http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/bullmol1.html (dirt cheap but fair/good quality)
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/ (decent quality iron molds . moderately priced)
http://www.castbulletengineering.com.au/mould-photos
http://www.huntingtons.com/bulletmoulds.html (decent quality iron molds . moderately priced slow to deliver and not everything advertised is available)
http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/MoldMo ... tation.pdf
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/gas-checks/
If you start casting bullets regularly youll find , as your speed picks up, that you must wait for the SPRUE, or over-fill lead on the molds cut-off plate to change appearance as it cools before you open the mold to allow the bullet to drop out or the bullets deform as they are still semi hard ,the lead alloy doesn,t fully get solid for a few seconds after the mold releases them, in fact that they normally come out of the mold rather soft and easily deformed for the first few seconds,if you cast bullets as rapidly as possible, dropping them on a soft cotton towel reduces the deformed culls , that get damaged while dropping, that might hit previous cast bullets but theres an option that works better. dropping hot cast bullets in water quench both cools and reduces the impact velocity as they reach the bottom of a bucket youll use but Ive found the less common and taller 7 gallon buckets with both a taller column of water and greater mass seems to work better than the more typical 5 gallon bucket.
a typical 5 gallon bucket holds about 4 gallons of liquid and the bullets fall thru about 18" of water , the taller 7 gallon bucket adds at least 6"-8" more cooling distance and on larger 300-500 plus grain bullets this seems to help reduce culls)scrap quality bullets cast) and allows you to cast a bit faster.
water quench also tends to make some alloys with tin and antimony harden and work better.
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
the 5 gallon buckets not as effective in my experience as the taller 7 gallon buckets
I would strongly suggest selecting a 6"-10" barrel pistol or revolver for any serious hunting application to maximize velocity and to provide a good sight radias.
keep in mind only precisely placed hits and a good knowledge, of the games anatomy, will work well, and hard cast bullets of close too ideal weight range , and ideally pushed to about 1350 fps-1700 fps work the best as velocity's much higher tend to reduce penetration, by inducing too rapid expansion.
suggested bullet weights
357 mag= 158 grain-180 grain
41 mag= 220 grain-250 grain
44 mag= 270 grain-320 grain
45 caliber -300 grain-350 grain
480 caliber 350 grain-400 grain
50 caliber 400 grain-480 grain
ideally pistol velocity and the bullet design of the better hunting ,
cast bullets are most effective if the melplat (nose) is flat and the nose diam. is between 75%-85% of the bullet diameter,
accuracy is usually better if its a gas check design and its pushed to a muzzle velocity of at least 1350 fps, but not too exceed about 1700 fps and have a bullet in the .240-.260 sectional density range.
jacketed hollow points should be used only on lighter weight game like deer.
remember the proper hard cast bullet will penetrate very effectively but it won,t expand rapidly, thus a knowledge of the games anatomy and locations of the vital organs is critical to rapid kills.
don,t be surprised if the first few large game animals you shoot run off with little indication they were hit, unless you place shots precisely handgun kills will resemble archery hunting and it will take 30 seconds for the game to bleed out, and in 30 seconds a scared injured deer can travel 200 yards making its recovery difficult.
but place shots precisely and if you used the correct projectile, distances will be much less.
LEAD ALLOY SHOULD BE 95% WHEEL WEIGHTS AND 5% PURE TIN by VOLUME, OR SIMILAR MODERATELY HARD BLEND
http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php
(while certainly not a power house choice, Or something Id recommend),
in the hands of a skilled hunter I has taken about everything in north America at one time or another)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...8-diameter-158-grain-semi-wadcutter-gas-check
http://www.ballistics101.com/10mm.php
(not bad for a compact auto pistol used for hunting and with proper hand loads certainly useful)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=10 mm&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-diameter-200-grain-truncated-cone-bevel-base
(I,VE USED THIS ON HOGS WITH GOOD RESULTS)
http://www.ballistics101.com/41_magnum.php
(great choice if recoil bothers you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=41-240FR-D.png
(well documented too work well)
http://www.ballistics101.com/44_magnum.php
(without doubt the least expensive and most effective choice for most people)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690858/double-cavity-mold-c430-310-rf
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-300B-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....llet-mould-number-429650-44-caliber-300-grain
(POPULAR DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/454_casull.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=454 Casull&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-335C-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...2-diameter-300-grain-semi-wadcutter-gas-check
http://www.ballistics101.com/460_sw.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=460 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-335C-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/480_ruger.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=480 Ruger&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690241/double-cavity-mold-476-400-rf-(480-ruger)
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=48-380V-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/500_sw.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=500 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690991/double-cavity-mold-c501-440-rf
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=50-450AG-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/ (decent quality iron molds . moderately priced)
NOE Bullet Moulds |
noebulletmolds.com
http://www.castbulletengineering.com.au/mould-photos
http://www.huntingtons.com/bulletmoulds.html (decent quality iron molds . moderately priced slow to deliver and not everything advertised is available)
http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/MoldMo ... tation.pdf
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/gas-checks/
If you start casting bullets regularly youll find , as your speed picks up, that you must wait for the SPRUE, or over-fill lead on the molds cut-off plate to change appearance as it cools before you open the mold to allow the bullet to drop out or the bullets deform as they are still semi hard ,the lead alloy doesn,t fully get solid for a few seconds after the mold releases them, in fact that they normally come out of the mold rather soft and easily deformed for the first few seconds,if you cast bullets as rapidly as possible, dropping them on a soft cotton towel reduces the deformed culls , that get damaged while dropping, that might hit previous cast bullets but theres an option that works better. dropping hot cast bullets in water quench both cools and reduces the impact velocity as they reach the bottom of a bucket youll use but Ive found the less common and taller 7 gallon buckets with both a taller column of water and greater mass seems to work better than the more typical 5 gallon bucket.
