Cast or Swagged Balls

[Splais]

I don't know if this is a 'start a fight' question or not; and maybe asking if there is a concensus is rediculous - but, is there? I.e., a preference for using store bought cast or swagged balls? thanks.

 

[Le Grand]

There is one really good thing about swaged balls; they melt.

 

[SgtSchutzen]

What`s wrong with swaged balls? I use them all the time, actually like them better. No sprue to pay attention to when ya load em.

 

[mark/wi]

I use both, and both work fine. I like cast because of cost. I can cast a lot cheaper than buy some made.(cast my own)
Its up to you what you want to use. Mark

 

[roundball]

Swaged balls are usually very uniform, no worry about voids, sprus, etc...and IMO, Hornady and Speer make the best swaged balls...however, they're fairly expensive where cast balls are much less expensive once you make the investment.

But since I don't cast my own, I've used Hornady balls for years in various calibers except .62cal and that's because they don't make .62cal swaged balls...so I get those as cast balls from Eddie May in Georgia and they're excellent.

In truth, for the level of accuracy I require in my weekend fun shooting plus my hunting seasons, you could load my rifles for me behind my back and I'd never notice the difference between swaged & cast balls at the target.

 

[nchawkeye]

I have cast my own balls for years and back when I was shooting competition I did a little testing...Cast actually shot better than swaged for me...

It sounds crazy, but we know a ball squats when shot, makes me wonder if swaging actually makes that bullet denser so it doesn't seal as effectively...

I enjoy casting and get my lead free...Since I'm convinced that cast shoot at least as well as swaged, that's what I shoot...

 

[wtilenw]

I like cast balls because I control what I shoot. If I cast some that don't meet the grade, I just melt them down and cast them again. With a box of swaged balls I bought once, I noticed a lot of variance in weight from ball to ball and if I didn't have casting equipment, they would be "throwaways" or "plinkers". Casting my own means that all that I keep are "shooters"

 

[Tkendrick]

Got to agree with most of these guys. Other than the cost, I've never seen much difference.

 

[musketman]

I don't know if this is a 'start a fight' question or not; and maybe asking if there is a concensus is rediculous - but, is there? I.e., a preference for using store bought cast or swagged balls? thanks.

Besides being fun to cast, there is another advantage to cast roundballs, they come in a broader size range than swagged balls.

I shoot the heafty .715 and .735 roundballs, there is no swagged ball that size that I am aware of.

I just found a home swaged roundball tool (linked below) for those who would rather shoot swaged balls and make them too.

Swaged Roundball Kit

 

[cowpoke1955]

I have shot both and they shoot the same. Besides the cost, you never have to worry about the store having the right size balls in stock. If you shoot conicals, you can really see the saving by casting.

 

[renovato]

I prefer swaged, but realistically, shooting both for groups, you can't really tell the difference between properly cast balls and swaged. I cast my own mostly now so I guess it doesn't matter anymore, but when I was buying them I did a lot of comparison shooting.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Other's mileage may vary, BIMO, no real difference as to accuracy etc. I cast for the convenience, cost, and I just like doing it.

 

[gbsclohn]

I get a better enjoyment of shooting when I cast my own, The wife likes the swaged so she does not have to worry about the sprue.
I have found that some guns shoot swaged better than cast and vice -versa.It is just what the gun I am shooting at the time and the load it likes best if I am shooting cast or swaged.

 

[roundball]

Thanks for posting that MM...not planning to get into it, just interesting to know there's consumer level swaging equipment

 

[ohio ramrod]

I won't shoot store bought cast because of variance, but I shoot home cast and prefer them to swaged store bought. I modified my mold to eliminate the void under the sprue you can get with cast balls due to the lead shrinking as it cools. Also I "roll" my cast balls to eliminate the sprue. There fore I get a uniform ball for a lot less money than store bought. After all as my father said:" Whats time to a farmer and a hog"

 

[Splais]

I had a bunch of store-bought cast and swagged balls. the swagged balls were much more uniform in weight. Also, on the cast balls, beside the sprew(?) many of them had a ring of lead around the edge were the mold halves came together, I don't know if that would affect accuracy or not.

So if I decided I wanted to cast, how much would I have to invest for a basic set of equipment. My feeble brain is telling me that many, many years ago I was casting balls for a 36 navy colt replica.

 

[jtmattison]

I prefer my home cast roundballs. I get o do my own quality control.

HD

 

[paulvallandigham]

The mold burrs affect the accuracy in adding weight to the ball, and acting as a out-of-round extension on a Round Ball, that causes unpredicatable drag factors as the ball goes through the air.

I have known some ball casters to run their lead balls through a swaging die, to get them uniform in size and weight, at least for formal target matches. Other than the initial cost of the swaging dies and press, they save money by casting lead they " scrounge",But have the benfit of a swaging die to squeeze out air bubbles, and fill voids to create a most consistent sized lead ball.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

So if I decided I wanted to cast, how much would I have to invest for a basic set of equipment.

A Lee double cavity mold at F&M will run about $17.00, a garage sale hot plate for a couple dollars or el cheapos can be had new for less than 20 bucks. A melting pot can be most any ferrous metal container that can stand the heat, same for a ladle.

Or, one can go right up to first class if price is no consideration.

 

[Headhunter]

I cast out of pure lead and weigh every single ball I shoot.

Headhunter