[SwearNoAllegiance]

Just watched a youtube video of someone casting their own bullets. So now I'd like to put this on my short list of hobbies to aquire.

I just have one question: Where do you get lead to melt down and how much does it cost per pound?

Ok so two questions; one sentence.

Thank you.

[jcwit]

Good places to get lead is tire stores, roofers "flashing, ect.", plumbers, for a start. Range lead indoor or outdoor. Can't give a price as it varies, where I'm at most is free.

Big tip here "hope this is OK" go to castboolits,gunloads.com
yes the spelling is correct.

Hope this helps

[NuJudge]

The capital investment to get started is quite considerable, after that your bullets are essentially free.

Lead you can scrounge. The best is printing Lead, either Linotype or Monotype. Niether is easy to find today. Next best is Wheelweights, but look out for the increasing fraction made of Zinc. Zinc poisons Lead.

It is good to add a little Tin to Wheelweights.

Go to the Cast Boolits webpage for further discussions.

CDD

[jcwit]

I'll differ with NuJudge regarding start up cost. No offence intended tho.

Remember this is the cheap way to get started
Small Lee electric pot--------$25/$30
Lee bullet mold----------$16/$20
Lee Tumble lube ---------$3


or
Coleman stove sgl burner new $40
Old used S/S pan from Goodwill $ .50/$5
Mold and lube same as above

This is minimum to get going
DO NOT USE AN ALUM. POT

[bullseye308]

Scrounge a coleman stove or turkey fryer, either from goodwill or yard sales. Go to Harbor freight(or yard sales/goodwill) for a cast iron pot to melt the lead in. Sneak a slotted spoon from the kitchen(or above places) to skim the junk. Locate a cast iron muffin pan(Uh huh-see above) to make the ingots in. Visit every tire shop you can find and offer to buy their used weights. The average going price is around 25.00-30.00/5 gal bucket full. In the event you strike out with every one, all is not lost. Craigslist has worked for some of us, and when all else fails, there is evilbay:evil:. On evilbay:evil:, the price is around 1.00/lb(sometimes shipped), but the supply is there.
A good way to start is with the Lee pots, Lee molds, Lee ladle(unless you bottom pour), and whatever you have handy to flux with. That could be candles, sawdust, beeswax, a stick, used motor oil, etc.....

One of the first things you wanna do is buy the Lyman cast bullet book and dead it. While you are reading it, start gathering up your equipment as you come across it.

[armoredman]

castboolit.gunloads.com, GREAT resource! They got me started, too.

[SciFiJim]

I want to get started doing this as well. Subscription added.

[scrat]

like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/60lbs-lead-ingots-lead-sinker-molds-reloading_W0QQitemZ130295715665QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item130295715665&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/51-POUNDS-OF-LEAD-INGOTS-FOR-CASTING-SINKERS-BULLETS_W0QQitemZ250394100454QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250394100454&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Floppy_D]

This is how I keep 45acp and 45 Colt under $5 a box of 100. When I buy lead from mom and pop tire stores, I pay 20-50 cents/lb. craigslist has some deals. If you are near a boatyard, ballast weights work. Hospital x-ray shielding works well, too. Call around and do some diggin'. Casting is the secret to cheap reloading, hands down.

[liljohn]

I like using wheel weights. They are mostly lead with about 3 to 4 percent tin and a little arsenic. The alloy casts exceptionally well, and if you water drop them straight from the mold into a bucket of water, they'll harden up to about 20 to 22 BHN; plenty hard to not lead (provided the bullet is sized properly for the gun--definitely the most important factor to consider.

Where I live, getting wheel weights is tough. You have to find an independent tire shop and they might want something for them (I have one shop that I pay $40/5 gallon bucket, which works out to about 25 cents a lb, or maybe a bit less.

In a pinch, I'll buy them from a scrap metal dealer but they often want 50 cents a lb. After processing (sorting out all the crap in wheel weights, like valve stems) and skimming the metal clips, it ends up costing about 80 cents a lb.

