I joined the forum a little over a week ago. I just recently decided to take the plunge and start casting my own bullets too. I have been hand loading for over a decade now. The biggest motivation for me to finally do it is the fact that I have 6 rifles that I have built on 1893 Mauser actions are all in the same chambering 7x57mm Mauser. One is built with a Green Mountain sporter barrel that I bought from Midway USA about 6 years ago before they were discontinued. The Other 5 still have the military stepped barrels that came with the receivers and all have good rifling. I slugged them all and the bore diameters were from .2846 to the largest measurement being .2859 and a dark bore. I have shot all of them and all group very well with the 175 grain jacketed bullets. It is just getting too costly to keep feeding them jacketed bullets and I want to extend the life of the barrels. All of them were brought back to life from nothing more than barreled actions and nothing else.
The mold I'm waiting for is for casting 135 grain pills and should be here tomorrow. I have approximately 200 pounds if lead to start with. I have other rifles that have other chambering's that I'm sure that I'll cast for. I thought it would be best to start with the 7x57mm because the brass is getting harder and harder to find. Additionally I have so many to feed.