Get started in bullet casting

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schmooey1617

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Been handloading for 45 years, including a huge amount of cast bullets, actually in my semi auto's, that's pretty much all I shoot, much more economical.
Now that I'm retired/on disability, and have pretty much all the time I need, I wanna start casting my own bullets.
Is there a reasonably priced kit that contains everything I need to go right from the box to casting bullets ? Minus the lead itself of course.
 
Start small to see if you like it. Lee pot, Lee mold and Lee push through sizer. Been casting for 30 years it not quite like reloading and some people don't like it as well.
 
Do I have to buy a new press, like the Lyman, 400 I believe the model was? It had a lube warmer on it ??
 
Another question, should a complete newbie like me start with a 1 or 2 bullet mould as opposed to the 4 or 6 bullet moulds, and are say is it easier casting smaller, (9mm) or larger, (45 cal) bullets? I mean, is one size or the other more forgiving for getting good bullets for a beginner?
 
I have been Reloading for 30+ years, started Casting about 5 years ago. I started with the 10# Lee Pot (Works Great), then added molds (1's & 2's) have had great luck. I just got a 6 hole for 44 and am real curious how it will work out. Next I would get the Lee Bullet Sizer, they get it done, if in the future you want to Lube as you size, then I would (I have) get the Lube-A-Matic and the appropriate fittings for the caliber casting. The 1Tip I would give, "When turning the Pot on (Not inside) (With Lead inside), carefully place the Mold on top of the pot and let it heat up with the Lead in the pot" It will cause your cast bullets to look better (Fewer bad bullets), Also, I was told by a fellow user, if you can drop the cast bullets into water, they will be harder. Don't klnow if it is true, but the bulletys sure look good to me.

I cast over 1K a year and for me it is relaxing. I also am Retired and Disabled.

Enjoy, and be careful
dg
 
For molds, I'd suggest taking a look at what Lee has to offer. The most recent are greatly improved.

Right, the Lee Lead pots work very well. I have used Lee Pots since starting casting and have had no problems.

Water Quenching is the down and dirty was to make hard bullets.
 
Also, I have Lee as well as RCBS and Lyman Molds, the Lee are aluminum and heat up ok, the Steel Molds (RCBS and Lyman) will (In my opinion) heat a little slower but will throw better bullets faster.

dg
 
When we talk about molds make sure we are talking about current products. These new molds are a world better than the old. The reason I recommend looking at Lee dies has mainly do with economy. That means less money. Lee molds do throw good bullets. The very best way to buy reloading and casting equipment is second hand.
 
Hopefully to help with the question in #3 & #4, as to #3, any sizing done can be done on any of the standard reloading presses. And for #4, when I started years ago, I jumped in. currently loading 9mm, 38/357, 44 Spec/Mag, 45 ACP, 45 LC, 308/30-06/300 WM. As to the comment about Lee's being more economical is true, I have several, I also have several of the RCBS/Lyman as well. To each their own. My experience with the Lee molds is that they are often difficult to lineup and seal up for the Hot Lead, the other dies lockup easier for me. If you think you will cast Hollow Point bullets, I suggest start looking now as they are hard to find.

Good Luck
dg
 
Thanks all, very helpful. I know only what I've read in the front of my Lyman cast bullet handbook. I do see lots of places that sell the material now, everything from pure lead to 96-2-2, (12BHN), to 92-4-4, (18BHN). The cast bullets I currently buy, the softer ones, from GT, usually HP'S, have a softer red lube in them, they are 12BHN, and the harder ones, from ACME, have a harder lube in them, permitting more FPS without leading.
That was a reason I asked about the press with the lube warmer, I plan on using the harder alloy and lube.
I'm an old fart that still uses a pair of single stage presses, it's an enjoyable hobby for me to reload and even if I can only load say 150 rounds a day, that's fine with me, I'm in no hurry, I don't feel the need for say Dillon 550, or 650, I've got plenty of time and when I reload, I'm kinda anal, OCD. I'm more about quality than quantity. Hence another reason I'd like to get into casting my own, I think I would really enjoy the learning and technique aspects of it.
 
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Is there a reasonably priced kit that contains everything I need to go right from the box to casting bullets ?

