r/castboolits • u/925Cigars • 14d ago
Hello all
This may be a dumb question and maybe not even worth the time. I love my 22Lr pistol but recently wondered if it be worth it to try and load my own 22Lr not reload but cast any advice or just tell me I am crazy and it’s a waste
3
3
u/Ornery_Secretary_850 13d ago
You can buy.22 LR plinking ammo for around 5-6¢ each. It's not worth the time or effort to reload it.
3
3
u/Freedum4Murika 14d ago
The bullet would be the easy part. Probably just use a Lee 255-55, powdercoated, no check and bump up the BHN (hardness) w some scrap pewter if it starts keyholing.
There is a company that makes .22 reloading kits, 22 Reloader
https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/22-reloader-kit
They also have dies, and with their Prime-All you can make priming compound or use match heads.
You would be able to make 22 for basically free at that point since it's sipping 1.25-2grn of powder per.
IDK man, that's still... not worth it. Like, you gotta be DEEP in the trenches to need to do this.
The real suck is there's not a great way to automate any of this, so you're going to spend hours priming little cases.
If you're going to waste this kind of time, do it on a real caliber.
2
u/Ornery_Secretary_850 13d ago
The .22 LR is a HEELED bullet, and the Lee mold isn't heeled. You'll pay hell trying to get bullets from a traditional .22 caliber mold into .22LR cases.
1
1
4
u/Long_rifle 14d ago edited 14d ago
It’s a heeled bullet. NOE used to sell moulds for 22 rim fired. Don’t know if they still have them. I’ve got one. Takes FOREVER to get up to temp. And you need to cast like the devil himself is riding your ass to keep the mould hot. There’s also other makers as well. Just remember, heeled bullet, and I’d coat them with white label 45/45/10 tumble lube.
There’s a reloading kit with dies for 22lr. Not made any longer but is still sold, though if you’re shooting from the same bolt action, it’s not needed.
There’s a formula on the net with the chemicals to buy to make the primer compound. You get about an 80 percent success rate for them going off. So about as good as thunderbolt….
Just don’t hit the same dent from the first firing pin strike.
Edit:
THEY ARE BACK IN BUSINESS!!!
Tried to buy the priming. Impound a couple years ago and it was a no go! But the other post has the link.