These numbers are a bit high; you might be able to get them for free. One guy on this board got 7 buckets for free and the tire shop said he can come back for a bucket every other week if he wants it.

I use a $20 cast iron propane dual burner from Harbor Freight. I don't know what the BTU output is, but it'll melt 40 lbs of wheel weights in about 15 to 20 minutes in a $10 cast iron pot I got from Bed/Bath/Beyond. It took 45 minutes on a Coleman dual fuel stove. I also have a Lyman ladle and a bunch of molds.

You can use low priced Lee molds that run about $25 for a dual cavity, and a Lee sizer is about $20. I haven't used Lee casting stuff, so don't take this as an endorsement; I'm only using it as an example because it's cheap.

A few other handy tools are stainless mixing spoons and a ladle (like you would use in the kitchen). I have both slotted and solid spoons. I use the slotted one all the time to skim the steel clips off the melt. I use the solid one to stir in flux. The ladle holds about 3 lbs of lead so I use it to fill ingot molds (a little under four scoops fills a loaf pan making a 10 lb ingot). You can buy these for about a buck a piece at a thrift shop. They often have LOADS of old cooking gear (probably even a cast iron pot, muffin tins, and loaf pans).

[SwearNoAllegiance]

This is how I keep 45acp and 45 Colt under $5 a box of 100.

:what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what:

Holy crap man. I could shoot all day long and not go bust.

You just made this poor man very excited. :D

I can afford $40 a paycheck for a while to get the necessary gear.

And health concerns: Lead...

What should I do with it. I'm thinking 5 gallon buckets with a sealed lid. Gloves? Mask?

[Sport45]

This is how I keep 45acp and 45 Colt under $5 a box of 100.

Is that just for the bullets? With shipping and hazmat you'll pay almost $5 per hundred just for powder and primers.

[RugerBob]

Try and find a local source for powder and primers. Once that is done it will be less then $5 per 100.
Its to early in the morning to break it down, but its true.

[Jeff F]

And health concerns: Lead...

What should I do with it. I'm thinking 5 gallon buckets with a sealed lid. Gloves? Mask?


Don't melt lead with a torch that gets it hot to the point where it can vaporize and wash your hands after handling lead. Theres a lot of stuff more toxic then lead that people come into contact with.

[SwearNoAllegiance]

I called a local tire shop and he said he'd sell me a 5 gallon pale full of wheel weights for $18.

How many 9mm or .45 bullets might I make out of that? I'm not exactly sure how much a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights weighs, either.

[Smithiac]

don't know the exact number but several hundred. Another thing to consider is if you only let your pot get to about 600 degrees you should not have to worry about those zinc wheel weights because they have a higher melting point.

[jcwit]

You should get approx. 70/75 lbs of lead from a FULL bucket of wheel weights. Now then 75 lbs. times 7000 " number of grains per lb." equals 525,000, divided by 125 "wieght of common 9mm bullet equals 4200 bullets.

No need to worry much about lead. If you use an electric pot or gas stove its very unlikely you'll get temp up to vapor. Don't intensually breath vapors from the pot, other stuff burning there probably isn't to good for you, do it outside. Handling finished product OK just don't push it by eating or smoking "should quit that anyway" while casting or reloading. And wash up afterwards.

Good luck

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

I called a local tire shop and he said he'd sell me a 5 gallon pale full of wheel weights for $18.

Grab it. You should get about 125 lbs of refined bullet lead from a full five gallon pail.

[243winxb]

Where do you get lead to melt down Wheel weights,Tire store, garage. Indoor Pistol range. Always say you want to make Sinkers for fishing.

[RoadKingMI]

I go to a chain shop and offer a 20 for lunch for a 5 gallon bucket. There not suposed to sell it (becasue they have a bulk buyer) but i never have a problem getting my bucket when needed. Good luck, you can save a lot and it seems my brass last longer due to the lower presure.

[Floppy_D]

Is that just for the bullets? With shipping and hazmat you'll pay almost $5 per hundred just for powder and primers.

