Speer or Hornaday

[hmeier4799]

Have to order more round balls. Speer are more expensive than Hornaday. Are they any better?

 

[sidelock]

bout the same. But you can cast better ones if you get set up and its more fun and lots cheaper. :winking:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I only use Hornady so I can't say which is better. Win lots of shoots with the Hornady's, in both pistol and rifle competitions. Nice and consistant .

With all of the various shooting disciplines that I'm involved with (BP pistol & rifle, centerfire pistol & rifle, shotgun clays & trap, etc.) and all of the related cleaning of these arms, my exposure to lead is probably more than someone who casts their own balls...so I avoid this activity altogether purely from a safety standpoint. Figure all of the lead I've sucked-in throughout my lifetime has made me "stupider" than I need to be as it is :rotf: .

One tip from a middle-aged guy who hasn't lost it all yet: Write your load info directly onto the box of balls. With different size/caliber guns it's easier to keep everything straight and not screw-up :winking: .

Enjoy shooting your balls :haha: .

Dave

 

[roundball]

Have to order more round balls. Speer are more expensive than Hornaday. Are they any better?

I've compared them side by side over the years in 4-5 calibers and I could never tell any difference, so I always buy Hornady...a little cheaper per box and they fill deer tags and bullseyes perfectly.

However, I've since been referred to a guy in Georgia (Eddie May) who makes excellent quality cast balls, and has outstanding prices...recently bought 1000 .295's for my .40cal @ $35/1000...also some .600s for a .62cal @ $8/100.
They mic very consistently and are extremely accurate...he travels to and sells at Friedship every year, etc., so I'm done even buying the Hornady's...give him a call...Eddie May, in Georgia.

 

[arquebus]

Here out west Speer seem to be a bit cheaper than Hornady roundballs. Hadn't really given much thought to which was better.....always figured a swaged lead ball was, well, a swaged lead ball. Then the other week I was shooting my .54 flint target rifle with my last box of Hornady .535" balls, I shot one target (13 shots) & did quite well, then as I didn't have enough Hornadys to shoot another target I opened a box of Speer to make up the thirteen shots. The shots fired with the Speers really opened up the group so, I shot another target with just Speer balls & the group was about double the size normally shot with Hornady balls. What can be the difference? They all seem to weigh & mic out pretty consistently.
Anyway I bought another few boxes of Hornady recently but still have four or five boxes of Speer on the shelf, too. I'll try them out again & see if I get the same results.

 

[roundball]

Have to order more round balls. Speer are more expensive than Hornaday. Are they any better?

I've compared them side by side over the years in 4-5 calibers and I could never tell any difference, so I always buy Hornady...a little cheaper per box and they fill deer tags and bullseyes perfectly.

However, I've since been referred to a guy in Georgia (Eddie May) who makes excellent quality cast balls, and has outstanding prices...recently bought 1000 .295's for my .40cal @ $35/1000...also some .600s for a .62cal @ $8/100.
They mic very consistently and are extremely accurate...he travels to and sells at Friedship every year, etc., so I'm done even buying the Hornady's...give him a call...Eddie May, in Georgia.

(Meant to say .395's)

 

[biliff]

I've used both and really haven't noticed any difference between them.

 

[ss1]

I also ordered 1000 .395 [gone up in price] from eddie. Nice man. Also ordered some .400 from Tip Curtis.

 

[ss1]

Have never shot a brand of ball, cast or sweged, that was not more accurate than I can shoot.

 

[CrackStock]

I am a firearms instructor, carry a gun every day and cast my own balls. I also get an annual blood test for lead content and am in the very good range. Just be careful about eating drinking or smoking while or after handling; wash up after handling and be careful about your clothing.

CS

 

[david50]

do you have a number for Eddie May

 

[roundball]

do you have a number for Eddie May

Eddie May Round Balls
159 Ridley Rd.
Chatsworth, GA. 30705
706-581-8225
"...Best Quality Round Balls, Minnie, Rifle Bullets and Modern Cast Bullets...Please Call or Write to place Order..."

 

[CrackStock]

I'll second the Eddie May recommendation. A good man and good products.

I am one of the only people to have ever purchased a mould from him. He told me that he was not looking to sell them as he sells the balls. Then I told him that he would never sell me a ball as I cast my own and have for years, but he might make a bit from a mould or nothing from the balls. He laughed and we made a deal. Still laugh about it.

On the other hand, I did see what he sold and they were first rate at a good price.

CS

 

[roundball]

I'll second the Eddie May recommendation. A good man and good products.

I am one of the only people to have ever purchased a mould from him. He told me that he was not looking to sell them as he sells the balls. Then I told him that he would never sell me a ball as I cast my own and have for years, but he might make a bit from a mould or nothing from the balls. He laughed and we made a deal. Still laugh about it.

On the other hand, I did see what he sold and they were first rate at a good price.

CS

They've sure worked great for me...both the .600s and the .395s...will be sending another 50 - .395's downrange at first light tomorrow
:thumbsup:

 

[redwing]

Yes in the western states Speers are less money. I buy the Speers for $2.00 less per 100 at our local gun store. That is in .54 Cal. the Speers are about $9.20 and The Hornadys are about $12.00.
My J.Garner Ky.Pistol 11 1/2" Rice likes the Speer balls much better. My 43" Getz .54 does not seem to care.

 

[CrackStock]

I ran 250 .395s earlier tonight. I am well set for .600s and .495s from earlier sessions. A pound of lead and a pound of powder sure go a lot farther with those little balls!

If you contact Eddie, tell him that he was right about the .400s being too tight in a Green Mountain bore. Don't want to discuss how I finally learned that hard lesson, but he was right. :redface:

I am back to casting .395s for my Tennessee.

CS

 

[Slake]

for some unknown reason I prefer Hornady..maybe just price..but,...Speer has a better and more reusable box

 

[cheatherly]

I have many boxes of both. The Speer seems to corode easily if I don't oil them right away, the Hornandy balls are darker in color and do not corode. I don't know if they have a coating, but I use them both and see no diference in shooting.