Questions about Bullet Casting

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WolverineFury

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So I've recently been gifted a muzzle loader that is not 50 cal and while I can still buy the ammo I figure that I might as well start casting my own bullets, both for the muzzleloader, and in 9mm. So naturally I have a few questions.

With a muzzleloader how big do I want the diamater of my cast "minie balls" to be in relation to the barrel diameter? The gun is a 58 cal. The mould I'm thinking of buying is a .575 . Would this be a good/correct purchase?

For the 9mm. the 6 slot mould I'm looking at is supposed to create bullets with a diameter of .356. Is this what I want and will I need a sizing die? And if I need a sizing die, what size?

Should I get a furnace like this to do the pouring? I was thinking of just using a ladle, but it seems like it my a bit tedious. Thoughts?

Also... Do I really need to put a new barrel in my G19 to shoot lead ammo? :scrutiny:

Thanks in advance for the input!
 
For the 9mm. the 6 slot mould I'm looking at is supposed to create bullets with a diameter of .356. Is this what I want and will I need a sizing die? And if I need a sizing die, what size?
Click to expand...

Casting for the muzzleloader will be a piece of cake. For the 9mm, it may be. It also may be a huge PITA.

Many people say they buy or cast lead bullets and shoot them in 9mm with no problem. Just as many fight it like crazy until they get it figured out. I am one of the latter. I tried it for a few months and sold my mold.

The 9mm is a tapered case and it is very easy to seat a bullet and in doing so, swage it down smaller than the bore size, which if you know anything about casting you know is a big problem that will lead to bad leading. If you're new to casting and didn't know that already, just keep that in mind. A bullet smaller than the bore will very likely present leading issues.

As far as what to size them to, you need to slug your barrel to determine this. Most of the time I think slugging a barrel is overrated. For 9mm it is imperative.

You want to size your bullets to about .001 or .0015 larger than bore diameter. Also, as I said, be careful as the tapered case can very easily swage down the bullet even if it starts out at the correct diameter. To combat this problem, many people buy a .38 S&W sizer ring for your expander die which helps a lot.

Check out this thread on the topic. It is very informative.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?121607-Setting-up-for-boolits-in-a-new-9mm
 
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I started casting in 1962.

And my advice is:
I would start out with a single or double cavity mold for the 9mm until you get all your casting ducks in a row.

Things have to work very smoothly with a 6- cavity mold to get & keep it up to operating temp, or cooling off too much on one end and not the other.


Learn to cast with simpler molds.
Then learn to fly with a bigger mold.

Rc
 
Cant help on the muzzle loader but for 9mm, as rc stated, start with a two cavity to get your feet wet. Lee makes a good mold for $17. Many people have trouble casting 9mm without leading their bore up. Get yourself some red harbor freight powder coat and black crossman airsoft bb's and look up the "shake n bake" method for powder coating bullets. This will eliminate any possible leading woes and give you a much cleaner gun vs traditionally lubed lead bullets. And yes, i would suggest buying a lee push through bullet sizing die.

I purchased a big can of the black crossman airsoft bb's. They last forever so i have 10x the amount i will ever need. Pay the postage and ill send you some for free.
 
Nothing wrong with starting with a 6-cavity mold. I started casting back in June. Went and saw my mentor and sat down for a day of training and haven't looked back since. Just take your time, find a mentor if you can, and read a lot, and you'll be good. It really is a very easy process.

Once I get done with my casting session, I sort through the ones I've made, and throw the bad ones in a box labeled recast.

On the muzzleloader, I can't help on that. The only type black powder I cast for is a old Navy revolver that I use pure lead to cast .454 round balls for.
 
Find out what the diameter of your barrel is and size bullet appropriately. .002 larger than groove is a good place to start.

Your gun will tell you when you have it right.
 
For the .58, I would first buy a package of .575 minies to be sure that is what your rifle likes before you buy a mold. Generally minies have a hollow base so they will bump up to bore diameter when they fire so the .575 allows for easier loading/ramming and sounds about right. Completely opposite of sizing theory for the 9mm and most other smokeless cast loads where they are usually starting .02 or so larger than bore.

You may already be aware but muzzleloader bullets need to be cast using pure soft lead, and the molds for them will usually account for that - they will probably cast a different sized bullet if you don't use pure lead. Then you'll want a bit harder alloy for your 9mm so you'll want to empty your production pot before changing between them. The 20 lb pot you linked is probably bigger than needed for starting out; the 10# Lee PP IV will do fine IMO. Mine has worked well.
 
I haven't cast for awhile simply because of the availability of good lead bullets.
I used to cast for my .38 reloads and I always used a lubricating and sizing die on the cast bullets.
For Black Powder I still cast using of course pure lead.
 
The gun is a 58 cal.
Click to expand...
Can you tell us a bit more (manufacturer/style (i.e., a military musket for something else)?

Ordinarily I recommend starting w/ a package of very specifically THESE from TOTW for trial
before getting into casting your own.

To start:
Use simple Crisco lube. (Fancier stuff can come later ;) )
55-60 grains of either 2Fg or 3Fg (real) black powder
 
When my Lyman pot finally gave out after many thousands of bullets,
I bought the Lee pot. Mine turned out to be a piece of junk and not
worth the money. When you would return the handle to shut the flow.
Lead would continue pouring out of the pot. Not all the time just enough
to drive me crazy.
Zeke
 
the Lee 4/20 is a good pot you just need to keep it clean dont flux in your bottom pore
pot i got mine used 6 years ago and works just fine
 
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