No, I've found a source for free lead. And yes, there's a $20 hazmat fee... but my last order was over 70lbs. That hazmat fee ain't nothin'. :evil:

[SwearNoAllegiance]

equals 4200 bullets.

http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/attachments/month_0801/drooling_homer_MzY5CNUnEpK4.gif

I love this hobby and I haven't even bought my first piece of equipment.

[sqlbullet]

Late to the party, but gotta chuck in my 2¢.

Find a reliable source of lead in the $0.20-$0.30 range, pick up a 1lb ingot mold, and sell half of what you get as refined ingots for $0.80-$1.00 in your local paper. Your start-up costs will become only your time. (Mine did.) Continue this and pretty soon that $5.00 per box will become 'I shoot for free'.

Wear gloves, don't eat while casting/handling lead (like reloading) and take vitamin-c (1000 mg a day). You will have no issues with lead. Truth be told, the dust from your brass tumbler is a higher risk of lead poisoning than casting bullets. Powdered lead (like that in primer residue) is is readily absorbed by the body. Any chunks big enough to notice, not so much.

Nit pick: Vapors are from evaporation (commonly alcohol, gasoline, turpentine, etc). Fumes are what come off a molten metal. The temperature at which lead evaporates is several hundred degrees higher than the temperature at which a cast iron pot melts. You will not encounter lead vapors until after your equipment is a puddle.

The fumes should be avoided. However, a well ventilated area is adequate when casting. When refining raw lead to remove contaminates, operate outside since there may be other noxious vapors and fumes from the contaminants.

Currently in my area primers are $125/1000 (1.25¢ each) and I got my last Unique for about $20/lb locally (.2¢ each at 7 gr. charge). Brass is basically free in standard calibers at most local indoor ranges. As mentioned above, bullets are at worst $0.30/lb (.7¢ each at 180 grains). That puts the total cost at $0.0215 each, or $2.15 per hundred. Seems like $5.00 would premium handloads using cast bullets (or high volume calibers like .45-70.

[jojo200517]

I'd like to get into this, I'm pretty turned off by the price of .45 acp now. I'm concerned about shooting non jacketed ammo how much lead buildup would I get with this in my Taurus?

Real question would I just be better off the buy jacketed bullets to reload?


Edit: I can get the lead and brass for free from the range.

[ilbob]

I have reloaded tens of thousands of lead bullets in 5 or 6 handgun calibers. I have never experienced any serious leading problem.

If you are experiencing leading problems, it may be that you are using lead that is too soft or too stout of a load.

[jcwit]

Or an undersized bullet.

If you do get leading its very easy to remove with a little copper chore boy "pot cleaner" wrapped around an old worn out bore brush with some Hoppes or Shooters Choice lead remover.

HELP please remove dupes

[jcwit]

remove please

[jcwit]

Or an undersized bullet, size bullet 1 thousand over bore dia. .45 ACP usually .452

If you do have leding its easily removed with a small piece of Chore Boy pan scrubber "the copper kind" wrapped around a worn out bore brush. Use a little Hoppes or Shooters Choice lead remover.

[dpty22]

even with the best casting and bullet size... how many rounds do you shoot before you start to thing about lead in the barrel being a problem?

[jcwit]

I only have problem with leading in 9mm. Do not know why just do. Usually have to clean after shooting 100 rds. Three or four swipes with a cleaning rod and ChoreBoy on brush takes care of it.

I never have any problems with 45 acp or 30 cal carbine or 7.62 x 39. Only clean when I get home. This is with using my own lube that I make up. One thing I've noted about shooting this lube its sorta like shooting a .22 in that I don't HAVE to clean to prevent rust. Enough wax coats the bore to protect it.

I also only load in the mid range for two reasons, 1. to keep leading down 2. I have arthritis and dislike the wrist pain.

[liljohn]

Once I've determined that a load doesn't lead the barrel, I don't think about it any more.

As others have stated here, size matters. Size the bullet to .001 over bore size. You should slug your barrel with a pure lead sinker first and measure it. Then buy the appropriate size die or mold (some will drop at a specific diameter based on the alloy used).

