Quote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.
When it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliber
Quote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 07:31:16 PMQuote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.Yeah well, a search for that mold bared no fruit....
I really like this one for .457https://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-280A
And of course the EPP/UGhttps://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-195A
Quote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 08:55:41 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 07:31:16 PMQuote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.Yeah well, a search for that mold bared no fruit.... That's ok, all of those but the 335 are too heavy for a stock AEA big bore anyway. You will want something in the 240-315 grain weight range. Anything longer than .710" won't fit the magazine, but there is plenty of room for single shot loading. You will have a hard time finding anything over 280 grain in .457" that will also fit the magazine, except for the full wadcutter I linked in a previous reply. This is where .50 cal is a bit better. I'll browse the .500 molds and see if there is anything similar that is also magazine friendly. A longer slug should theoretically have a better BC, and the NSA slugs are almost 1" long in .457", but I don't know about .50 cal. This is where .50 is a disadvantage compared to .457"
Quote from: Spacebus on December 12, 2021, 09:05:34 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 08:55:41 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 07:31:16 PMQuote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.Yeah well, a search for that mold bared no fruit.... That's ok, all of those but the 335 are too heavy for a stock AEA big bore anyway. You will want something in the 240-315 grain weight range. Anything longer than .710" won't fit the magazine, but there is plenty of room for single shot loading. You will have a hard time finding anything over 280 grain in .457" that will also fit the magazine, except for the full wadcutter I linked in a previous reply. This is where .50 cal is a bit better. I'll browse the .500 molds and see if there is anything similar that is also magazine friendly. A longer slug should theoretically have a better BC, and the NSA slugs are almost 1" long in .457", but I don't know about .50 cal. This is where .50 is a disadvantage compared to .457"https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52This one is a 250.
Quote from: Spacebus on December 12, 2021, 06:29:26 PMQuote from: Hoosier Daddy on December 12, 2021, 05:53:56 PMI have been bitten by the "Big Bore Bug" as well.I was considering a Sam Yang 909 until I learned of the AEA Challenger.But seriously, do I need to cast pellets / slugs?Why can't I just buy something "quality" in .457There are plenty of options in .457 and a decent amount in .495. It just gets to be expensive, at least compared to shooting a .177 or .22 airgun. I suppose when compared to PB stuff, it is still cheap to shoot big bore air guns. To start out I bought some 350 and 305 grain .457 slugs from NSA, and still have about half of them. The 305's made 500 FPE at the muzzle on my .45 Challenger BP and grouped really well at 25 yards.This is where I'm at... I'm not a serious hunter and I think I could trap and reuse all the smaller stuff I shoot. It should be plenty to feed this beast... or at least knock the edge off the cost.
Quote from: Hoosier Daddy on December 12, 2021, 05:53:56 PMI have been bitten by the "Big Bore Bug" as well.I was considering a Sam Yang 909 until I learned of the AEA Challenger.But seriously, do I need to cast pellets / slugs?Why can't I just buy something "quality" in .457There are plenty of options in .457 and a decent amount in .495. It just gets to be expensive, at least compared to shooting a .177 or .22 airgun. I suppose when compared to PB stuff, it is still cheap to shoot big bore air guns. To start out I bought some 350 and 305 grain .457 slugs from NSA, and still have about half of them. The 305's made 500 FPE at the muzzle on my .45 Challenger BP and grouped really well at 25 yards.
I have been bitten by the "Big Bore Bug" as well.I was considering a Sam Yang 909 until I learned of the AEA Challenger.But seriously, do I need to cast pellets / slugs?Why can't I just buy something "quality" in .457
This is where I'm at... I'm not a serious hunter and I think I could trap and reuse all the smaller stuff I shoot. It should be plenty to feed this beast... or at least knock the edge off the cost.
