Dinosaurs R Us?

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JimmyDee posted this 24 September 2021

From the latest American Rifleman:

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99 Strajght posted this 24 September 2021

I don't know about that. I see a lot of USPSA shooters casting and some new ones to. I know a few  Schuetzen shooters and a few new ones there to. And I have seen a few deer hunters trying out there cast bullet loads at the range. Try to find a new bullet mold from any supplier. All gone. 

Glenn 

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 24 September 2021

If bullet casters were dwindling, there would be a glut of bullet casting equipment on the market at low prices.  Monitoring a few of the forums dedicated to bullet casting  will clearly show that there is a surge of interest in people interested in taking up bullet casting due to component shortages.  The author of that article seems to be out of touch with what is going on across the country. 

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lotech posted this 24 September 2021

All of that may be true. Bullet casters may not be dwindling in numbers, but handloaders in general represent only a very small portion of shooters. Bullet casters represent a much smaller number among the handloaders. With the continued deterioration of AMERICAN RIFLEMAN content, I wouldn't expect to see much in the way of factual comments or in-depth knowledge regarding cast bullets. The interest among the majority of readers isn't there and I doubt the AR would know where to begin with anything regarding cast bullets. The fact that the AR hasn't had a technical staff or a good editor in a long time probably has something to do with all this as well.  

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Maven posted this 24 September 2021

Makes you wonder how AR came to that conclusion.

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RicinYakima posted this 24 September 2021

Due to time lag between writing and publication, it may have been true in 2019, but not in 2021. 

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John Alexander posted this 24 September 2021

You are kind Ric, but Lee and others producing molds and other stuff for casters have been doing a good business right along and of course now are mostly out of stock. Think of all the active organizations that shoot cast bullets

I saw the comment but it didn't surprise me. In 2007 we held the CBA National Tournament in the D,C. area, a few miles from the AR offices. I wrote the chief editor with copies to three others on the AR staff and suggested that since we were a dues paying NRA organization they might want to cover the match or that I would write a short article for their consideration and editing. I also suggested they might like to at least send a photographer since it was in their backyard.

I was prepared for them to say that they didn't think it would be of enough interest to their readers. However, none of them showed the common courtesy of answering my letter or even acknowledging that it had been received. 

In my opinion they have been a corrupt organization for a long time, more interested in Wayne and his buddy's high flying lifestyle with our dues than concern about their members shooting interests and welfare.

John

 

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JeffinNZ posted this 24 September 2021

Almost impossible to measure.  I suspect there is a degree of truth however.  How easy is it to source lead alloy now?

Cheers from New Zealand

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 24 September 2021

"Lead" is not difficult to obtain.  Cheap "lead" is a matter of luck.  I follow several forums and people new to casting and reloading display different attitudes.  One fellow felt it should just fall into his lap without even getting out and meeting people.  He made a lot of noise about going out the next weekend and would report back with his treasures.  Turns out he never even went. 

Others will try and may or may not have success.  Those might get a care package or a sweet heart deal on a box of lead. Once a person actually gets out, works on a source and gets started,  they start having success.  Those are the ones worthy of your time.

 

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M1fuzz posted this 24 September 2021

Yeah. A little out of touch. Maybe getting “paid” by the jacketed companies????? Kind of like this moron. Watch the link. I am sure some of you probably already have seen it. Just try to not lose to many brain calls watching it.

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M1fuzz posted this 24 September 2021

I am sure there has been an uptick in people buying casting items and lead and they have may have caused some of this shortage but, I also believe that the whole shutdown thing played a part in it. Look at everything else that is either in short supply or behind in manufacturing w/ waiting periods. I think the mix of political crap and the Chicom COVID made the perfect storm.

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David Reiss posted this 25 September 2021

For me this is an irresponsible and just plain stupid statement.

First it does a disservice to all those companies that are involved in manufacturing casting supplies. Ask them if their business has slowed down, I think we all now the answer to that. The NRA should be supportive of all aspects of the shooting sports.

