Posted on 05/20/2008 5:50:16 AM PDT by 300magnum
I’m starting reloading. The lack of cheap surplus in some calibers is motivating me. You still have to buy bullets (or materials to cast bullets), though, so it’s not a cure-all.
I reload.
Free wheelweights to cast bullets, powder and primers in bulk, and once-fired brass from various outlets.
.38 spl costs about $0.10 per round; 9mm about $0.08 per round; and .223 about $0.20 per round. I don’t know yet what 12ga costs to reload as I have just bought the equipment to reload shotshells, but I’m guessing it’ll be about $0.35 per shell.
I haven’t bought any powder or primers recently, have they gone up in price also?
IMHO, if you are paying more than a dollar per cartridge, it’s definitely time to start reloading. There are some cheap import ammo deals still available such as Wolf with steel cases, but the next Democratic Congress will end all that. I am afraid they will drive ammo prices through the roof intentionally...just make shooting unaffordable.
We hear from the mills that alloy steel prices are up 42% since April.
Yes.
Yes. Old wheel weights make EXCELLENT bullet casting stock.
They use something in the lead mix for wheel weights (I think someone told me it is antimony maybe?) which makes the slugs a bit harder than than conventional lead compounds.
Weak dollar.
Ouch, sure glad I stocked up last time.
“They use something in the lead mix for wheel weights (I think someone told me it is antimony maybe?) which makes the slugs a bit harder than than conventional lead compounds.”
Antimony and arsenic. Wheel weights can also be heat treated to make them VERY hard, but then brittleness becomes a factor.
Doesn’t it unnerve anyone that governments, state, local, federal, foreign, are buying ammo as fast as it can be made?
Sounds like 1977 again in so many ways. Shotgun shells jumped by 100% during the late 70’s.
Yeah, I’d ruled that out because of the initial cost to get set up but it’s looking better all the time.
I figure it means they’re shooting more.
My T-C smokepole instructions iirc said specifically to _not_ use wheel weights, however, for casting muzzle-loader round balls or slugs, only pure lead.
They said alloys like antimony make for hard, oversized projectiles that raise bore pressures significantly. Maybe not a factor for cartridge firearms but for old “black powder” arms it should be pointed out because it seems to be a common technique for those that roll their own ammo.
What a remarkable balanced article.
I live in the county that elected Sheriff Dever.
Ammo availability has been terrible since I moved back here in ‘05.
You are correct. I would be VERY CAREFUL about casting muzzle-loader ammo from wheel weights.
Or getting ready to shoot A LOT more.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.