In the past few issues we have touched on the reasons to start
reloading your own ammunition for our CAS events. In the last issue
I described the various tools that are needed to get you into the
reloading game. By now you have probably made up your minds, as to
whether or not you will be reloading. The CAS game is perfect for
reloaders. We require a great amount of ammunition in a few
calibers. A high degree of accuracy is not called for. When one
starts shooting in the Black Powder category, there is only one
choice. There are few custom loaders of Black Powder cartridges.
The major factories do not make any! If you have found reloading to
be for you, the next serious consideration is whether or not you
will start casting your own bullets. It is a big step. A very big
step, in that there are serious safety considerations. I want you
to know that casting bullets is very labor and time intensive. We
are dealing with very hot molten metal. That hot lead can burn you.
Very seriously!. If that is enough to say you want no part of it;
you not need read much further. You will still be able to do your
reloading, as there are many makers of cast bullets in just about
every style, size and weight that are needed for our applications.
Those who may be shooting in the Black Powder category have
different needs. They may have to look a bit harder to find a
supply of the bullets that they need. They will usually be needing
bullets of a softer alloy and that have a type of lubrication
designed for black powder. As I have been casting and loading from
the very day I started, it is quite easy for me to say it is really
not difficult. I just took a tour through my loading area in the
garage and noted that I have three different electric furnaces and
seven lubricator-sizers. I have about 70 bullet moulds, some single
cavity, double and multiple cavity. This is a collection of tools
gathered over the last 35 years! Because I load so many different
calibers it was easy to justify all this equipment. Basically you
can get started with a heat source, a container in which to melt
the lead and a mould. Many folks have started out on the kitchen
stove! Please don't try it. Beside messing up the kitchen with
strange aromas, smoke and such; the inherent dangers to others,
including children are just too great to do it. Get out in the
garage, out of doors, etc. Less distractions equal more attention
to what you are doing. Just in passing, our ancestors have been
making projectiles of lead since the days of the Roman Empire. It
has the unique quality of the highest specific gravity of any
common metal. Projectiles made of lead retain their velocity longer
than those made with other materials. It is common and plentiful.
It can be mixed with other elements to change its qualities for our
own specific purposes. It is normally soft. A very big
consideration. It is easy on the steel of your barrel. I personally
own and shoot several handguns that have each had over 100,000
bullets fired in them. The barrels just seem to get better. The
real barrel wear is caused by higher temperature as a result of
much higher velocities than the cartridges we need for our game.
Remember our guidelines? 1000 fps (feet per second) with our
handguns and 1500 fps for our rifles. Easily met with lead.
Remember also, our rules call for lead only. So besides being
practical and cheap, they meet the rules. Advantages: 1.You will be
able to have a better choice of the particular bullet in style,
shape,size and weight to suit your particular firearm. 2.You will
have the satisfaction of making your own. 3.You will save money.
Which means you can jump back on the loop of buying another firearm
because you are saving so much money! 4.You will be doing something
as it was done in the past. Nope, the usual person on the frontier
did not cast their own. They went down to the general store just as
we do and bought a few boxes at a time. If you were drifting about
the frontier on "old paint" you sure did not want to be carrying
too many extra pounds in your saddlebags. I'd venture to say that
even most of the buffalo hunters, bought their bullets already
cast. 5.Once, you gain experience and are comfortable with doing
it, you will learn more and learn to refine your casting, sizing
and lubricating techniques to the point where you will notice
measurable differences in the functioning and accuracy of your
firearms. Sooner or later, most of us will find a bullet and load
combination that does all we want it to do. Problem is that just
about that time, we acquire and firearm and start the process over
again! Disadvantages 1.Safety considerations: Burns. Really
terrible burns. Ingestion of lead. Nasty. If you are already
casting, please provide adequate ventilation, consider a fan. Wear
long heavy gloves, long sleeve heavy shirt, safety goggles, and as
Charly Gullett the author of "Cowboy Action Shooting" reminds us,
cover your feet! 2.Cost: Add the tools; a heat source, as simple as
a single burner Coleman type camping stove, perhaps a propane
burner and supply, the moulds. Figure about $125 for an electric
casting pot, moulds are in an endless variety, a single or double
cavity with handles perhaps between $45-65. Custom moulds about
$85-110. Multiple cavity "gang" moulds from 4-10 cavities can start
at about $75-300. You will see that the cost advantage would have
to be justified by casting a great amount of bullets. 3.Time: The
lead pot takes about 20-30 minutes to get the alloy up to the
casting temperature (about 750-800 degrees). Casting bullets
requires a great amount of concentration. Oh sure, you will be
impressed with the fact that you made those bullets on your own.
You still have to lubricate them! It can be done by hand, by
dipping in a pan of lube. Way to slow. You will want to have a
lubricator-sizing tool. There is another $100 plus the dies and top
punch to fit the particular bullet. 4.Space: Most of us don't have
enough. Remember you have just filled up that fancy loading bench
with all the super tools. Where is all this stuff going to be? If
you are still interested, see if you can find the loading wizard of
your local club. Might he be willing to have you come over and get
out of "mowing the lawn", to watch the process. Just ask. Most
folks are kind of proud of all their "trick" things. Ask that
person, if it would be OK, for you to put on the gloves, the
goggles, and try casting a few. The first dozen or so, may even
tell the tale. You will get a big kick, when those slugs start
dropping out. In your mind they have "Mr. Bullseye" written all
over them. Hope so. Fact is, I have never seen a shooter with
decent eyesight that did not improve after shooting more rounds.
All very simple, to shoot better; shoot more. But, pay attention to
each and every shot, learn to "call the shot". This means that at
the instant the primer kicks things into high gear, the shooter
should be aware of where the sights were in relation to the target.
It can be done. It is done every single day by experienced shooters
firing all types of firearms at distances you would not believe. It
is quite common for a shooter in a 600-1000 yards match, to fire
the shot, and casually tell the spotter, " that's a 7 at 8
o'clock". The shooter knows before the spotter, because he was
watching. You will be able to do the same. When that front sight
begins to dip on the target, hold on, get it back up there! You,
the shooter are in charge, hold and shoot that firearm, you are the
boss, you direct the shot. A wise man, a shooter, once said that
accurate firearms are always more interesting. So Right. The
firearms you have right now will probably shoot much better than
you can ever hold them. Next month: I will explain some of the
tools that you will need and a reference material listing. In the
mean time, order some of those free catalogs! Head over to the
USENET group of rec.guns! Visit more web sites on shooting! Good
Shootin! "Tioga"
Duane Otis
Walnut Creek, CA
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