How many bullets do you keep on hand?

[LeverGunner]

I seem to cast a bit more than I end up shooting, so I tend to build stocks of bullets. I normally only lube a few hundred at a time, so that they don't get dirty, but sometimes I'll be 300-500 if I get energetic.

So how many cast bullets does everyone else keep on hand, both as cast, and lubed?

[bigbore5]

A few thousand total cast of various diameters cast up. I'll pc a few hundred of each style and weight to keep around. Once they get lubed, they get loaded because I use soft lube and don't want it to pick up any dirt or dust that can wear the barrel.

[gnappi]

I powder coat everything I cast, so I have a LOT of bullets I'd say at minimum 1k for each caliber I load ready to load at all times.

[sharps4590]

I cast for many different calibers in many different cartridges, smokeless, black powder cartridges, rifle, revolvers and muzzleloaders and C&B revolvers. I neither reload nor cast for any semi-automatic handguns or rifles. Consequently I don't keep but maybe 50 - 100 of each different caliber, weight, profile, soft or hard alloy on the shelf. As an example, I shoot one 150 gr., 9mm cast bullet in a smokeless powder rifle cartridge AND a 9mm black powder cartridge. One is cast from Lyman #2 and the other from 25-1.

[contender]

Well, I take a different approach than many.

When I cast,, I cast a large quantity of that particular bullet. Then I can switch molds & do a different bullet & not run out of what I may shoot for quite sometime. But I also know that by having cast bullets ready to load,, sells for more & easier than lead or lead alloy. Gosh forbid,, but if my family has to sell stuff, it'll be worth more as bullets than alloy. So,, I keep a fair quantity of bullets.
That reminds me,, it's cooling off & time to cast a bunch again!

[LeverGunner]

I've been into casting already as the evenings are getting cool. I'm out of the RCBS 38-150-SWC, which is my go to 38 and 357 bullet, as well as a few others.

I also am out of 38 Special and 357 Magnum cartridges it appears.

[blackmamba]

Not a caster, but shoot lots of web-purchased coated and plated bullets. I usually have on hand 2-3 thousand each in .41, .44, and .45 calibers.

[bigbore5]

Nov 2, 2024 9:43:41 GMT -5 LeverGunner said:

I've been into casting already as the evenings are getting cool. I'm out of the RCBS 38-150-SWC, which is my go to 38 and 357 bullet, as well as a few others.

I also am out of 38 Special and 357 Magnum cartridges it appears.

That bullet and the 173gr 36-170J are probably my favorite general duty 357 mag bullets with the RCBS getting a bit more use. Too bad I only have a two cavity mold for it.

[boatswainsmate]

My different stages of casting madness and storage. Happy Casting. Boats

[bigbore5]

I like your exhaust vent idea. I need to do something in my shop. Right now I just have an old stove hood from our last remodel. It could be better

[blackmamba]

Keep at it, Boats, you do great work!

[jeffh]

These days, I cast and store naked, unsized bullets, unless I know what I'm going to use them for.


I usually cast in the winter, in an unheated garage, when it's just too cold or miserable outside to get anything else done. Casting time is fleeting and precious, so I make the most of it when I get to do it and cast like a maniac. I usually have at least one mould I want bullets from, but I'll run two moulds to keep my tempo and to make use of the little lull between pouring molten lead in the mould and dropping them onto an old towel.

All that to say - I have quite a lot of bullets cast up.

My ways have changed a bit as to what I do from there. I used to tumble-lube everything in 45-45-10 as soon after casting as I could, and then leave them unsized. I'd size to suit later and hit them again with 45-45-10 after sizing. That way, I could also later use traditional lube If I wanted, because the initial tumble-lube kept bullets from oxidizing if I didn't get to them for a few years. Rarely happened, but sometimes.

Once I got a suppressor for a 357 Mag carbine, I started PC'ing, so now when I cast, I either store them naked in clear plastic jars, so I can PC or TL later. Sometimes, the bullets are specifically meant for the carbine. Those I PC as soon as I can after casting, but still leave unsized.

I have sold, sorted, corrected and traded such that all the like-caliber guns require the same bullet diameter, but I also share with my brother, a dear friend and my best friend and size to suit their guns or not at all. All three have done me innumerable favors over the years and the first two don't cast (yet). My best friend casts probably four times as much as I do, but when I have a mould he doesn't, or if I try something he hasn't, I'll send some his way to get more testing perspective.

[lar4570]

Boats! Wow you are organized. I hope my wife doesn't see those pictures! I'll be in trouble for sure.

I normally keep anywhere from 500-2000 bullets cast and ready to go.
45 Colt is about my favorite caliber, so I tend to keep way more of those on hand.
I do have some 700gn .501" on hand that I cast 10+ years ago. They don't shoot well out of the stock twist of my S&W, so I just keep them around for when someone really wants to shoot them...\
I mostly keep my bullets in plastic tubs. I put a piece of tape on the side and write info in sharpie so I don't have to open and measure to see what I've got.
My bulk brass storage is in green ammo cans, labeled the same way.
I've started keeping different projects in card board boxes, so I can stack them up and write on the side what's inside.
When my buddy Wayne died from Covid, we cleaned out his apartment above his Vet Clinic. He had soo much reloading stuff up there!!! We had to make 3 trips with my 1/2 ton pickup loaded heavy riding on the bump stops. His wife wanted to keep all the ammo, but I've slowly been parting out the bullets, brass and dies. She keeps the money in a seperate account for emergencys... She says it's her retirement account, so he's still taking care of her. His ammo has the load data on a note card in the top of all of the ammo boxes, so atleast we can tell what he was doing.

I do need to get better organized.

[1lnbrdg]

I usually manage 2 trips a week to the range. I usually dredge the berm each trip, come home with 15, maybe 20 pounds of lead. I'm not sure what I have cast up but it's enough I don't worry about having something to shoot that week. 9MM is my easy button, I alwas have plenty cast and loaded, I go for marathon sessions on that because I find so much of that brass. Somewhat new to me is my .38 Spec and it's getting a lot of casting/loading attention. There's always quite a bit of .45 and .44, something always going on there along with whatever rifle has my attention.
It'd be nice to be that organized so I knew what I had but if I see something getting down below 3-400 rounds I get a little ancy and work on those.
Waiting now for a NOE 360-162 mold coming in this week. I may need to get to the range for another haul of lead . . . .
I don't know if I shoot so I can cast and reload or cast and reload so I can shoot.

[LeverGunner]

Interesting responses, thank you all. Very interesting.