As of Friday a week ago there is no longer any Black Powder/ Muzzle loading specialty store anywhere in Colorado. My favorite gun store (only 5 miles from my front door) caught fire and burned into oblivion. This means all the supplies I need are no longer available locally. The shop was a total loss including the owners personal collection of BP firearms and a couple cannons. Now I may be forced to cast my own soft lead bullets and round balls. I could buy RBs at Cabelas but for reloading 44-40, 45LC, 45-70, and 38 S&W black powder loads there is no where local to buy. Jim at the now burnt up BP store provided me with all I needed in soft cast pre-lubed bullets and hard cast pre-lubed bullets for reloading. In addition I bought all my black powder there.
I'm not excited about casting bullets. I have avoided it on purpose, I have enough going on without having to perform another process in order to shoot the way I prefer.
I have been mulling this over for a few days and although started out feeling sorry for my self it didn't take long to realize that I lost a good place to shop but my friend had lost his livelihood and a lot of his most prized and valuable possessions.
Due to the anti-gun sentiment and political climate here Jim had been unable to afford insurance. He is now liable not only for his establishment but for the damage to the two adjoining businesses.