[MarshallDodge]

I did some searching on the subject and did not find anything that directly answered my question.

My needs are to have a system setup "just in case". I am not a "tinfoil hat" kind of guy but I would like to be able to reload even if bullets were not available for some unforseen reason.
I guess 50-100 bullets per hour would be a good start, probably a 200 grain SWC .45.

Is there anybody that makes a little "getting started" kit?

[Hazzard]

You can find a kit here...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=&id=0012555210657a&navCount=0&podId=0012555&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=&indexId=&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=gravitystream.com&cm_pla=&cm_ite=netcon&hasJS=true

But you can get started with much less. A hot plate, small pan (make sure it is only used for casting!), dipper of some kind (I made my own), a Lee mold, Lee sizing die, and alox are really the "basics" that you need. A lot of these items can be found at a flea markets for cheap. That will allow you to try it to see if it's right for you. Then you can get better equipment later if you like. I started this way and it worked so well that this is still the equipment that I use. Don't forget good leather gloves and safety glasses. That lead is hot!

[HiWayMan]

When you choose a pot to melt in make sure it is heavy guage stainless stell or better yet, cast iron. Aluminum pots can burn through with bad results felt by all nearby.

With a Lee 2 cavity mould and a Lee Production Pot IV with a small Lee melter for re-melting sprue and melting new lead I can crank out about 250-350 an hour without really busting my butt.

Check out:

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

[HiWayMan]

To more properly answer your question.

A ladle, a small cast iron pot, a heat source (our forefathers used a campfire), a mould, and some liquid alox. The sizer isn't really neccessary as bullets will drop oversized, and you will want them that way. But the Lee sizers are cheap and come with a bottle of Alox, so you may as well have it on hand.

Lee has all the basics at the lowest price out there. I would, however, reccommend an RCBS or Lyman ladle as the Lee is good for little more than skimming the pot.

[bobaloo]

Or, just get some equipment that will do a good job now and give it a try, you just might like it. You can buy the Lee 4-20 bottom pour melting pot for about $65, a six-cavity .45 tumble lube mold for about $35 and a set of handles for the mold for $15-20. That, some lead, and a cheap bottle of Alox is all you need to make a bunch of bullets. I think the Lee sizer kit for .452 is a little under $20.

With that setup I make about 500 bullets per hour, they shoot very well out of my .45, and even buying lead they end up costing less than a penny per bullet.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

All the information you ever needed about casting bullets.

[CMcDermott]

Some safety equipment that comes in handy are welding gauntlets (heavy leather gloves with the extension so they cover your wrists & lower forearms), a heavy leather apron, full-face shield and steel-toed leather boots. Wear heavy cotton or wool clothing - denim long-sleeved shirt and jeans work well.
No matter how careful you are, eventually the "tinsel fairy" will pay a visit and decorate you with melted lead from a steam explosion or tip over your pot of liquid lead. Proper clothing will protect you from getting burned too seriously. The steel toed boots protect your feet from dropped lead ingots.

[HiWayMan]

All hail the Tinsel Fairy!

[Jet22]

I would recommend a cast iron frying pan and a Lyman dipper to start with. You will get a good mould fill with the dipper and the frying pan will hold 30 pounds of lead and it will be easy to regulate the heat. I cast on an old electric stove. I use the plastic handle of a phillips head screwdriver to open the sprew (it is easy to hold on to and I never have to put it down while casting). It is quite easy to cast 200-300 per hour using a single or double cavity mould (my record is 39 bullets in 5 minutes with a single cavity 358429 Lyman). As for moulds, check out Ebay. Moulds like the Lyman 452460 200 grain 45 cal semi-wadcutter go cheap because they are common and don't spark collectors interest. You can pick up a lubersizer there also. If you haven't noticed, jacketed bullets have just taken a second 20% price hike this year, as was predicted at the Shot Show this year. Hard telling where this is going to end. I suspect bullet casting is going to celebrate a renaissance very soon!