Owner John with test guns
CMA Bullets
There are various ways of making bullets
including casting, swaging and machining them. CMA uses the swaging method
which entails forming them under pressure using dies. The dies determine the
shape and caliber of the bullet. Both jacketed and lead bullets can be formed
this way. One advantage to swaging is you can have a die made to make any type
of bullet that you can dream up. There are some dies made by a couple of
companies that are capable of making your bullets. It is fairly expensive to
get into swaging and can be downright costly in some instances. So if you want
to swage be prepared to lay out some cash. A better option might be buying custom bullets
from a custom maker such as CMA. His prices are very reasonable which is
another plus.
Another
option is to buy them. Most bullet companies swage their bullets under various
criteria depending on what the projectile is going to be used for. If you like
specialized bullets then a small company may be the place to check out. One
such company that makes unique bullets and offers some loaded ammo is CMA. For info you can go to http://www.cmacustomammo.com/ for more info and availability. Let’s be
honest! Anyone who reloads likes to
experiment with various loads and bullets and this is a great way to achieve
that goal. You might be able to suggest an idea to John and he might be able to
make it but check with him first. All custom bullets require tools and dies
specific to that particular slug. Since I do some swaging, I am well aware of
the needs of custom bullet making.
As with
all aspects of shooting the proof is in the pudding. How well do they shoot. I
have used some of the hollow base bullets in 45 and they produce good accuracy
even in a Judge, which can be finicky. Their stack-ems separate very well as
they are supposed to. Light and button bullets can be useful in some self
defense loads where excess penetration could be an issue. I have just received
some 44 and 45 hollow base bullets which I have shot with good results. John
also sent some 9 mm in 69 and 135 grain hollow points which performed well. The
69 should make a nice bullet in the 380. With such a light weight they should
help make the 380 a serious social load.
We have
shot some of John’s bullets and accuracy is always good. Even the Governor,
which isn’t known for accuracy, shot them well especially the hollow base types.
Many of his bullets are made for self defense and with his designs I see some
good potential there. He makes some stackers, which are different, and with two
or three bullets hitting an intruder at the same time, keeping your family safe
should be no issue. He sent some 45 ACP 200 and 220 SWC bullets which should be
good for target or small game hunting. They are FMJ’s and have a prominent bevel,
which is lacking on most of these type of bullets. The advantage of a bevel is
you don’t have to flare the case as needed in most handgun loads. That will
extend the life of a case because beveling works the case mouth which will
cause splits. With normal loads case splitting is the main cause of
failure.
I finally got to meet John and he brought some
samples to shoot. One interesting one is a 45 ACP 125 grain Tiger Claw HP. I am
looking at a lightweight bullet that will cut down on recoil and still be
effective. After shooting this bullet in
2- 45 autos, I see a lot of potential for it. Accuracy is outstanding and at
1200 fps recoil is pleasant. The cavity is large which should expand readily in
most medium. He uses full length jacket
with a plastic ball behind the lead core. While that changes the balance point
of the bullet accuracy isn’t compromised, in fact it might help out in that
department. The full length jacket aids
in feeding. One complaint that I have run across is the recoil of some 45 ammo.
Even some of the hot 185 grain ammo drew some negative comments from mostly
female shooters. I use a load of 7.5 X 231 and get real good results. A 125
grain HP at 1200 FPS makes a nice
controllable round in the 45 and would be effective for self defense. I let a
couple of female shooters try it and they have a very positive review of it.
They would carry it in their 45 ACP pistols. Yes, women carry and shoot 45 autos.
Like many people, John wants to start and run
his own business. One requirement to being successful is to have a quality and
useful product. John’s items fill both those needs nicely. Reasonable prices
are also necessary as well as good customer service. I have been dealing with
him for some time and he is always a pleasure to deal with and anyone looking
for some good bullets will do well to contact him. There is a market for his innovative products
and I for one hopes he succeeds.
38 & 9mm bullets good for self defense also accurate
Like many of us John started out with a single
shot 22 with the help of his grandfather. He progressed along and at the age of
12 received a 22 auto loading rifle. Like many other people in the industry
John progressed through the necessary steps in learning about handloading and
bullet making. I would suggest that you contact him for prices and availability
especially if you want a custom bullet. With the demand for ammo and reloading
components there is always room for a good custom bullet maker.
He is a life member of the NRA Since 1979 and a
Life Member of The Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA) as well as a
member of the 50 Cal Shooters Association, Army Marksmanship Association and
the Elk Foundation. I try and keep myself current of activities that affect the
shooting and hunting industries that we all hold so Dear.
