[WLB]

I realize that buying bullets is somewhat sacrilegious but does anyone know where I can buy match quality 45 cal bullets over 525 grains. The place I had been getting them has gone out of business. I'd rather swallow my pride and shoot sub 1 inch groups than cast my own and shoot 3 to 5 inch groups with the zero changing with each batch.
Bill

 

[butlerford45]

One of the folks that suppord GBO advertises Custom Cast Bullets [email protected] . I don't know him and have never used his bullets, but it would be a place to start

 

[WLB]

Thanks Butler
I had emailed both Custom Cast Bullets and Billy Marr first. Didn't get a reply from Custom Cast and Billy Marr doesn't have anything that heavy.
Bill

 

[WLB]

Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I've been casting pistol bullets for several decades and at the 10 to 25 yards I use them they work fine. I shoot jacketed bullets for 50 yard work. I think my biggest problem is the lead itself. I use scrounged lead (linotype, plumbers lead, old bullets, race car ballast, wheelweights, lead from the recyclers that I trade my aluminum cans for) and probably no two batches I use are alike. For close range pistol work this has been no problem. When I started to cast for the 45-70's with the goal of an under one inch group I realized that my alloy would have to be more consistent. I built a fire and melted a big batch of what I thought would end up being hard enough and used ingots from that in my electric melting pot. The only heat control I have is the thermostat on the electric pot. I use a propane torch to preheat the mold a little to save time. Anything less than excellent visually was put back in the pot. I ended up with around a 100 good bullets with no wrinkles or other defects and good sharp edged bases. Upon weighing these, I found a variance of around 15 grains with no particular clusters of any one weight. I sorted these into weight groups and lubed and fired these with less than desired results. I cast up a few more lots from the original melt and experimented with different loads and shooting them sized and unsized with no great success. I still wasn't getting bullet weights that were consistent. A friend suggested that I use a load of 24 grains of 2400 with a tuft of dacron hollowfill to keep the powder over the primer and things started to improve. I ran across an ad for match grade bullets and ordered 500 500 grainers and 500 525 grainers. With the above load most groups were under 2 inches with the 525's averaging a little smaller. I had read much about the old timers loading bullets from the muzzle and later just breach seating them so I bored the back out of a 45-70 case and using that as guide seated the bullet firmly into the rifling and then put a charged case behind the bullet. When I do my part, the 500's shoot just under an inch with the 525's doing about 5/8th to 3/4. This is out of my scope sighted NEF. With my C Sharps with globe front and tang rear I get about 2 1/4" with the 500's and a little under 2" with the 525's. I'm sure the Sharps will do better but the old eyes don't let me point it any better than that. I'd put a scope on it but it would ruin the classic lines. Unfortunately I only have about 30 of these bullets left and the place I got them is out of business.
I do ramble on when I talk about vehicles and guns.
Bill

 

[Yukon Jack]

You might want to email Marshall Stanton at Beartooth Bullets. I think his catalog lists up to 450gr, but I think he has been working on heavier weights recently. Send him an email, if you really want it, I bet he can make and the Beartooth bullets are extraordinary.

 

[WLB]

Thanks Yukon, I'll try to get in touch with him. I haven't give up on casting my own but it sure is nice to have something you know will work when you go out with friends to shoot. Their laughter can be distracting
Bill

 

[EDG]

Take a look at "bullet man dan's" bullets on Auction Arms. He appears to specialize in heavy for the caliber rifle bullets. His bullet photos are the best I have ever seen. Anyone that sells bullets should take photographs of them as well as this guy does.

His web site is:
http://www.midrivers.com/~bullshop/BullShop/Page_1x.html

His email is:
[email protected]

 

[WLB]

I found the Beartooth site, Yukon. They are six months behind on orders.

EDG, I couldn't bring up the photos from Bullshop but did email him.
Thanks
Bill

 

[EDG]

Sorry, I should have said the photos are on Auction Arms.
Try - "bullet man dan" or search "cast bullets" on Auction Arms. He has a lot of heavy for the caliber bullets and photos.

 

[Yukon Jack]

WLB,
Try contacting Marshall, I think he is caught up now but hasn't updated his website. I could be wrong, but all it takes is a quick email to him.
YJ

 

[EDG]

The "6 months behind " message at Beartooth has been there for several years so I have never bothered to place an order with them.

Ed