Fat Boy Ammo Club

[Old Fart]

Here's a pic of my fat boys. All home grown.


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444 Marlin, 450 Marlin, 45-70, and 500 S&W. Added the 22lr for dramatic effect. Probably on average of $.05 a piece. Someone say there was a ammo shortage?
edit: appears I got the order bassakwards...

 

[GUN DOG]

what are you loading in your 444, you casting for it as well

 

[Old Fart]

I stuffed some of my 44mag GC (240gr) bullets in it. I've since scored a 310gr mold for it and probably all future rounds will sport the bigger bullet.
I cast my own for all of these. Store bought big bullets are to expensive.....

 

[GUN DOG]

Mine likes the heavier bullets. I have some 330 gr i bought a long time ago but you have to seat them past the crimp groove. I need to find a gas check mold as well. I have the 444p with the ballard rifling & it likes heavy boolits, 265 hornady jackets work great too
where did you get your mold

 

[Old Fart]

It's a Lee mold. About the only kind I buy anymore.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...cf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check

I generally don't push them fast enough to need a GC anymore but it's what I could find reasonably affordable. Decent looking bullet though. I don't remember what powder I shoved in it right now.

 

[GUN DOG]

Nice may have to look for one, have you loaded any to the see if the feed, my 330 were too long at the crimp so I had to seat them a little deeper. I use rl7 & seems to work really well. I push mine fairly hard but may look at reducing the load for friendlier recoil. Mine shoots great with a peep just do not like the ports but the short barrel is nice

 

[AKguy1985]

nice.

 

[Old Fart]

I'm mostly shooting these thru handis right now, although my 45-70 rounds are still good to go in a levergun.
Handis tend to have longer throats but not always.
If I had one that was a problem I would probably just ream it a touch.

As for velocity I lost love for shoulder crashers years ago.
I've found the 1300 FPS +/- some are just about as consistent, given a more dramatic bullet drop.

 

[Old Fart]

500 S&W Mag retail $30 something to $50 something for a box of 20
444 Marlin about the same
450 Marlin again about the same
45-70 Gov't once again about the same.

Me at about a $1-$1.50 a box. Yeah I had some up front cost. But it's long since paid for itself. Heck the money saved on one box would offset the cost of a Lee mold. On top of that I find it quite relaxing as a hobby. It really doesn't take long to recoup your investment if you shoot very much at all. I think that explains why I've pretty much stuck with the Lee casting stuff. It works and is inexpensive. Yes I've had a couple I had to chunk in the trash but heck at 1/4 - 1/10 the price of high dollar molds who cares.

Like everything else unfortunately it's hit or miss if you can find everything you need to start right now. But if you've started thinking you want to be prepared for the next ammo crisis I think this is one of those investments that can sit up on a shelf until you do need it. My casting only really took off back when I shot compeitively because I couldn't afford buying bullets and buying food for my family.

 

[Old Fart]

All were around 50 yards.

500 S&W Mag
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450 Marlin
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444 Marlin
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I've got a couple 45-70's but couldn't find any targets.

Zombies will fear my name.