Quote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 09:16:08 PMQuote from: Spacebus on December 12, 2021, 09:05:34 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 08:55:41 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 07:31:16 PMQuote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.Yeah well, a search for that mold bared no fruit.... That's ok, all of those but the 335 are too heavy for a stock AEA big bore anyway. You will want something in the 240-315 grain weight range. Anything longer than .710" won't fit the magazine, but there is plenty of room for single shot loading. You will have a hard time finding anything over 280 grain in .457" that will also fit the magazine, except for the full wadcutter I linked in a previous reply. This is where .50 cal is a bit better. I'll browse the .500 molds and see if there is anything similar that is also magazine friendly. A longer slug should theoretically have a better BC, and the NSA slugs are almost 1" long in .457", but I don't know about .50 cal. This is where .50 is a disadvantage compared to .457"https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52This one is a 250.That bullet is a .452 if you are going with an AEA it would be useless
Quote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 09:28:07 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 09:16:08 PMQuote from: Spacebus on December 12, 2021, 09:05:34 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 08:55:41 PMQuote from: avator on December 12, 2021, 07:31:16 PMQuote from: Nomadic Pirate on December 12, 2021, 04:47:45 PMWhen it comes to .45 cal I much prefer .452 pistol caliber then the .457 rifle caliber,......much more selection in bullets through a wider range.https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71I like the .495 caliber, a lot of .500 S&W options out there that can be easily sized down to .498 https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66Also the Hornady .495 Roundball works great for that caliberhttps://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52I like what I see with this one... I like that fact that they list the mold they were cast from. If they worked out I could look into buying that mold to cast my own.Yeah well, a search for that mold bared no fruit.... That's ok, all of those but the 335 are too heavy for a stock AEA big bore anyway. You will want something in the 240-315 grain weight range. Anything longer than .710" won't fit the magazine, but there is plenty of room for single shot loading. You will have a hard time finding anything over 280 grain in .457" that will also fit the magazine, except for the full wadcutter I linked in a previous reply. This is where .50 cal is a bit better. I'll browse the .500 molds and see if there is anything similar that is also magazine friendly. A longer slug should theoretically have a better BC, and the NSA slugs are almost 1" long in .457", but I don't know about .50 cal. This is where .50 is a disadvantage compared to .457"https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305&zenid=0ijrp33vnmr1v54kou5en35t52This one is a 250.That bullet is a .452 if you are going with an AEA it would be useless.452 won't run in the .45?
195gr at 1000 fps gives you 433 FPE,.....I don't think the Challenger will shoot them faster then that
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/458-460/458-244-fn-ca4-bt/458-244-fn-ca4-2-cavity-bt/ The linked mold is what I have, but without the HP pins and in two cavity. I wish that I had just gotten the regular FN mold instead of the RG4. As a novice caster the pins give me consistency trouble, they never seem to all settle at the same height. What I need to do is figure out which cavity produces the heaviest slug on average, or whatever works best, and recycle the other three when I cast. I went with .45 over the .50 after searching the available off the shelf ammo. While having a .50 cal is cool, available ammo is cooler. The magazine being shared from "big 9", .45, and .50 AEA challengers limits ammo to roughly .710" long. Not a big deal as there are plenty of slugs that weigh less than 300 grains and fit in the magazine in .45, not sure in .50 which will all trend heavier. Seems that the platform really wants a slug around 300 grain and pushing the max length the magazine will hold. My flat nose slugs drop around 240 grain and .573", but group pretty tight. Sub 2" ragged hole with 12 shots at 50 yards. The NSA 305 grain hollow core slugs I tested with made the most FPE so far, but don't fit the magazine. They grouped very well at 25 yards, longer range testing is needed. For hunting deer and target shooting I don't see the advantage to long hollow point slugs and think a SWC/FN design, like I linked, is the optimal shape for air gun velocities and hunting ranges. If you want to reach out really far, like beyond 75 yards, I think those long NSA bullets make more sense. My next mold will be an Accurate mold with two different slug shapes, the 295 WC and something like the NSA slugs. There is supposedly a power kit coming out for the AEA Challenger big bore platform, but it never seems to come out. That being said, 450-500 FPE is plenty for me. In your situation I would go with the .357 to be honest. You don't need the full bore 400+ FPE provided by the .45/.50, but the .357 slug designs available will work well for really long range target shooting. The AEA Big 9 can really handle anything from a chipmunk up to a good size white tail buck. Worth noting, the only readily available Lee .45 cal mold that will work well in the .45 Challenger is probably the 220 250 grain R.E.A.L. .45 cal black powder mold. The other Lee .45 molds are for .450-.454" bore. AEA uses a .457" bore like 45/70 gov rather than a pistol bore like .452". There are way more mold choices in the smaller range for .45, but I don't think it really matters because there are so many .457-.462" molds out there. Usually you can find that Lee .45 R.E.A.L. 220 or 250 grain mold on Ebay for $45 shipped.
