Does anyone make their own bullets? I have seen the Corbin equipment advertised and was wondering about cost and set up (misc. items needed to get started). I have a RCBS rockchucker press and have heard it can be used to swage bullets. Is the cost of the dies, or a different press prohibitive for the basement reloader or is it not worth the effort. This seems like a neat idea but is it worth the time with all of the bullets on the market? I would think you would have to shoot alot of ammo. or sell the bullets just to break even for the investment.
ANY THOUGHTS?
Elk Country

I got one of their catalogs a few years back, and as I recall, you are looking at several hundred dollars for the dies, jackets and core to get started.

I did get into casting, and have thoroughly enjoyed that. No, I can't launch bullets at really high velocities like jacketed, but I can produce fairly large quantities quickly, inexspensively, and they have been suprisingly accurate. I've also found that in the medium and large bore rifles, launching cast bullets at 800-1500 fps is very fun, and makes for economical practice.

You can get set up with a Lee furnace, mold, and sizer for ~$70, and with just wheelweights make a good bullet.

Lead poisoning.

It's accumulative. You get it from the fumes of molten lead. Once it's in your system, it's there forever.

That pretty much does it for me. That and the fact that by friend's cast bullets in 45 cal vary in weight by 10 grs.

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

A couple of my shooting buddies used to cast their own bullets several years ago.

When I, as a newbie, asked them about it, they said that everybody should try casting their own bullets.

Because it's such a relief when you decide to stop and go back to buying them...

My time is too valuable to spend too much of it over pots of molten lead, trying to save a few bucks.

Rick.

Thanks for the replys guys but I was talking mostly about jacketed bullets for hunting. I should have been more precise with my original question. I have been casting my own lead bullets with free wheelweights for years in handgun calibers. I get regular checkups including blood tests and my blood has a lower level of lead than the average person. As long as you cast in a well ventilated area there is absolutely no problems with casting. Besides, I can shoot my 45auto and 357 mag. for the same price as my 22lr Browning Buckmark. All I pay for is the primer and the powder.

I looked into buying a Corbin outfit from a retired gent hereabouts some years back. We didn't agree on the value of the business, but he did make some nice bullets with it. I still have a few left, and in the right rifle, they are as accurate as Sierras - Dan

Elk Country,

We have had the Corbin hydrolic press for many years, and made quite a number of bullets on it.

It works just as advertised, and the bullets produced seem to be just as accurate as the Sierra MK at 100 yards.

We tried them side by side in a Remington 40X in 308.

I am not sure how they might perform at longer distances.

Some of the large bore dies are very expensive, but they do work.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

"Lead...You get it from the fumes of molten lead........."

Nonesense, you can absorb lead by inhaling the fumes from molten lead but only , at temperatures much higher than casting temps. Also only cast in a ventilated area in the first place. The bigger factor is eating with lead dirtied hands. In fact, the common way to get lead in you system is eating ....EATING! lead paint. Chunks of lead metal are not a hazard.

As an aside, my old family Doc with 40 years experience never saw a confirmed case of lead poisoning. Never!

Finally, lead is a huge political/toxic substance cash cow. We have been misinformed about the significance of the risks. There is huge amounts of money to be made by toxic substance cleaner uppers and politicians. You pay the bills, they want you to belive it is a real threat, it really isn't.

I have been casting and soldering for years. I have never had detectable lead levels in my system. I get blood tests checked by the "Toxo-phobes" every year for my work.

Just use some common sense precautions!

Saeed,
Have you shot any of those bullets at game or are they just for punching paper? I talked to Dave Corbin the other day and he told me they have a process for making a "bonded" bullet that he claims will hold together very well on game. I think the initial layout won't make it worth the effort, but it's a great idea!
Talk to you later,
Elk Country

P.S. Love the video clips on this web site!
Maybe you can come to the states someday and shoot a nice muley buck or a bull elk.

scot

Thanks. I was about to post the same response. Having worked in wire and cable around a lead extrusion process, my experience agrees with yours. Lead exposure is just NOT the issue that it has been made to be. Even the lead poisoning of waterfowl was from their EATING the pellets, and they are MUCH smaller and whole pellets are MUCH larger doses, and it was only still a rare occurance.

If you do get lead in your system, there are a couple of ways to get rid of it. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) binds to metals, and escorts them out of your system. This includes beneficial ones, too. The other alternative is chelation therapy.

The advice to wash your hands after handling lead is very good advice.

Elk...

I have swaged jacked bullets and can tell you this much.

First, there are SOooooo many well designed bullets on the market, that you can find anything you want for 12 to 40 cents a piece.
The cost of setting up will never be made back.

Second, if you want a bullet design that isn't on the market, then you have to make it your self... but in this case, you need to be a fairly good bullet designer, or you will pay many hundreds of dollers for custom, hand made bullet dies, and have a dog.

Your "Rockchucker" won't swage bullets, except the lightest halfjacket designs for pistols...
(http://www.ch4d.com/), but these can be a lotta fun, and ARE economical to do... a few hundred bucks and you're in pig heaven.

For the real rifle bullets, you will need a press that is an animal... they are around 75 pounds, and $12 a pound. total cost to set up is a minimum af around $1,300 to $1,600 depending on the dies... you can buy a lot of factory bullets for that kind of money.

As to casting lead bullets being dangerous. BS! He knowith not of what he speaks.

CatShooter.

I'm currently getting into swaging, but I have the idea in mind of ultimately selling some of my production to discerning hunters. It is too expensive an undertaking in the larger bores to be economical any other way. It is a lot of fun, however - especially if like me you have designed your own bullet - and as a hobby the cost of a swaging press and dies isn't a killer.

There are a small group of swagers on a forum over at graybeardoutdoors.com, who may be able to talk to you about some issues you may have.

Corbin's brother Richard has his own company making swaging equipment, and can be found at rceco.com. They are a little cheaper than the Corbin product, and I understand that delivery times are better.