I do not cast any bullets, and was wondering what if any advantage there is to jacketed bullets?

The advantages of jacketed bullets are stronger construction, the ability to be pushed to much higher speeds with greater pressures, and better controlled expansion at longer ranges.
The advantages of cast are economy, versatility, minimal wear on the bore, the satisfaction of making your own from scratch, and the look on peoples' faces when your cast loads outshoot their premium $25-30 per box ammo. There are many older and/or obsolete firearms that were designed for boolits and cannot be safely fired with jacketed. Most all the buffalo were killed with .45 and .50 caliber lead boolits, and they still make excellent large bore, low velocity hunting rounds today.

In what application? In handguns, ie straightwall cases and velocities of 1700 fps, I'd say the terminal performance of a well designed cast bullet will equal or exceed a jacketed bullet. Also when you cast your own, you can tailor the bullet exactly to your gun, which will produce the best accuracy, and you can produce those great bullets at much less cost than jacketed.

For rifles, I like to keep cast velocities to a max of 2200 fps, above that I concede that jacketed or monometal ie copper bullets are superior. That said, I still shoot alot of cast through rifles at 1200-2200 fps, for the most enjoyable low cast plinking and target work.

The other advantage is that being motivated to try other bullet designs has lead me to do alot more shooting, and that is always a good thing. I've also cast 1000's of bullets for friends, with the proceeds keeping me in wheelweights, powder and primers, and trading for a few other items as well.

And I'll never be out of bullets ever again!!! regardless of what the Govt. ever says!!!

A hard cast pistol bullet (22-24 br) in magnum handguns, especially w/ gas check design is supperior to all but the premium high-dollar speciallty bullets. None of the mainstream jacketed bullets from Speer, Sierra, Hornady, nor even Swift or Nosler Part. can compare. Cast bullets can be push faster w/ equal preasures, with equal accuracy, and a wide flat nose 325 gr .44 or 360 gr. .45 has no equal amongst jacketed bullets.

Advantages of cast ??? I just like BIG guns & big bullets

Neverflinch---I dont even remember firing my first reloads with jacketed bullets. I don't remember it because they felt just like the factory stuff I had been shooting. I well remember the first cast bullets in a rifle. I had two loads---they were in 30-06 and one load was about 30-30 velocity and thats about what it felt like. The other load velocity was down around 1600 fps and there was little recoil and noise. I thought at first a missfire. With cast it can be .22 mag to it's full potential. Can you imagine shooting jackrabbits while inside a pickup and firing 100 rounds a night with a 30-06 and jacketed bullet? Not only that---I have never bought a wheel weight,so my cost for the actual bullet is about zero(except when using a gas check). I use to plink a lot with pistols and I have never bought a factory pistol bullet. Having said all that,I do hunt big game animals with jacketed bullets and that is mostly because I use a .243 for the most part on whitetails. I could get a larger bore and hunt them with cast. I do shoot cast in .22 centerfires and have shot a lot of jackrabbits as described above. Even with a .22 centerfire the blast from inside a pickup would be too much for a night of shooting. Not only all those things,you arent going to wear out a barrel with cast bullets. How many .22 rimfires have you seen with shot out barrels?

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A hard cast pistol bullet (22-24 br) in magnum handguns, especially w/ gas check design is supperior to all but the premium high-dollar speciallty bullets. None of the mainstream jacketed bullets from Speer, Sierra, Hornady, nor even Swift or Nosler Part. can compare. Cast bullets can be push faster w/ equal preasures, with equal accuracy, and a wide flat nose 325 gr .44 or 360 gr. .45 has no equal amongst jacketed bullets.

What Beartrack said times 2.

