(updated 4-14-08)
This is the PLATED bullet company. Lead or lead base bullets can put lead vapors in the air when fired. Lead inhaled can stay in your body for 40 years and damage your liver and brain. Copper plated bullets minimize lead vapor in the air. At the firing line, lead vapor from regular lead may be in the range of 43 micrograms compared to 1.7 micrograms for plated bullets. On indoor ranges, don't forget a LOT of lead vapor comes from the bullet hitting the backstop and splattering. All lead bullets will produce this effect except at special indoor ranges with special backstops and ventilation. Still, the more you cut down on vapors, the better and the bullets look pretty also. Rainier used a SWAGED bullet instead of a hot-cast bullet. This means formed from lead wire instead of poured into a mould. Then the bullets are copper electroplated completely. GUN WORLD and GUNS and AMMO magazines have had nice things to say about the accuracy of these bullets.
The People at Accurate Powder Company in McEwen, Tennessee have worked up a number of loads for these bullets. I talked with Ted Curtis when I noticed the loads for the same weight bullet were different for these plated bullets as compared with the same weight lead or jacketed bullet. He said that all bullets act differently. He was sure plated CAST bullets would behave differently from the Rainier plated bullets that are Swaged. So they don't act like any other bullet and the loads from Accurate are just a bit LOWER than the loads for the same weight cast lead or jacketed bullet. I don't have space here for examples, but in the future, I may include some loads in my individual caliber loads tables. For now, I suggest you use at least 10% less than the same bullet weight in the tables and work up from there. I am impressed with the company and these bullets, even though I have not tried any yet. I plan to soon.
I talked with Tommy, the owner of this company, and he told me about his HARD cast bullets with a BHN of 20-22. He says his bullets will not lead the barrel even at very high velocities. I have used a quantity of his new 500 S&W, .501 dia., 440 gr. GC bullets for my S&W Magnum. They are the best made cast bullets I can remember loading. A major ammunition company uses this bullet in their commercial rounds. Prices are reasonable and UPS shipping charges are good, particularly if you order 500 or more, compared to a normal minimum order of 250.
Visit their home page and see thier product line. I have used their cast-plated bullets and find them of high quality. The plated bullets are a tad heavier than advertised. The 230 grain .45 RN plated bullets weighed an average of 236 grains each and varied about +/- 1.2 grains. They are sized well and I had no trouble reloading or shooting them. They have a small amount of calibers, but it seems to be the most popular ones.
I talked with DAN Sonnenberg ( SASS Life Member) on the phone. He said he is located in Corona, CA near where the SASS End-of-Trail match is held and he specializes in all types of cast bullets for Cowboy shooting and Black Powder firearms. He has several versions of a .38 RNFP bullet that is needed when used in the new Lever Action Cowboy Rifles in the tubular magazines. Check them out.
These folks have an extensive line of cast bullets. I have
ordered some from them, but not had a chance to use them yet.(1999)
They have large ads in shooting magazines. Call for info or
a catalog.
December 2006, some shooters report having problems with
delivery or refunds. Caveat emptor
These people too, have large ads in national magazines. They have a large selection of cast bullets and should be considered, too.
These folks have an extensive line of cast bullets. I have
ordered some from them, but not had a chance to use them yet.(1999)
They have large ads in shooting magazines. Call for info or
a catalog.
December 2006, some shooters report having problems with
delivery or refunds. Caveat emptor
These folks have some bullets for the .460 and the big .500 S&W.
Additionally we sponsor Jr. Olympic shooting teams."
CB Bullet Company
4 Pleasant Street
Gorham, ME 04038
Web site: - http://www.cbbullets.com/
Another Cast Bullet company with a pretty good selection of caliber and types.
These people likewise, have large ads in national magazines. They have a large selection of cast bullets and should be considered, too.
Impact Bullet Company (From their brochure) "Berry's Mfg. has been a family business for over 30 years. We started out specializing in lead bullets only.
About ten years ago, we got into plastic molding business, and in the last few years, we also started making copper plated bullets. We did this because of the new government regulations and health concerns about lead bullets. Our customers needed cleaner, plated bullets required by indoor ranges.
We now manufacture over thirty types of quality plated bullets, called T.L.F.J. bullets. "
The bullets featured in the brochure start with a .30 cal., 110 gr. RN for carbine. Then they jump to a .380 auto, 95 gr. RN and on to the 9mm's, 38/.357's, 10mm/40, .41, .44 and .45 calibers including a nice 250 gr. FP for the .45 Colt. I suggest you call them for a brochure.
Another Cast Bullet company with a pretty good selection of caliber and types.
They say in their AD, "no order too large or too small." Prices from 500 to 10,000 quantity.
Featuring Cowboy Bullets in 20 to 1 alloy. Sample packs, $5 . Cast pure lead balls. BHN hardness of 19 on cast bullets. Hard Lube and hand sorted.
Terry Labbe, Owner
Tom Cousins, Owner (NRA Life Member)
Midway has a giant free catalog of all kinds of shooting and reloading supplies. About anything you can think of, and certainly a supply of all kinds of bullets, both jacketed and cast (and plated). Call them for a free catalog. I have used their plated lead bullets and find them of high quality.