[id10t]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I cast my own. For handgun loads, I use old wheel weights obtained from the local tire stores. Those days are, however, coming to an end. Modern stick on wheel weights have some zinc in them, which makes for terrible bullets. The old crimp on weights were a lead and antimony alloy, about the perfect hardness for revolver bullets. I use a 20:1 lead/tin alloy purchased from a local smelter for rifle bullets. Once my remaining 1,000 pounds of old wheel weights gets used up, I'll just switch to the 20:1 for revolver bullets as well.

I've covered this before, but it bears repeating - the very best revolver bullets available are those we cast at home. Commercial manufacturers simply cannot provide us with the quality and performance we can provide for ourselves, for a number of reasons. Granted, it takes a level of commitment not everyone is prepared to make, but the results are worth it, especially for those of us who hunt with revolvers. Cast bullet performance on game is head and shoulders above anything available commercially.

Here is just one rainy Saturday morning's worth of production. I cast with 2-3 molds at a time, which really speeds things up. Sometimes three different bullets, sometimes identical. I have 2-3 molds for the designs I shoot the most. And it's worth pointing out that, other than my time, these bullets are "free".



Here are the three projectiles I use in my .54's. On the left is a commercially swaged round ball. So darn cheap, and so darn good, I have no reason to cast them. Next is from a Thompson Center mold, their 430 grain Maxi Ball. Next is from a Lyman mold, their 460 grain Great Plains bullet, which I have used to take a pretty fair number of game animals. I shoot it out of my T/C Hawken that I built back in about 1980, using a load of 120 grains of Swiss 1.5 FFg. All are pure lead, the only thing to use in muzzle loaders.



The old T/C "Hawken":

Yeah, I get the Maxis for my 54 from Dixie Gun Works, $45 for 100 of 'em delivered and they show up 3 days after clicking "submit order". Not sure between equipment, time, and obtaining materials I can get close to that price and convenience.

That curved butt plate on the Hawkins must be fun with a full load.... my stock is synthetic (ugh, but for $120...) and has no recoil pad but at least it is flat.