Bullets on the Cheap

It might be an understatement to say that we are in the midst a component crunch. Although there have been some opportunities to grab primers and powders at a significant increase in price, there have been very few. The cost of projectiles has increased in proportion to other reloading components. Although I love shooting the best projectiles, I also understand the costs involved. For what most of us can afford, we might be better off with a cheaper projectile. This applies to both pistol and rifle shooters. A simple lead bullet can still be a great choice for a quick reloader, even though it was not the first projectile for centerfire cartridges. They work well in handguns but there are many options for rifles. As long as the velocity is not too high, they will still work well. You have two options if you want to take advantage the availability and affordability of cast lead projectiles. Either buy pre-cast bullets or a set bullet molds or melt some lead to cast your own bullets. However, the hobby seems to be waning quickly. It’s a shame because it’s a great hobby that adds another dimension to the enjoyment of loading your own ammunition. Although it is now obvious that people perceive lead negatively, it is still a great material for projectiles. It’s easy-to-use, has a low melting point, and is still the best choice for most of our projectiles. I prefer to cast bullets outdoors in good weather or in large buildings with adequate ventilation in colder months. RCBS, Lyman, SAECO (Redding), and Lee all offer high-quality bullet moulds. They range from single-cavity affairs to 4-cavity affairs and more. The handles of the four-cavity mold blocks by SAECO contain the “negative” part of the bullet. You can simply pour molten lead into the cavity to create a quartet of projectiles. Here are the basics. The basics: Melt the lead in a saucepan, then pour the molten lead into a mold. Voila! You can mix harder metals like antimony in the right ratio to make a “hard-cast” bullet. This is a good option for hunters who want their bullet to penetrate deep. The expanding gases can leak past the bullet and cause the bullet to become unstable. A gas check, which is a cup at the bottom of the bullet made from copper or another similar metal, can be installed to seal the gases and keep the gases where they belong: at its base. Gas checks are available from Hornady. For those who prefer to do it yourself, the One Stroke Gas Check Die is an ideal tool for DIY reloaders. It uses the reloading presses to convert aluminum flashing to gas checks. Photo by Massaro Media Group. Buying your lead bullets is an option that is viable and one that I have used when time is short. Meister Bullets has a good selection of cast lead projectiles. Federal’s Syntech polymer-coated bullets are a good option for building your lead bullets. I’ve used them in the past when time was short. I have done basic load development and prepared target ammunition for new shooters using Speer’s TMJ line. This can be a huge advantage for reloaders when looking for component bullets. The Grand Slam bullet series is a great choice for hunters. It’s an all-around bullet that is well-suited to most hunting situations. The TMJ (Total Metal Jacket), bullet series can be extremely accurate. To get the best accuracy, you may need to weigh the projectiles and sort them into lots. Speer TMJ has a wide range of handgun cartridges. Berry’s plated bullets for handguns are also an excellent choice. Berry’s has a wide range of copper-plated handgun bullets and is a trusted choice for bulk handgun reloaders. Berry’s has a wide range of copper-plated handgun projectiles and is a trusted reloader. It is important to source components such as primers, powders and cases. However, a good reloader will always find a way. It might be the most affordable and readily available projectiles. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.