• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Casting bullets

Range scrap,Lee mould,try to shoot "as cast" diameter,38 sp or 45acp,Lyman cast bullet manual.

Lube at low handgun pressure is pretty much,anything will work.

Gonna need some nice measuring tools,if you don't already have them.

It's very similar to a paint spray gun in that; there's no "absolutes".... turning one adjustment effects several others. So starting out you would be miles ahead if you had someone's,over the shoulder assistance. Not the only way but,it's a high skill bit of work.

A nice Smith 38 revolver or 1911, 45acp will really benefit from some even,halfast cast bullets. As the load/rigs intensity goes up,so do the requirements on you and the tools/techniques.
 
What are you going to be shooting? Pistol, rifle.. Smokeless powder or BP?
If shooting high pressure pistol cartridges 9mm/38 Super or Rifle with smokeless powder use a lead with 3-5 percent Antimony and 2-4 of tin.

For wadcutter 38 specials or Black Powder rifle use pure lead if paper patching.
Smokeless straight wall rifle cases use a 1-20 tin/lead.

Buy the RCBS book on casting.

Bullet Casting Alloys - Page 1 - RotoMetals

Find the best prices on metal bullet casting supplies at Rotometals! Our casting lead ingots are high quality & perfect for making bullets. Shop now!
www.rotometals.com www.rotometals.com

Edit: For high speed pistol and rifle use Thompson's Lube (Blue Angel) and Alox for Wadcutters. If you have not bought a sizer, get a Star and live a happy life. Don't use Alox in a Star sizer..Use a soft Thompson lube product for Wadcutters if you buy a Star..
 
Last edited:
@ NRAMIKE That Fryxell book and the Lyman manual are a great way to get going short of having an experienced mentor. Different applications and bullets can have their own requirements, and the recent developments on coatings can also change the answers on the lead alloy demands.
 
When i figure it out i will let you know. I know now that a 1000 degree thermometer is probably necessary, I think a 20-1 ratio of lead to tin will make an easier alloy to cast that is just a little harder but flows better and makes a bullet with crisp corners and cleaner and shinier. I used lee liquid Alox the first batch but will use something else the next time. My first batch had a lot of wrinkles that is probably cause the mold was too cold. I bought a one burner electric cook top to keep the mold hot, they come with a flat cast iron plate instead of the cal rod exposed. My first batch is about 350 bullets, but was 2 pouring sessions they are nearly all loaded. Make sure you give your self enough bell when seating bullets so as not to shave lead or damage copper.
 
Get the Lyman cast bullet manual. Long story short, scrapped wheel weights work, more or less. But get the book.
 
There is actually a lot to it depending on what you are casting for, castboolits.com is a good start
 
Wheel weights are a hit & miss now days because of zinc or iron weights being used in place of lead. Doubles the cost of buying used lead weights because of unusable weights, plus sorting time. Purchase good bullet/wheel weight alloy from reliable vendors from listed sites above.
 
Gotta throw a plug in for the CBA(Cast Bullet association) folks.

Generally a little more competition orientated but well worth the dues. There website however is,how you say? lacking.... not the great guys on it but the forum software. We are truly blessed here from that aspect..... it's like a MAJOR sigh of relief coming on here software'ly speaking.

Good luck with your casting. There's some decent older moulds showing up now. A variety of reasons for it.... just natural ups and downs of the craft. Just don't think that you can "buy" your way to the top so to speak. You just have to get in there and give it your best try. A cpl cheap Lee moulds ain't gonna break the bank and honestly,without a doubt..... the single most perfectly round,as cast bullet/mould here is a 20$ Lee 225-55RF,two holer. And we're sitting on near lab grade metrology equipment.
 
deepwater said:
Wheel weights are a hit & miss now days because of zinc or iron weights being used in place of lead. Doubles the cost of buying used lead weights because of unusable weights, plus sorting time. Purchase good bullet/wheel weight alloy from reliable vendors from listed sites above.
Click to expand...
deepwater said:
Wheel weights are a hit & miss now days because of zinc or iron weights being used in place of lead. Doubles the cost of buying used lead weights because of unusable weights, plus sorting time. Purchase good bullet/wheel weight alloy from reliable vendors from listed sites above.
Click to expand...
 
NRAMike said:
I need any information on lead casting and which type of lead to use.
Thanks to all who give advice.
Click to expand...

You have most of the good leads to info on the net. You will have to wade through a fair bit to figure out what you are looking for.

Your question is pretty generic, so I would guess you are looking at rifle and pistol, maybe black powder.

The old manuals have some good info in them. But, a lot of the thoughts of earlier time periods have been proven differently today.

If you are just getting started I would advise going custom in molds. It will save a huge amount of time and cussing. Molds made for the masses, sizes and designs can and will vary by years of make, no rhyme or reason.

I have several molds all with the same number, yet they are no more similar than a Ford,Dodge or VW. Other than they are all molds and all vehicles.
 
Unless the OP has a mentor, I'd suggest reading as a first step. Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (3rd Edition is much better for a new caster, but a 4th will do). http://www.lasc.us/castbulletnotes.htm is also a good source of info, but a bit involved for a beginner. I have found one forum that covers every aspect of casting, processing, loading and shooting lead bullets, and covers questions, discussions quite well; castboolits.com, as mentioned above by XTR http://castboolits.gunloads.com/. I started with a Coleman stove, a 2 qt. stainless steel pot, a Lee mold and a Lee ladle. I "fluxed with candle wax, and stirred with a slotted spoon. I found an old Lee pan lube kit on ebay and lubed and sized with that. I had access to wheel weights and cast exclusively with that alloy for several thousand bullets. While crude and I remelted a lot of culls, this set up kept me in bullets for my 44s for about a year.

I've read in a few places; "the only way to learn to cast bullets is to cast bullets"...
 
I’m really glad I’ve been picking up scrap from a local hospital when they did some remodels. I must have 500 pounds of it stacked behind the garage
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
164,845
Messages
2,185,185
Members
78,541
Latest member
LBanister

Share This Page

Back
Top