[ilbob]

I have almost gotten the bug, so I thought I would ask first. What is a minimal kind of bullet casting setup?

Is a ladle arrangement better, worse, or no real difference from a pot with a spout?

[ReloaderFred]

ilbob,

I started casting around 1968 or so with a ladle and single cavity mold. Now I've got two bottom pour pots and roughly 50 molds, ranging from single cavity to ten cavity. The ladle will work, but it's slow for production work, so I would suggest a bottom pour pot if you're serious about casting. If you just want to experiment and see if it's really for you, then the ladle would make sense.

Unless you buy a mold for the Lee tumble lube bullets, you'll need some way to size and lube them. Sizer/lubers can be quite expensive. I've got Lyman, RCBS, Seaco and Star machines, and for most applications, the Star is the way to go, but also the most expensive. If you know someone who casts, it would be best to sit with them and see what's involved before making the investment.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[GP100man]

ilbob

a dipper ,lee 2 cavity mold $12 & a steel pot is what i started with in "83
& wheel weights!!!
parrifin wax to flux (clean) the melted lead with& still use used up smelly candles to this day!! (gotta $save where you can)

if not very carful youll become addicted& will do any thing for wheel weights!!!
seriously though youll either love it or decide you dont have time for casting & will revert to buying em

GP100man

[Hunter0924]

I started casting almost a year ago. I bought the Lyman Master Casting kit from Cabelas along with the .452 sizing die and top punch at a Lyman Mold. I read the Lymans Cast Bullets Handbook and had a few phone conversations with Robert Bank and got started. I have had great results casting for handguns and am ordering some rifle molds next month. I do have a Lee 10 pound bottom pour pot but to be honest I like the ladle better (though the bottom pour is faster).
It is not that hard and for me it is as enjoyable as reloading. Get yourself a steady supply of wheel weights and the means to smelt them into ingots (do not use your production pot for that).
The ABCs of Reloading has a few chapters on casting that are also helpful. The main thing for me to remember (besides safety which is always first) is to get the mold hot enough for good fill out but not so hot the bullets frost over.
I say go for it the money savings is great not to mention another aspect of the hobby. I have a few friends who shoot old muzzle loading rifles and the only way to get bullets is to make them so there are several good reasons to get into it.
It is a hobby that really needs to be done outside in the fresh air and remember you will be dealing with molten lead so be safe. A splash of that on your arm is not soon forgot.

[BBQJOE]

I have thought about getting into it but the amount of time I already spend shooting, and reloading as well as range set up and take down, plus the extra time I spend scrounging brass, would probably have me at the range an extra hour each time picking bullets out of the backstop for recycling.

[creekwalker]

Ilbob if you’re interested in casting than by all means give it a try, especially if you follow Gp100's start up suggestions. Than if you’re still interested you can add on additional equipment. I started out with a 10# SACCO electric pot which I still have as well as used double cavity molds I purchased from friends who had migrated to more sophisticated equipment. Casting is enjoyable and if you don't wish to use wheel weights other options are available.

Creekwalker

[ranger335v]

I've used a variety of casting tools from several manufactors since '65 and actually like them all. But, if I was just getting my feet wet I'd go directly to mostly Lee equipment. Why? It works! And it's far less expensive than others.

Lee's molds are from aluminum rather than iron, meaning they may well wear out within maybe 10 to 15 thousand bullets. Who cares, they don't rust and don't cost a lot to replace either.

The Lee "tumble lube" bullet designs are good and easy to lube with Lee's Alox lube, then easy to size in Lee's press mounted sizer system.

I'd start by using the small Lee electric pot and ingot mold. And pour the metal from a LYMAN ladle!

After a few thousand bullets are made, loaded and shot I would have gained the experience and judgement to make my own decisions about any additional equipment I might want to add.

[scrat]

ok casting. Wow i have been casting for a while it is time consuming. I have a bottom pour and i still do top pour too. For top pour i use a simple propane camp stove and a ladle. Two cavity and above molds are the way to go. Its not hard to learn its actually pretty easy. i will post a link on some videos. If you go with the lee sizing kit its pretty easy. sometimes you can find the old lee sizing kits on ebay. its time consuming to do but its a lot cheaper than buying a sizer and the dies. ok here is the quick way approach. Get some lead you can either buy lead on ebay already cleaned and in ingont molds. or you can check with your local tire shops and get some lead wheel weights. most of the time they will just give it away. However you will have to melt down the lead then flux out all the dirt and contaminants. then pour it into molds or just leave it the way it is if you are going to start casting from there.

Next get your molds. you can go cheap and buy some used molds or get some new molds (lee are the cheapest). You will have to clean and lub the molds to prepare them for casting. then heat up your molds and the ladle to the temperature of the lead or around. Then you can start to pour the lead in the mold. LEt it cool for a minute then open them up. I always open them into a bucket of water to harden them up. Do as much as you can i usually do around 3-500 at a time. then you need to lube them and size them. After that your ready to load. Now there are many techniques to lubing with out a lube sizer you can do it the old way. heat up a stick up lube then rub the ribs of the bullets to fill them up. Then size them. The excess lube will come off. Another way to lube them is with lee liquid alox. you put the bullets in a container. i use a two litter bottle that i cut about 6 inches from the bottom. squeeze in some lube then gentely rotate and tumble them until they all get coated then. Pour them onto a table on top of some wax paper. Then wait until the next day to size them. The will still be sticky however they will almost leave no leading.

Tip pour some baby powder on the bullets the next day. a light coat will prevent them from being sticky.

Ok here is the link.

http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/bullet-casting.htm

[Bula]

ilbob,
I just started casting less than a year ago. Man is it rewarding. I went the Cabelas/Lyman kit route and it has served me well. The ladle is slow, but it works. I've only purchased Lyman molds and they are great quality (but spendy). My advice is get started. With the Lyman Kit you only need to add a sizer die, and bullet mold with hanldes to get casting. I do plan on upgrading to a bottom pour pot, but everytime I get the extra cash for one, I buy more molds!