casting bullets

[K22]

Lots of good technical advice.

You probably already know this, but I thought I would nevertheless share it with you. Make sure you do not cast in an area without very good ventilation that removes the fumes, so that you don't inhale them. Back in the 80's there was a guy in Western PA that got severe lead poisoning from casting bullets in his basement with no ventilation. The Pittsburgh Press ran an extensive article on it.

 

[J_Hensley]

Lots of good technical advice.

You probably already know this, but I thought I would nevertheless share it with you. Make sure you do not cast in an area without very good ventilation that removes the fumes, so that you don't inhale them. Back in the 80's there was a guy in Western PA that got severe lead poisoning from casting bullets in his basement with no ventilation. The Pittsburgh Press ran an extensive article on it.

My wife is a stickler for health safety. I’ll be performing any smelting/casting outdoors.

 

[kelbro]

After casting bullets for 35 years I would give you this one piece of advice... sell the lead and buy some bullets.

I cast bullets when I had to do because I couldn't afford factory ammo. I got pretty good with it.

These days, the equipment required and the cost of materials make it quite expensive to get started and not as cool as it once was.

I was able to get wheel weights just for hauling them off from the tire shops. Zero $$. Molds and lead pots lasted forever.

The final straw was when my job required me to move across the country and I had over 2500# of metals that the movers refused to load. It took me years to accumulate all of that and I had to sell it all off. A guy in Phoenix got a GREAT deal on a huge casting/foundry setup.

It's just a different environment now. I wouldn't advise anybody to start casting these days.

 

[hoz53]

This seems like a lot of bullets.
View attachment 1760728

how many pounds of that do you have? 500 quantity 200 grain bullets takes 14 or 15 pounds so you need alot to make many bullets. ive got a little lead ect and thinking same as you. be careful and have good ventilation when casting. a few bullets arent worth lead poisoning. Im thinking id be better off just buying bullets but ill prob alloy the stuff i have at least.

 

[DShortt]

After casting bullets for 35 years I would give you this one piece of advice... sell the lead and buy some bullets.

I cast bullets when I had to do because I couldn't afford factory ammo. I got pretty good with it.

These days, the equipment required and the cost of materials make it quite expensive to get started and not as cool as it once was.

I was able to get wheel weights just for hauling them off from the tire shops. Zero $$. Molds and lead pots lasted forever.

The final straw was when my job required me to move across the country and I had over 2500# of metals that the movers refused to load. It took me years to accumulate all of that and I had to sell it all off. A guy in Phoenix got a GREAT deal on a huge casting/foundry setup.

It's just a different environment now. I wouldn't advise anybody to start casting these days.

Sage advice.