.172" 30gr hpbt or flat base Unobtanium...

[17tbs]

I am in search of ANY 30gr .172"

If none are available and there are enough of us interested, how many would be required to order, or how much would it cost to have a copy of Todd Kindler's 30gr gold dies made, used and produce a run of say 1,000,000, 250,000, or 100,000?

Would it be something you would be interested in backing?

Hutch

 

[TAJ45]

I'm not a .17 shooter but.....l think l remember that someone stated it was a 50k minimum. However, l do not know what bullet maker he was talking to.
I'd be more interested in a 45gr +/- .204.

It seems the jackets are the wild card for production of anything.
A bud made his own 6mm 25+ years back and he said he wore his shoulder out. 6 or 7 handle pulls per copy. He said there is a very major learning curve to producing top notch bullets.
There is also one process step that gets expensive when a bit of tooling gets buggered from operator failure. With wait times being what they are, it could be a very frustrating endeavor on many fronts.

At 75.85 yo, l have no desire to pick up that baton.

 

[hogpatrol]

Check with Chan Nagel in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. Don't know if he's still making them but I bought some 30s from him a few years back. From what I've seen on the web, Todd's equipment was sold and that business did not survive.

 

[snert]

Somebody bought Kindler's dies and briefly produced the bullet. I think I saw it on Saubier, maybe here. Anyhow, it was about 2 years ago IIRC. Have not heard of them since. Guy from Texas maybe?

 

[searcher]

I am in search of ANY 30gr .172"

If none are available and there are enough of us interested, how many would be required to order, or how much would it cost to have a copy of Todd Kindler's 30gr gold dies made, used and produce a run of say 1,000,000, 250,000, or 100,000?

Would it be something you would be interested in backing?

Hutch

have you tried the Berger?

 

[17VLD]

The gentleman in Texas goes by Montana Mize.I got 2000 from him to try after DAA tested them as he found them to be fairly good,I believe the learning cure is very steep btw.I know Montana had at least one very young child and a lot going on.I’ve often wondered if he would sell those beautiful dies that Todd made such awesome bullets with.
Matt

 

[WyleWD]

I am in search of ANY 30gr .172"

If none are available and there are enough of us interested, how many would be required to order, or how much would it cost to have a copy of Todd Kindler's 30gr gold dies made, used and produce a run of say 1,000,000, 250,000, or 100,000?

Would it be something you would be interested in backing?

Hutch

A couple of posters are correct that Todd sold his dies, jackets, etc to someone in Texas. I purchased 500 from him and they shot quite well. The last time I talked to him about 5 years ago he hinted that he would consider selling all he had off. He was out of jackets at that time. I expressed interest in purchasing all of it and he said he'd figure up a price and get back with me. End of transmission and communication. Never heard from him again, and the number I had for him was not being answered.

I live about an hour away from Todd and stopped by there several times a few years back. Extremely nice fella. And VERY meticulous in making bullets. I'd have LOVED to have known the bullet dies etc were for sale. At that point in time I'd have bought them in a heartbeat.

Bottom line is that IF someone could find the equipment of Todds AND if it was still in good shape and serviceable that would be your best bet. Then, comes the learning curve on how to duplicate Todd's talents and know how in making excellent bullets. JMHO. WD

 

[17VLD]

So very true.Imagine If BIB got involved,Randy knows a thing or two about making accurate bullets.I wonder who makes his dies these days.

Matt

 

[ballpowder]

I have been trying to finalize a deal with Montana for over a year. His house caught on fire and buried the equipment right as I was making plans to travel there for lessons and boxing up. Other than that he is really busy drilling water wells and it’s a PITA trying to complete the deal

 

[kerryp]

I have been trying to finalize a deal with Montana for over a year. His house caught on fire and buried the equipment right as I was making plans to travel there for lessons and boxing up. Other than that he is really busy drilling water wells and it’s a PITA trying to complete the deal

Sorry to hear about them having a house fire.
Was the bullet dies a total loss?

 

[ballpowder]

No he still has the stuff he says but he had to move much of his other stuff into a shed. I’m hoping that is the truth

 

[17tbs]

Somebody bought Kindler's dies and briefly produced the bullet. I think I saw it on Saubier, maybe here. Anyhow, it was about 2 years ago IIRC. Have not heard of them since. Guy from Texas maybe?

It was Montana Mize, ( I don't know if that was a pseudonym or his real name), his last vocation is water well drilling in Texas. He seems to have become disinterested in producing bullets using Todd's dies. We should buy the dies from him or somebody should maybe me maybe you. Those dies produced excellent bullets. It's a shame they're sitting somewhere in a desk gathering dust

 

[shb]

It's an incredible entrepreneurial opportunity for someone with the grit to see it through.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Jackets, problem for all custom 17 bullet manufacturers. Got my last batch from Badgerbob in Wy, he's out of jackets last I heard.

 

[ballpowder]

J4 does not make the jackets for the 30’s anymor. That’s why Todd dumped it. Montana told me that we could draw down the .640” .204 jackets which doesn’t sound very efficient but gets it done

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Berger owns J4, so they knew that halting that jacket line would probably eliminate custom 17 bullet manufacturers from the marketplace.

 

[JSH]

J4 does not make the jackets for the 30’s anymor. That’s why Todd dumped it. Montana told me that we could draw down the .640” .204 jackets which doesn’t sound very efficient but gets it done

Using the 204 jackets is what others are doing with some success.

I imagine the 17 jackets demand from J4 amount to a pimple on an elephants rump. The number of serious 17 users is far from big enough to support much other than short runs.

The 20’s have a firm foot hold on the small calibers for sure. I am surprised there has not been a rimfire developed yet. Suppose they can’t keep up with what is in high demand now let alone another “new” one.

 

[Dean Slater]

I am in search of ANY 30gr .172"

If none are available and there are enough of us interested, how many would be required to order, or how much would it cost to have a copy of Todd Kindler's 30gr gold dies made, used and produce a run of say 1,000,000, 250,000, or 100,000?

Would it be something you would be interested in backing?

Hutch

Blackhole Bullets

 

[L.Sherm]

Got my last batch from Badgerbob in Wy, he's out of jackets last I heard.

I think your correct Bob is out of jackets, he told me in order to get more he had to order something like 100,000 at a time.

 

[Ray123]

I have about 300 Berger 30 gr 17 Cal bullets...one new box of 200 pcs and about 100 pcs moly coated...Berger a quit making them, as it says discontinued.... just like their long high BC 37 gr Boatails requiring a 6 twist barrel. Had two .17 Remington rifles for a long time, down to one. And even have the Todd Kinder Sensational Seventeens manual.
And a price sheet from June 4, 1996.
17 Rem brass $27 per hundred, Berger bullets available in 15 gr. (Walt Berger owned co gave me a sample of these for free.) 18, 20, 22, 25, & 30 gr 200 bullets in the "yellow box" $27.75 per 200 pcs. The new 37 gr Berger VLD 17s were $32.75 for 200 bullets. Win 760 was my go to powder for the 30 gr Berger right from Todd's loading manual...the rest got imr4320.
The Woodchuck Den had just about everything needed for small caliber rifles and tons of wildcats, dies and cases totally available...then later made a variety of 17 caliber bullets ...I was interested in his 27 gr BT 17 cal.. but unfortunately didn't buy any...so many other calibers to play with... but I spent a lot time with the 17.
Thanks for the 17 memories...I have another 17 barrel!..LOL..