Molding bullets

[K-Rod]

Need some help/advice guys. Now that I'm hand loading, I'm finding that we are shooting more! My father in law has a complete lead melting set-up & 400lbs of lead ingots he just said "Take it if you want it. I don't need it anymore"!!! So I want to start molding bullets for .380 auto for now but im sure it'll include others down the road. Could you walk me through the process?

Also, I've found some Lee molds for 380. One is 124gr TUM Lube & the other is 125gr STD Lube. What's the difference? These molds are for 9mm, 380auto & 38 special I think. It says that the TUM lube doesn't require sizing. I've also found the Lee .356 sizing dies & it talks about how it crimps the gas check. The TUM lube mold shows 2 rings molded in the bullet under the head & the STD lube mold shows 1 ring molded under the head. What's the significants of these rings?

Sorry if these are "Newbie" questions but I am in fact new to this whole process & I can't think of a better place or people to ask then my THR brothers.

Thanks guys

 

[Chawbaccer]

Tumble lube bullets use liquid alox. Just dump them in a pan, a few drops of the alox and swish around with your hands. Standard lube would be using a lubri-sizer. The Lee sizer that attaches to the press will do the job, you can lube in a pan and use a hand made lube cutter.

 

[StrawHat]

Go here and read the stickies.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

Lots of info about casting and molds. Those folks are a great source for casting.

 

[dagger dog]

The Lee tumble lube bullets have many small lube cannelures, specifically made to tumble with liquid alox. Standard bullet molds have 1 or 2 lube cannelures to hold a heavier wax base lube that is pressed into the cannelures during sizing.

You may want to check your loading data on the .380 auto, the bullet weights you state seem to be more for the 9MM Luger, most .380 auto loads top out around 115 grains as far as bullet weights.

 

[Jonhostile]

I have been loading .380 auto with 124gr FP BB precision cast bullets(company in Lebanon pa) no gas check. They work great in my wife's s&w bodyguard. I use 2.7gr of HP-38. No problems so far.

 

[rcmodel]

Stick with the Lee 102 grain 356-102-1R.
It is a true .380 bullet.

The others you listed are not.

Heavy bullets in .380 beat the snot out of the gun, and the shooter.

rc

 

[drsfmd]

Stick with the Lee 102 grain 356-102-1R.
It is a true .380 bullet.

The others you listed are not.

Heavy bullets in .380 beat the snot out of the gun, and the shooter.

rc

Best advice you're going to get. Take it.

 

[Elkins45]

Go here and read the stickies.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

Lots of info about casting and molds. Those folks are a great source for casting.

I heartily second this recommendation. There's quite a wealth of info on the Cast Boolits site.

In addition to rc's suggestion let me also recommend Lee's 105 grain SWC. It's designed as a 357 boolit but I size them to .356 and they are fantastic shooters in 9mm bores.

 

[ranger335v]

"So I want to start molding bullets"

Not that it matters much but the correct term is "casting" bullets, not molding.