Cast or Swaged?

[nick_1]

When I first started competing with Muzzleloaders I thought I had to shoot swaged balls simply because they are more consistent and precise. Then I started casting my own roundballs and using them for practice. they seemed to work just fine. When competition came around I felt weird switching up my ammo. Shooting pistols is largely a mind game so I didn't feel that competing with different ammo than I practiced with was constructive. Granted I have not shot paper since last fall. I have been shooting steel but I am very consistent hitting 5" circles at 30 yards off hand. And I can do okay hitting 6" circles at 50 yrds if I stay calm and do everything right. Question. has anyone else here had good luck competing with their own cast balls? or do you all use swaged if you are serious?
thanks.

 

[david w]

My cast balls are more accurate than swaged balls. I have weighed numerous swaged balls, and their weight varies much more than my cast.

 

[nick_1]

Thats interesting. I would think that Hornadys would be pretty perfect but I seem to have good confidence and results with my home cast ammo. I also have done really well with sourcing lead. Bought my last batch from the local scrap yard for about 66 cents a pound . I do notice that there is a lot of slag waste when melting scrap lead.

 

[Erwan]

Currently, I shoot my own cast balls. In rifle and only for target shooting, I feel a bit of the difference: home-cast bullets seem better. But the good and pure lead begins to become difficult to find. So, when needing lead for casting, I use Hornady bullets, those are regular enough and good quality…

 

[Erwan]

Sorry: this is a duplicate.

 

[Eutycus]

I used to cast a little but as I got older I didn't particularly like the idea of the fumes.Not just too great for older eyes and lungs you know?Plus the doctors advised against handling lead.

 

[kyron4]

I have all the cast equipment , but I got a killer deal on some Hornady round balls last year so I shoot those.

I do plan to do some testing this summer with cast vs. swaged though.

 

[64Springer]

Buy little balls and bullets.

Cast big balls and bullets.

I like a long pour.

 

[david w]

Buy little balls and bullets.

Cast big balls and bullets.

I like a long pour.

Your answer makes sense., the larger the ball, the more likely it is to have hidden air pockets inside that may affect accuracy.

 

[LongWalker]

Your answer makes sense., the larger the ball, the more likely it is to have hidden air pockets inside that may affect accuracy.

Equally important, cost rises precipitously as diameter increases. I've seen people pay $1/per for .735 round ball.

 

[nick_1]

If there is a metal recycling place near you talk to them. Old lead pipe and flashing. I wear my respirator when casting.

 

[RobertE]

You’d be surprised at the difference in the weights in a box of swaged balls.
I weighed all the balls in a box of Hornady .395 once and there were some that were significantly different.

 

[Tumbledown]

I used to cast a little but as I got older I didn't particularly like the idea of the fumes.Not just too great for older eyes and lungs you know?Plus the doctors advised against handling lead.

Lead has to get much hotter than typical casting temperatures for fumes to be an issue.

 

[smo]

Weigh a box of Hornady balls and you’ll see the difference in weight…
It can be as much a 4 grns difference that I’ve seen…
Now how much deference that makes at 30-60 yards is debatable

 

[Stantheman86]

I buy Hornady or Speer balls whenever I can , and I pay a guy to make me Minies

I just don't want to mess around with casting and sourcing lead, etc. I'd rather support the one-man operations out there of retired old guys selling bullets or guys with a side gig . 50 cents per .575 Minie is fine , I'll let him do the work for me

 

[ZUG]

I have a top-notch competitive shooter friend that buys swage balls and weights them and segregates them to give him optimal performance in his revolver. He can't be bothered with casting as it involves getting the lead, equipment, and time - he also said that he would weight those cast balls also so what's the point of casting? For me I like to cast my ammo, but I don't shoot as much as he does so my casting time is something I don't figure in.

 

[nick_1]

I don't really care if they are perfect as long as they are decent. So far I have been able to source lead pretty reasonably and I can cast 300 balls in a couple hours.

 

[ord sgt]

I used a Lee bottom pour lead pot for years, Cast many round ball. Reading a Bevel Brothers article about bottom pour pots and the round ball produced. So, I cut several of my cast round ball in half. Each one had an air pocket inside. It would create a slight unbalance in the ball. I have since switch to a ladle for pouring ball. A faster fill and no air pockets.
I will pour enough roundball each winter to last for the shooting season. .45, and .50

 

[oldwood]

My own cast from Lee mold.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I used a Lee bottom pour lead pot for years, Cast many round ball. Reading a Bevel Brothers article about bottom pour pots and the round ball produced. So, I cut several of my cast round ball in half. Each one had an air pocket inside. It would create a slight unbalance in the ball. I have since switch to a ladle for pouring ball. A faster fill and no air pockets.
I will pour enough roundball each winter to last for the shooting season. .45, and .50

It's nice to see another person that read the Bevel Brothers article. Most folks today have never heard of them. I too use a ladle to pour my ball and continue to run molten lead over the sprue to let out any air void that might get trapped. I also weigh my ball after casting. I do get culls that are 2 or 3 grains weight difference. Those go back into the pot.
Ohio Rusty ><>