Quote from: Spacebus on December 12, 2021, 02:31:49 PMhttps://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/458-460/458-244-fn-ca4-bt/458-244-fn-ca4-2-cavity-bt/ The linked mold is what I have, but without the HP pins and in two cavity. I wish that I had just gotten the regular FN mold instead of the RG4. As a novice caster the pins give me consistency trouble, they never seem to all settle at the same height. What I need to do is figure out which cavity produces the heaviest slug on average, or whatever works best, and recycle the other three when I cast. I went with .45 over the .50 after searching the available off the shelf ammo. While having a .50 cal is cool, available ammo is cooler. The magazine being shared from "big 9", .45, and .50 AEA challengers limits ammo to roughly .710" long. Not a big deal as there are plenty of slugs that weigh less than 300 grains and fit in the magazine in .45, not sure in .50 which will all trend heavier. Seems that the platform really wants a slug around 300 grain and pushing the max length the magazine will hold. My flat nose slugs drop around 240 grain and .573", but group pretty tight. Sub 2" ragged hole with 12 shots at 50 yards. The NSA 305 grain hollow core slugs I tested with made the most FPE so far, but don't fit the magazine. They grouped very well at 25 yards, longer range testing is needed. For hunting deer and target shooting I don't see the advantage to long hollow point slugs and think a SWC/FN design, like I linked, is the optimal shape for air gun velocities and hunting ranges. If you want to reach out really far, like beyond 75 yards, I think those long NSA bullets make more sense. My next mold will be an Accurate mold with two different slug shapes, the 295 WC and something like the NSA slugs. There is supposedly a power kit coming out for the AEA Challenger big bore platform, but it never seems to come out. That being said, 450-500 FPE is plenty for me. In your situation I would go with the .357 to be honest. You don't need the full bore 400+ FPE provided by the .45/.50, but the .357 slug designs available will work well for really long range target shooting. The AEA Big 9 can really handle anything from a chipmunk up to a good size white tail buck. Worth noting, the only readily available Lee .45 cal mold that will work well in the .45 Challenger is probably the 220 250 grain R.E.A.L. .45 cal black powder mold. The other Lee .45 molds are for .450-.454" bore. AEA uses a .457" bore like 45/70 gov rather than a pistol bore like .452". There are way more mold choices in the smaller range for .45, but I don't think it really matters because there are so many .457-.462" molds out there. Usually you can find that Lee .45 R.E.A.L. 220 or 250 grain mold on Ebay for $45 shipped. It's kinda funny that the 2nd reply to this thread turns out to be pretty much the direction that I will go.After doing some research of my own and listening to the advice given here and privately I think I'm going to go for the .45, the NOE BBT mold and the Pro 4 20 pot. I'll also pick up a sizer TBD.I already have a good assortment of scopes to choose from.Next step is gathering the funds.... sure, I have the money but, it's crazy for me to continue piling these airguns up so, I'm determined (with some support from Betty Lou... ) to sell some of what I have to fund it.