Beat today’s ammunition crunch by using this pro guide to learn the DIY basics of bullet casting!
Every single shooter in America has felt or heard about the pinch regarding ammunition. Stores have been wiped clean as demand continues to outstrip supply. One solution? According to author Dave Campbell in the upcoming March 2014 issue of Rifle Firepower, the answer is casting your own bullets: “I began casting my own bullets nearly 40 years ago. You can get started with a minimal investment in equipment. When I started casting, I melted lead in an old iron pot on a Coleman stove. Add a dipper and a mould, and you can turn out very serviceable bullets. As your level of sophistication increases and your budget allows, you can add more tools to your casting outfit.”
He continues, “If your desire is to produce hunting bullets, you first need to address overall design. The best terminal performance comes from heavy-for-caliber bullets with a relatively large, flat meplat. Typically, hunting bullets are cast from harder alloys so they can be driven faster, but the harder alloys cannot be counted on to expand or rivet the way jacketed bullets do. A large, flat meplat transfers the energy of the bullet more effectively than a round-nose or pointed bullet.”
Campbell then goes on to offer some basics for casting your own. To learn more, check out the March 2014 issue of Rifle Firepower, available on newsstands and digitally December 17, 2013. To subscribe, go to https://www.tactical-life.com/subscribe/.
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