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Originally Posted by id10t
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.
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Depends on how much you shoot and how long you want to amortize the cost of the equipment. I just added it up using current prices from Midway. For the furnace, dipper, mold, and mold handles, you're looking at about $250. That will get you casting one bullet for a muzzle loader. Cartridge guns will require a lubricator/sizer press and the appropriate dies, for an additional $275 for the two.
Once you have the furnace, dipper (not required if you use a bottom pour furnace), mold handles, and lubricator/sizer, all you need for additional calibers is the appropriate mold and lubricator/sizer die.
So, yeah, not cheap as far as the initial investment. It all depends on how much you shoot, how much you are going to use this stuff. I use mine a lot. The only handgun bullets I shoot, with rare exception, come out of my own molds. All of the bullets fired from my straight walled rifle cases come out of my own molds. The only bullets I purchase are jacketed bullets for my bottle necked rifle rounds, and very rarely jacketed bullets for the semi auto pistols that I use when assembling some defensive loads. I buy round balls for my .50 and .54 muzzle loaders, but have to cast for the .72. All of the maxi ball style bullets I cast myself.
I'm sure that over the last 40 years of doing this I've saved thousands of dollars. But, that said, one of the running jokes in these circles is that we "cast bullets and reload to save money". Nonsense, and we all know it. We just shoot more...
And, yes, that crescent butt plate is a real joy with those 120 grain loads behind that 460 grain Plains bullet. I just keep telling myself it hurts more on the other end.