a typical 5 gallon bucket holds about 4 gallons of liquid and the bullets fall thru about 18" of water , the taller 7 gallon bucket adds at least 6"-8" more cooling distance and on larger 300-500 plus grain bullets this seems to help reduce culls)scrap quality bullets cast) and allows you to cast a bit faster.
water quench also tends to make some alloys with tin and antimony harden and work better.
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
the 5 gallon buckets not as effective in my experience as the taller 7 gallon buckets
I would strongly suggest selecting a 6"-10" barrel pistol or revolver for any serious hunting application to maximize velocity and to provide a good sight radias.
keep in mind only precisely placed hits and a good knowledge, of the games anatomy, will work well, and hard cast bullets of close too ideal weight range , and ideally pushed to about 1350 fps-1700 fps work the best as velocity's much higher tend to reduce penetration, by inducing too rapid expansion.
suggested bullet weights
357 mag= 158 grain-180 grain
41 mag= 220 grain-250 grain
44 mag= 270 grain-320 grain
45 caliber -300 grain-350 grain
480 caliber 350 grain-400 grain
50 caliber 400 grain-480 grain
ideally pistol velocity and the bullet design of the better hunting ,
cast bullets are most effective if the melplat (nose) is flat and the nose diam. is between 75%-85% of the bullet diameter,
accuracy is usually better if its a gas check design and its pushed to a muzzle velocity of at least 1350 fps, but not too exceed about 1700 fps and have a bullet in the .240-.260 sectional density range.
jacketed hollow points should be used only on lighter weight game like deer.
remember the proper hard cast bullet will penetrate very effectively but it won,t expand rapidly, thus a knowledge of the games anatomy and locations of the vital organs is critical to rapid kills.
don,t be surprised if the first few large game animals you shoot run off with little indication they were hit, unless you place shots precisely handgun kills will resemble archery hunting and it will take 30 seconds for the game to bleed out, and in 30 seconds a scared injured deer can travel 200 yards making its recovery difficult.
but place shots precisely and if you used the correct projectile, distances will be much less.
LEAD ALLOY SHOULD BE 95% WHEEL WEIGHTS AND 5% PURE TIN by VOLUME, OR SIMILAR MODERATELY HARD BLEND
http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php
(while certainly not a power house choice, Or something Id recommend),
in the hands of a skilled hunter I has taken about everything in north America at one time or another)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...8-diameter-158-grain-semi-wadcutter-gas-check
http://www.ballistics101.com/10mm.php
(not bad for a compact auto pistol used for hunting and with proper hand loads certainly useful)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=10 mm&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-diameter-200-grain-truncated-cone-bevel-base
(I,VE USED THIS ON HOGS WITH GOOD RESULTS)
http://www.ballistics101.com/41_magnum.php
(great choice if recoil bothers you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=41-240FR-D.png
(well documented too work well)
http://www.ballistics101.com/44_magnum.php
(without doubt the least expensive and most effective choice for most people)
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690858/double-cavity-mold-c430-310-rf
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-300B-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....llet-mould-number-429650-44-caliber-300-grain
(POPULAR DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/454_casull.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=454 Casull&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-335C-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...2-diameter-300-grain-semi-wadcutter-gas-check
http://www.ballistics101.com/460_sw.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=460 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-335C-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/480_ruger.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=480 Ruger&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690241/double-cavity-mold-476-400-rf-(480-ruger)
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=48-380V-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
http://www.ballistics101.com/500_sw.php
(great choice if recoil does not bother you, provided you hand load )
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=500 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690991/double-cavity-mold-c501-440-rf
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=50-450AG-D.png
(GREAT DESIGN)
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