Also, use lead that is sufficiently hard. You could use linotype, but that's expensive. I use water dropped wheel weights and they are 20 to 22 BHN. Hard enough that I push them at 1700 FPS in my 500 with no leading. I push them equally hard in my 357, 41, 44, and 454, without leading problems.

You can also use gas checks. They only cost a cent or so, and they add a step to the bullet sizing process, but they provide insurance against leading.

Finally, decent lube can make a difference. It definitely will for accuracy. I tried three different lubes once. Everything else was the same (load, brass, gun, bullet). The ONLY difference was the lube. At 25 yards, I fired 100 shots of each load. One load consistently grouped at 6", another under 2", just becuase of the lube.

[RustyFN]

Is that just for the bullets? With shipping and hazmat you'll pay almost $5 per hundred just for powder and primers.
Depends on where and how you buy. I buy in bulk. I cast my own bullets from free wheel weights I get from a couple of tire shops. I am loading 45 auto for $2.50 per 100 rounds or $25 per 1,000. I am loading with primers I got for $16 per 1K and powder for $12 per pound. Prices have gone up some but I can still get primers for around $18 per 1K and powder around $13 per pound so I'm still under $30 per 1K.
Rusty

[SwearNoAllegiance]

another question:

I live in an apartment. Should casting be done outside or can I do it inside?

I've been thinking about how to do this. I could do it on my balcony and then drag it in after it cools. Or I could just set up a table of some sort, but I am worried about fire & a wee bit about fumes.

Does anyone cast indoors?

[snuffy]

Does anyone cast indoors?

Yep, all the time. In winter I don't bother with ventilation, summertime, the widows are open, maybe a fan to help the smoke get out.

[Ratshooter]

There is a lot of good advice hear. I have cast for the last 20 years. I swore I would draw the line at casting. Then I received a big batch of lead for free. That was all it took.

The only moulds I have are the ones from Lee. They make good bullets. I won all my centerfire falling plate trophies using these bullets. They are the easiest way I know of to get started casting. I also have no intentions of upgrading either.

I use a fan when I cast to suck the fumes away from me. Also don't don't ever cast bullets barefooted. I won't tell how I can across that important piece of information.

[jcwit]

Ya I know hurts don't it!!!!
Don't wear cowboy boots or wellingtons with pants tucked in either.
Don't let sweat drip off your forhead either and if outside if it starts to sprinkle RUN!!

[ilbob]

Should casting be done outside or can I do it inside?
It can be pretty smelly. Never did it myself, but knew some people that did and I sometimes hung out with them while they were casting.

One guy did it in his basement, but he had a vent hood with a fan that exhausted outside that he did his casting under.

Some people do it in the garage with the garage door open.

Others outside.

I would not want the smell in my house, but the amount of smell might not be as big a deal depending on how much flux you end up using, and what kind.

[bullseye308]

If you flux the metal real good then make your ingots, casting inside with clean ingots is no problem. I recently started casting inside due to the weather and so long as your ingots are cleaned real well, it doesn't appear to be a problem. Now, if I had to flux, I don't think I would do that in the house due to the smoke and stink.

[sqlbullet]

I cast in my garage, which is quasi attached to the house. There is a breezeway between, but the attic is common.

My wife likes me to use pine or cedar sawdust as flux. Smells really good in the living room. Not so much beeswax or allox. I haven't ever tried used motor oil when casting. I use it when refining, but it smell terrible, as you can imagine.

[RustyFN]

Then I received a big batch of lead for free. That was all it took.
That dang free lead will do it every time.:D
Rusty

[snuffy]

Quote:
Does anyone cast indoors?
Yep, all the time. In winter I don't bother with ventilation, summertime, the widows are open, maybe a fan to help the smoke get out.

I just had a visit today to my PA at the VA. Last January I had my blood lead level checked. Today I found out what it was, 4.0! A year ago it was 5.0. In the last year, I have been shooting and casting more lead than ever, INSIDE THE HOUSE.

I don't mind the smell of fluxing wax. Since I live alone,(my dog don't mind either), it's just me that has to put up with it. It lingers in the loading room for a day, when I go back there it smells like money $$$$$!