Any Of you Playing with Cast Bullets ?

[Cbashooter]

At our range in Charlotte there are about fifteen old codgers who are cast bullet specialists who shoot together every Wednesday, and more individually doing ongoing testing. BR pistols and rifles. They have a couple of matches monthly, and have won a number of national competitions and records, but ageing out of that now due to health issues. A number have been fighting cancer, and I wonder if lead fumes could be a contributor?

Lead doesn't have "fumes" or become airborne until it boils.Thats well above the temperature our lead pots can achieve.I think there is some particles that can release to the air at about 800 deg but i cant recall.lead poisoning is most common from handling it and not cleaning hands properly. The other common way was old poorly ventilated indoor shooting ranges.
Lead poisoning is serious but not cancer causing.

 

[Sechrist2015]

At our range in Charlotte there are about fifteen old codgers who are cast bullet specialists who shoot together every Wednesday, and more individually doing ongoing testing. BR pistols and rifles. They have a couple of matches monthly, and have won a number of national competitions and records, but ageing out of that now due to health issues. A number have been fighting cancer, and I wonder if lead fumes could be a contributor?

I know the man you speak of. I shoot quite a bit in the cast matches at Charlotte rifle and pistol. Good group of guys with a lot of knowledge.

As for the expander plugs, that's one way of doing it but not something we've ever used. All of our lead guns get resized with just neck dies. Lee collet dies work if you adjust your tension to suit, but we prefer either bushing dies for a standard press or arbor press does for our wildcats.

 

[Pres100]

I've always used the Lyman M die for rifle loads with non jacketed bullets - works well for me

 

[fatelvis]

Since using a PID to control my casting pot’s temperature (and later using RCBS’s PID pot), I find my casting is MUCH more consistent, with boolits falling from the mold closer in weight and fill-out. Well worth the upgrade!

 

[XTR]

Waage pot Is the way to go if you dip.

 

[mikeinct]

This is not really an example of a BRAG WORTHY group . It is however something noteworthy. That five shot group is just under an inch at fifty yards. I was using a bullet that has vexed me since I started using it. This is the Lee C309 113grain "Soup Can" Bullet. I had a few greased up n sized on my bench. So instead of using the heavier RCBS bullet I prefer. I loaded these with a Slightly Heavier Charge of Unique Powder. The new 308 sporter seems to like that combo. The term is called "Obturation" I believe smacking these slugs a bit harder gets them to fill the bore properly. I need to go back and test this bullet again in other 30 caliber rifles. The faster burning Red Dot powder charges seemed better as well [perhaps for the same reason?]. I was having more fun that really testing the other day. mikeinct

 

[Hickok]

Hello to all, new to the forum.

I been casting since the late 1960's.....I use cast in all my handguns and in all but a few of my rifles. I really like lever actions and cast boolits.

 

[fatelvis]

Hello to all, new to the forum.

I been casting since the late 1960's.....I use cast in all my handguns and in all but a few of my rifles. I really like lever actions and cast boolits.

Welcome to our community Hickok! This is a wonderful place to learn almost everything you want to know about cast boolits!