Second it just shows that the NRA staff is so deep into black guns (handguns and rifles) that they have no clue. Look at other publications like Handgunner, Guns, Handloader, ect. and you will see articles nearly every month that has some cast bullet data for "non-obsolete" calibers.I am not saying that you will find casting supplies at your local gun store, but it is found everywhere online.

To the NRA staff, "Put your plastic 9 down, put the AR back in the safe, get out of the office and out from behind your computers".

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Wm Cook posted this 25 September 2021

I am getting old and I’m starting to accept that.

I shoot cast because it’s a hell of a lot harder to shoot .5” groups with cast than it is to shoot in the teens with jacketed. Cast is more of a challenge and a lot of folks want the gratification without the effort.

With today’s 24/7 news cycles and the current passion for high capacity magazines and plastic guns it’s a sign of a new generation and a new way of thinking. Some of the folks that are involved in our sport think the World began when sunshine hit their behind for the first time. That they were anointed with Devine wisdom.

Handloader or Rifle had an article about the Hornet (I think it was K Hornet) in the September issue that I was excited to read. But sadly, at least in my opinion, the “author” spent about an hour on his computer doing enough research to pick up a few names and powders he could sprinkle into the article, then took 30 minutes at the range to report on the half dozen groups he shot with the “new” powders on the market. Sorry for venting. Bill.

Patience isn’t a virtue, it’s a delay tactic.

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sluggo posted this 25 September 2021

I watched the video that M1fuzz suggested. With that type of thinking I would guess that in about a year his YouTube channel would be featuring the hot new airsoft weapons after it was found that powder gasses and polymer and copper bullets are worst than lead for the environment. What a chooch.

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Ed Harris posted this 26 September 2021

I sincerely doubt they have any "real" shooters left on the AR staff. When I was hired in 1971, being recently discharged from the Navy, I was interviewed by Col. E.H. Harrison, M.D Waite and Ludwig Olson, who were all career military ordnance types and trained as engineers or having technical intelligence experience. They wanted to know if you knew your stuff, but also had a wry sense of humor. They asked me to explain what a slam-fire was and I gave examples of the M3 breeder in and how I had observed one in a Garand when a dropped primer left debris in the boldface. They smiled approvingly. Bud Waite then asked what would happen if you pulled the bullet from a Cal. .30 Ball M2 round, turned it around and reseated it? I replied? "It would shoot backwards, of course." They all laughed and I was hired.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Ed Harris posted this 26 September 2021

M3 Grease Gun...I hate auto correct and was unable to fix on this new phone!!!#

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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beltfed posted this 26 September 2021

Here I am at a month short of completing  80 years that the Good Lord has allowed me on this earth.

What have I been doing lately?

Sorted and then Rendered down +- 600 pounds of COWW and SOWW  from recent acquisitions.

Added that to the COWW, Lead Pigs, Lino to the tune of another 5-600pounds I already had.

Now back to casting for most of my rifles and handguns for whatever future I have left on this earth.

Also work on recruiting and helping others with the "joys" and Satisfaction of accurately shooting 

their firearms with their OWN bullets

beltfed/arnie

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Glaciers posted this 26 September 2021

I am sure there has been an uptick in people buying casting items and lead and they have may have caused some of this shortage but, I also believe that the whole shutdown thing played a part in it. Look at everything else that is either in short supply or behind in manufacturing w/ waiting periods. I think the mix of political crap and the Chicom COVID made the perfect storm.
well just wanted to add to this post that I find can be applied to many shortages currently, which is lack of employees to staff a business adequately.  This has messed up the supply chain.

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JohnForrest posted this 26 September 2021

I wish you were my neighbor Arnie. 

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Dale53 posted this 26 September 2021

JimmyDee;

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I am a SERIOUS reader, and used to read the American Rifleman cover to cover. Unfortunately, these days, not very much. I am a Life Member of the NRA but am no longer terribly interested in the AR.

”Lo, how the mighty are fallen”! Shaking my head…

Dale53

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skeet1 posted this 27 September 2021

Some people seem to think that we should start using all-copper bullets and use less lead. If we would start doing that the other side would just say there are so few people using lead we should just ban it altogether.  I think we should not let the other side dictate to us what we should use.

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