lil ski
Member
I would like to start casting my own bullets. I have nothing to do it with where should I start. I want to cast 2 types to start 38cal 148 dbbwc and 45 cal 185 or 200gr swc in a H&G 68 mold style.
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Mike
Casting Questions
- Thread starter lil ski
- Start date
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scrat
Member
Well you need to collect some items.
you will need
molds
sizers
melting source
ladel
now for the beginner i would not recomend spending top dollar on molds. instead purchasing the lee two cavity molds is the idea mold to purchase. I would start with the 38 first as the larger bullets take a little more experience to master. For a heating source if you have an old pot and a camping propane stove you can use that to get started. you will need a ladel or two. This will be a top pour casting method. Later on it would be highly recomended to purchase an electric bottom pour type furnace. here is a quick over view of what to do.
1.Melt down the lead. used wheel weights work best.
2.flux the lead. (add a small pee sized amount of candle wax) stir it in really good. now skim out all the dirt and junk from the lead
3. Now heat up your mold. your mold needs to be hot not tooo hot but hot enough to fill out.
4. start casting. Pour in the mold. Count to about 5 then strike the sprue plate. Count to about five then open the mold. Drop the bullets in a cold bucket of water.
5. Size the bullets.
6. Lubricate the bullets.
done.
you will need
molds
sizers
melting source
ladel
now for the beginner i would not recomend spending top dollar on molds. instead purchasing the lee two cavity molds is the idea mold to purchase. I would start with the 38 first as the larger bullets take a little more experience to master. For a heating source if you have an old pot and a camping propane stove you can use that to get started. you will need a ladel or two. This will be a top pour casting method. Later on it would be highly recomended to purchase an electric bottom pour type furnace. here is a quick over view of what to do.
1.Melt down the lead. used wheel weights work best.
2.flux the lead. (add a small pee sized amount of candle wax) stir it in really good. now skim out all the dirt and junk from the lead
3. Now heat up your mold. your mold needs to be hot not tooo hot but hot enough to fill out.
4. start casting. Pour in the mold. Count to about 5 then strike the sprue plate. Count to about five then open the mold. Drop the bullets in a cold bucket of water.
5. Size the bullets.
6. Lubricate the bullets.
done.
lil ski
Member
Is there any one place that is better to get this stuff over another. Is used range lead good to use I can get that stuff by the bucket load. (our range uses only lead bullets no jacketed)
dmftoy1
Member
Your best bet to start out is used wheel weights. IMHO
Open a cold one, register at castboolits.gunloads.com and start reading!
Open a cold one, register at castboolits.gunloads.com and start reading!
You could avoid a lot of learning the hard way if you found someone who
is currently casting and spend some time watching. I have used range lead before but usually have mixed it in with wheel weights. I would suggest starting with a steel mold as you will have a tendency to whack it a bit on the heavy side to begin with and the aluminum molds are a bit more fragile. If you plan on shooting a bunch I would also go with a 4 cavity mold as throwing one or two at a time can drive you nuts. And since you will be throwing lots of lead out of that mold you might be wise to invest in a Star sizer/luber.
Good Luck...
is currently casting and spend some time watching. I have used range lead before but usually have mixed it in with wheel weights. I would suggest starting with a steel mold as you will have a tendency to whack it a bit on the heavy side to begin with and the aluminum molds are a bit more fragile. If you plan on shooting a bunch I would also go with a 4 cavity mold as throwing one or two at a time can drive you nuts. And since you will be throwing lots of lead out of that mold you might be wise to invest in a Star sizer/luber.
Good Luck...
nicholst55
Member
You could also avoid a lot of learning the hard way if you join the Cast Boolits forum here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
NuJudge
Member
I'd go big with a furnace to start, the Lee 20-pound being what I have. I started with a 10-pound, and have recently been given two more 10-pounders by people who have out-grown them.
Starting with a 2-cavity is not a bad way to start. For production I use a 6-cavity Lee aluminum mold. Aluminum molds tend to have a wear pattern known as "galling," which can be dealt with by a special lubricant available on the Cast Boolits board known as Bullplate lube.
Beware of Zinc wheelweights.
Material handling can be a problem, as can be Lead throughput. I empty my mold into a 5-gallon bucket full of water, which causes harder bullets and less dents from bullet collisions. When using a 6-cavity mold, especially .45, I use a 20-pound casting/melting and a 10-pound furnace melting furnace at the same time, or I suck the 20 dry quick.
CDD
Starting with a 2-cavity is not a bad way to start. For production I use a 6-cavity Lee aluminum mold. Aluminum molds tend to have a wear pattern known as "galling," which can be dealt with by a special lubricant available on the Cast Boolits board known as Bullplate lube.
Beware of Zinc wheelweights.
Material handling can be a problem, as can be Lead throughput. I empty my mold into a 5-gallon bucket full of water, which causes harder bullets and less dents from bullet collisions. When using a 6-cavity mold, especially .45, I use a 20-pound casting/melting and a 10-pound furnace melting furnace at the same time, or I suck the 20 dry quick.
CDD
lil ski
Member
Lots of good advice I will have to find some one at the club that casts and have a sit down with them. I was looking at the Lee 20lb furnace it is not priced that bad it looks like a good place to start. Thanks for all your help.
dmftoy1
Member
You'll find alot of people using that Lee 20lb. I've got a bottom pour and it's not fancy and it drips, but it works great for what I need it for and I got it for $60 (on sale)
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
GP100man
Member
get some lead ,a steel pot (no aluminum) lee mold & a ladle .
try on the cheap before sinking $ in some thing youll hate !
but if i were a betting man id bet youll love it because your here figuring how to shoot more & cheaper!!!
GP100man
try on the cheap before sinking $ in some thing youll hate !
but if i were a betting man id bet youll love it because your here figuring how to shoot more & cheaper!!!
GP100man
Recommendation for bullet casting equipment for
Best of luck brother. This thread is timely, because I'm going to start casting my own bullets too.
The bullet companies are robbing us right now. Take a look at the prices of lead and copper. The price of lead has taken a dive since last August. Copper has not decreased quite as much, but is still trading well off its high. What do we get in return? Prices that keep going up!
There is no reason for this to be happening. It is price gouging pure and simple.
Best of luck brother. This thread is timely, because I'm going to start casting my own bullets too.
The bullet companies are robbing us right now. Take a look at the prices of lead and copper. The price of lead has taken a dive since last August. Copper has not decreased quite as much, but is still trading well off its high. What do we get in return? Prices that keep going up!
There is no reason for this to be happening. It is price gouging pure and simple.
scrat
Member
for lead if you buy in bulk ebay is still some of the best options. you can usually get about 50lbs delivered for about 50.00.
[email protected]
Member
I started using dads old Lyman bottom pour & Lyman, Lachmiller or RCBS moulds. When I got married I got my own stuff which is a Lee Production bottom pour pot, Leee moulds & a "be good stick" to knock the sprue cutter. Don't use metal to hit the cutter. If you use Lee moulds READ THE INSTRUCTIONS about lubing the mould. This is the biggest problem with them. I've only lubed my moulds the first time used & never had a problem, if you don't follow the instrutions they don't work for squat.
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