Are round balls going the way of caps, etc?

[MIOutdoorsman]

Hello friends.

Ammunition for unmentionables is nearly impossible to find these days, and when you do, the prices are obscene. No issue for me currently, as I really don’t shoot any of my unmentionables these days.

I’m a flintlock guy—love them all around. I’ve considered trying to pick up a cap lock in a squirrel caliber, as they seem much more available than small bore flinters, but now I read how the caps are so difficult to get that I’m no longer interested in a capper.

My question then… do y’all think that purchasing round balls from hornady and the like, in a variety of sizes, is going to also become so hard or expensive too? I haven’t tried my hand at making my own balls, and that’s not a hobby I really want to invest in, but I wonder if I may be forced to do that due to the National ammo shortage overall, and the public’s frantic buying & hoarding as soon as stuff hits the shelves??

 

[rafterob]

My local Sportsman's Warehouse has had a steady supply of an assortment of roundball sizes. Caps and powder on the internet have been spotty but available. I think things are winding down now. Since I belong to a club we participate in bulk purchases which makes procuring these items a little easier.

 

[Eric Krewson]

A $30 lee mold, a $2 flea market pot, and an old Coleman stove someone gave me and I am good to go for life. Lead is readily available, I collected enough range lead to last me a lifetime but found the local small town garage about 2 miles from me sells wheel weight lead for 25 cents a pound if I get in a pinch.

I picked up my lead at a range they only shoot BP guns at, I used to separate the lead that splattered when it hit the berm(soft) from projectiles that retained their shape (harder wheel weight stuff) but have found with the thick patches that I shoot there is no difference in the accuracy of mixed lead. Of course my 73 year old eyes don't produce stirling results at the range very often.

 

[Bluegrass]

Track of the Wolf usually has a decent selection of cast balls, but the factory swaged balls have spotty availability. Also, if you’re thinking about a .36 squirrel gun, 000 buck shot is .350” and can be used in a .36 rifle.

But to answer your question, in my opinion, casting your own is the way to go. Even if factory made balls become more available soon, it’s only a matter of time before something causes another panic buy. Casting is serious business, but if you take your time and do a little research it’s not as dangerous or difficult as some would have you believe.

 

[mooman76]

That looks like my pot except I still have the handle. Maybe not for long though as it is getting burned off. I started with a pot I found, a stove /coleman stove and home made ladle and the mould of coarse.

 

[coloradoclyde]

A $30 lee mold

Good luck finding one.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I agree prices are high and availability is hit or miss and then there's shipping. Casting is the way to go. As others have said the tools are easy to procure and they pay for themselves. Once you find a source for lead you're good to go. Add a Lee production pot later and you are cranking out the balls.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Good luck finding one.

I just bought one from Midway. .445 double cavity RB 28.99. Put yourself on there notify when in stock list and grab it when it comes in.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Ill second making your own. Ive got Lee molds, a Larry Callahan mold, a TC maxi mold, and a made in India TOTW mold. They all work. Rotometals.com for pigs of lead, then youre set.

Im still working on the 800 rounds of Hornady that I got at Walmart on clearance for $3.50 a box about 12 years ago. Plus I pour my own when the mood strikes. I have a bunch of raw lead out in the shed.

Lee electric pot for when Im lazy or in a hurry, Mr. Sparky mapp pro torch or campfire and an old cast iron ladel that I got for a couplebucks at an antque place for when I just want to mold a few.

 

[tenngun]

Run a lot of ball sitting by a campfire.
It is dangerous but no more dangerous then making bacon and eggs.
It taint rocket science

 

[hanshi]

I started casting ball nearly 55 years ago and have never had to buy factory swaged ball. I cast virtually every ball I shoot. It's easy and it's safe, as long as you remember that lead is HOT. Start casting and you may end up like I did with several dozen molds.

 

[oldwood]

Will any ammo of any kind ever be readily available like it used to be , once again?? Uncertainty rules the day and maybe for ever. Yup... No better time to invest in a bullet casting furnace , lead, molds , etc. The answer is easy , just do it , don't ignore the signs......

 

[leadhoarder]

When the supply of swaged balls dries up there should be lots of folks out there willing to pour some balls to generate some spending money.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I don't want to sound like an alarmist but the simple fact is you can always pour your own balls no matter what is available if you just stock up on lead. Getting lead is becoming harder to get in many places. The salvage yard where I used to buy mine won't sell lead or even brass rods to the general public anymore.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I don't want to sound like an alarmist but the simple fact is you can always pour your own balls no matter what is available if you just stock up on lead. Getting lead is becoming harder to get in many places. The salvage yard where I used to buy mine won't sell lead or even brass rods to the general public anymore.

Rotometals.com.

 

[bubba.50]

A $30 lee mold, a $2 flea market pot, and an old Coleman stove someone gave me and I am good to go for life. Lead is readily available, I collected enough range lead to last me a lifetime but found the local small town garage about 2 miles from me sells wheel weight lead for 25 cents a pound if I get in a pinch.

I picked up my lead at a range they only shoot BP guns at, I used to separate the lead that splattered when it hit the berm(soft) from projectiles that retained their shape (harder wheel weight stuff) but have found with the thick patches that I shoot there is no difference in the accuracy of mixed lead. Of course my 73 year old eyes don't produce stirling results at the range very often.

View attachment 80486View attachment 80487

What he said.

 

[fleener]

So, it might help to know that CCI is simply not making caps right now. They do not make them year round, they make them in batches.

The cap shortage should improve once they fire up their machines for caps. I should of asked them when that would happen when CCI called me back a week ago, but I did not think of it. I called them looking for caps for the boy scout camps.

Fleener

 

[user 49399]

I haven’t bought round balls in decades. I cast outside over an open fire. It’s relaxing, fun and rewarding. Traditional muzzleloading is a DIY kind of hobby.

 

[user 36911]

If you don't want to cast or pay Hornady's prices.

https://www.octobercountry.com/cast-round-balls-45-to-8-bore/

 

[BullRunBear]

I think the availability of round balls will come back at some point although prices may be higher than before the 'panic'. There are some available now but it's sporadic. I agree with with most folks here that casting your own is the best way to go. Gather lead where and when you can. Assemble the basic tools of pot, ladle, heating source (Coleman stove, camp fire, etc.), and molds as you can find them. Part of the attraction or me with traditional muzzleloading is the DIY aspect. Not strictly required, of course, but I think the DIY approach is beneficial and precautionary. Unless you shoot constantly, a couple of sessions of casting a year would likely meet your round ball needs.

BTW, I don't cast to save money and it is an effort to gather the materials. I do it to ensure a supply and it's kind of fun. Depending on the number of round ball you need, it might be worth it to have some made for you.

Since I shoot flint and percussion, I made sure to lay in a good supply of caps after the last shortage. And I have plenty of flints in the right size for the flinters.

Jeff