I cast my own though. His user name may be capitalized though, not positive.

[longshotz]

We do have problems with lack of variety in Canada and many US firms won't ship to Canada due to both US export regulations and some quirky Canadian regulations so we find ourselves looking at what we want on the internet but have no access. Sometimes one can simply drive across the border to make a purchase but in this case even if longshotz was near the border he would not be able to buy boolits to bring home.

Your best bet might be to buy a mould to cast what you want then have someone do the casting if you are not prepared to do it. Not that casting is difficult but there is a learning curve and you need the equipment along with a supply of alloy.

Where are you in BC? I am in the Kootenays (Southeastern BC) and would have no problem casting up some boolits for you then shipping to you. Depending on how many you want that is. I would have no problem casting up a couple hundred for you. You pay for lead and mould, I'll cast then send boolits and mould to you. No charge for my time. Hmmm, I guess you would want them sized and lubed too. Again, no problem except I do not have a sizer for .45-70. I can make one though and Lee's are cheap. Need to know your groove diameter for sizing.

If I still had a .45-70 I'd likely just buy the mould myself as it would be a good excuse for another mould!

If that will help you out I am willing.

Longbow

I will PM you on this. Thanks.

[longshotz]

Thanks for all the input.

I do have in my possession some RCBS 405gr RNFPGC cast to 16 BHN, with access to more if need be. My research indicates while they are OK for moose the preferred profile is the WFNLBT style.

Has anyone used the RCBS bullet I describe for hunting Moose and elk in the 300-500KG weight range?

[MT Chambers]

Yes I am in Canada and sell cast bullets to all including LBT type designs....I am in Arizona now but will pick up the casting in April for fellow Canadians......

[Wardo1974]

Well - I'm sad to see an enquiry about bullet lube turn into a political rant. Couple things, though:

1.) Bullet lube can't be mailed to Canada because of US export laws, not Canadian ones. I can order bullets from overseas to get here, but not from the US. I can't even get Brownell's or Buffalo Arms to mail me a simple gun sight. Ditto for many other things too - nitro based paint, Oxpho blue, etc. American laws, not ours.

2.) Before any American says Canadians aren't free, I invite you to visit and see for yourself how it is and you might change your thinking a little. Especially if you decide to hunt here. ;)

3.) Nobody stands in line for medical coverage here. If you need care, you get it, no questions asked and it doesn't matter if you have any money or not. You show them your health card proving you're a citizen and you get it. I'm not saying it's a perfect system, because it isn't, but I'm definitely happy with it. The entire premise for Breaking Bad would never have happened in Canada - Walter White would have simply gotten his 700k in publicly funded chemo and went on his way. Just like numerous of my family members have.

All countries have pros and cons. But I'm a happy and proud Canadian and would never live anywhere else. Rant off, back to beer drinking and watching hockey! (Just joking. I'm actually chugging maple syrup while I say "eh" between gulps).

PS, OP: there's a local boolit caster I know who makes and ships numerous .45-70 boolits. He also swages in addition to casting, and I believe the cost is about 100 bucks per thousand for under 400 grains, and 150 per thousand over 400. Shoot me a PM if you want his contact info, he's a great guy.

[Retumbo]

Go to Canadian Gun Nutz.com and find jethunter.

[rbuck351]

Keep in mind the most dangerous animals on the planet are usually shot with a 40 to 50 cal round nose solid at about 2000 to 2300 fps. The rnfp is pretty good. The wfn is probably a bit better, but dead is dead.

By the way, if you decide to cast your own, do not try to melt lead in an old soup can. I tried it once on my moms kitchen stove and when the soldered seem in the can melted it got ugly.