Seafire kind of said it right, but I'd take it a bit further. INDEPENDENCE! During WW-2, the only ammo available was for either 22 LR or 30-30. Farmers couls but the .22s to protect thier crops from varmints and ranchers could get 30-30 ammo to save their cattle or sheep from predators. Otyher cartridges were literally worth their weight in gold. However, a cast bullet shooter with some Unique or #2400 powder, a bullet mold and some primers could do some hunting.
I was a kid back then, and we had this old Dutchman living across the street. He was a patient old man who humored a nosy kid and let him watch the bullet casting process and the lubing and sizing and then the loading of the various cartridges.
My first centerfire firearm was an S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman in .38 Spl.and I was quite proud of that gun. I showed it to the old gentleman and he promptly gave me an old Lyman pot and dipper and some of his bullet lead. I bought a Lyman tong tool kit that had a scale and some bullet lube and proceeded to make bullets. What a thrill when I shot off those first handloads. There weren't any jacketed bullets for .38s back then, at least none that I know of.
I also ggot into casting for a 30-30 rifle I later acquired. A Lyman #311291 and the tong tool dies and a can of IMR-30-31 powder. I found I could load to full 30-30 powder with the same accuracy as the expensive factory ammo and those cast bullets killed deer just fine.
Today, I have all kinds of fancy molds, luber/sizers and I still shoot probably 100 plus rounds of cast for every jacketed bullet.
So is there an advantage? Well, if getting to shoot a lot more for less money can be called an advantage, then I guess there is one. All I was interested in was the "independence" and the just plain fun those loads are to shoot.
Paul B.

There ain't no advantage. Forget them antiquated ideas of making your own bullets, it's expensive and hazardous. PM me and I'll send you an address you can send all your lead, wheel weights and casting equipment to for proper disposal. Failure to do this now will result in lead addiction, and you will hopelessly no longer be able to buy a firearm without buying at least 2 molds for it and in some cases as many as 5. I know people suffering from lead addiction who have spent more on molds than they have spent on the rifle they were going to fire those bullets in. There is no hope, persue this addiction long enough and it will become impossible to buy a jacketed bullet. Turn back while there is still hope.

Interesting, and thanks for sharing guys. I only started reloading about two years ago, and find that I get much more satisfaction shooting bullets I loaded myself, then the ones I bought at a store. I guess this just takes it to another level. I really don't know anything about casting bullets, don't know what a "gas check" is, but it sounds like something I would like to try. Just what I need another shooting "addiction" In two years I have been reloading I have aquired more reloading stuff than I possibly need(well maybe not ) and after johhnypauls post I think I'm scared to get into it.

There is one thing I disagree with here. It was said cast boolits will give equal accuracy to jacketed. In most cases this is true. With enough work, I have far exceeded the accuracy levels with cast boolits.
Neverflinch, you are missing out on the most enjoyable facet of reloading. Yes, it can make you pull your hair once in a while but that is part of the game. Once you start casting, you will never buy another condom bullet again. I am so addicted and being on a fixed income so that I can't buy all the different moulds, that I have started making my own moulds. How does a 5/8" group at 50 yd's from a BFR .475 revolver sound? A 1-1/4" 100 yd group from a BH .44 magnum? All from home made moulds!
Please join us! We need you.

Neverflinch, johnypaul just wants your lead, can I have dibs on it? He was only pulling your leg! You have to learn to laugh here, he is a nice guy. I love everyone here and you will grow to feel the same way, greatest bunch of guys anywhere!

If you are like me you just need to have more to do. Cant stand to watch the wife sitter tube, well it keeps her out of my hair. You will pick up wheel weights in the Wallmart parking lot and stick in you pockets. You will be buying pizza and soda for strangers at the tire shop just so you can get some wheel weights, it works to be diplomatic. Make a friend with a phone guy as sometime they still have lead sheathed cable teardowns. I know I are one. Its a lotta fun and gratifieng to shoot your own projectiles. Remember good ventilation and wash your patties eatin or smokin. And water or moisture is not hot lead friendly = Big ahh poop. Have Fun Boon

gee , there really isn't much of anything left for me to add . boolit casting has been accused of being time consuming and complicated. bah sour grapes. it is a great way to spend your time and yes boolit casting is a science but it is only as complicated as you want it to be.

Boon[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

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Originally posted by bfrshooter:
Neverflinch, johnypaul just wants your lead, can I have dibs on it? He was only pulling your leg! You have to learn to laugh here, he is a nice guy. I love everyone here and you will grow to feel the same way, greatest bunch of guys anywhere!

Yea I knew he was kidding. What i was trying to say is I'm scared to get into it for fear of becoming addicted!

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Yea I knew he was kidding. What i was trying to say is I'm scared to get into it for fear of becoming addicted!

hey being addicted to Lead is a good thing ( unless when your scrounging lead in a walmart parking lot and they sic the dogs on you then it is not a good habbit)

Neverflinch, if you want to get started, shoot me a PM. I live in Angleton, about 45 minutes from you, and have all the toys to get you started. I can show you in just a few minutes enough to get you addicted or run you off!

I may take you up on that Doubless. When I get a little more free time I'll send you a PM. Thanks for the offer.