I started with the Lyman big dipper kit. It was just a 10# pot and I bet I smelted a ton of wheel weights with it. It was slow, but it got me into the game.
I have since started smelting in a cast iron dutch oven over a turkey fryer and it is much much faster. I've also graduated to a Lee bottom pour pot, although I still dip large bullets.

But a kit like that will get you started for under $100.

Do I have to buy a new press, like the Lyman, 400 I believe the model was? It had a lube warmer on it ??

Nope.
I still don't have one. I use the Lee push through sizer dies and either pan lube or tumble lube.
I will say though, I want to step up to a lube sizer like the Lyman. But you don't have to do so right out of the gate, unless you just want to.


Another question, should a complete newbie like me start with a 1 or 2 bullet mould as opposed to the 4 or 6 bullet moulds, and are say is it easier casting smaller, (9mm) or larger, (45 cal) bullets? I mean, is one size or the other more forgiving for getting good bullets for a beginner?

Weight is the issue with these. You cast more at a time, but you wear out faster because of the weight.
It's up to you. There's no right or wrong. I have mostly two cavities, one single cavity and one four cavity mold. You'll likely end up with a variety.
 
Thank you. I was leaning towards the Lee starter kit but was also looking at the Lyman and the Frankford Arsenal. Like most of you say, eventually, you have to upgrade to bigger, more powerful melting pot. I use a lot of Lee reloading products nowadays because their prices are so much more reasonable and everything I've bought seems to perform very well. When I started loading, RCBS dies were like $19.95, now they're what $60 for non carbide?
 
For molds, I'd suggest taking a look at what Lee has to offer. The most recent are greatly improved.

Right, the Lee Lead pots work very well. I have used Lee Pots since starting casting and have had no problems.

Water Quenching is the down and dirty was to make hard bullets.
the the new lee are better, my buddy got a lee 200gr 44 mold last year. the dang thing is one for the best ones i have used, the bullets drop so easy never have to wack the mold only just shake. and both cavities are perfect.
 
Do I have to buy a new press, like the Lyman, 400 I believe the model was? It had a lube warmer on it ??

What is being shared here on casting with the Lee molds and tumble lubing is totally correct. The process works very well. It is a super way to get into bullet casting. It's easier to learn starting off with this gear. The Lyman 4500 lube sizer has provision for a heating element. If you Tumble Lube heat is not necessary.

It is getting harder to find lead for making bullets. Get a source of lead. Read up on how to get a lead alloy good for making bullets. For more information the Lee and the Lyman books have chapters on casting bullets. If you go with the Lee gear I'd suggest the Modern Reloading by Richard Lee 2nd edition. It's a good book period.
 
get the lyman cast lead book and read up before you buy anything. go over to the cast boolits site and read some more. i started casting in 83 and did not know anything when i started. got some wheel weights, a pot, a luber sizer, gas checks, and some bullets molds. and away i go trying to do the best at the time. then i found the lyman cast lead reloading book and thing went from sad to great. so get the book and read before you buy anything. if you can find someone that will show you how to cast that is even better.
 
Well I guess it all depends on what your finances are like being retired/disabled on what you want to spend. Lots of good videos about casting on YouTube by fortunecookie45lc and others.
 
The key to home cast bullets being economical is having a cheap source of lead. Plain old lead clip on wheel weights, plus a little tin added, works fine in most all handgun rounds. On melting pot I would suggest the Lee 20lb pro pot. The Lee regular lube groove molds ( one single lube groove) have worked fine for me. I never had much luck with the tumble lube style.

I believe that the 6 cavity molds to be a tad easier to operate than the two cavity molds. Mostly due to the sprue plate having it's own handle. With the 6 cavity you will want the 20lb pot.

Options on lubing are basically tumble lube, lube with a lube sizer (Lyman 4500), or alternatives such as power coating/ hy- tek coating.

On sizing there are two options. A push through style like Lee or what NOE offers or the sizing die on the lube sizer. Push through style works with a regular reloading press, and works with tumble lubing and powder coating/ hy-tek coating. You can tumble lube or power coat/ hy-tek coat bullets with the regular lube groove. The lyman style lube sizer only works on bullets with the regular lube groove. White label lube offers reasonable priced bullet lube. Either way you will also need a sizing die for each diameter you plan to cast.
 
The majority of Lee equipment from my early days is still in use. I have two lead pots. One is for alloy and the other for making muzzle loading projectiles. My Lee mold, mostly round ball molds, are still in use. You don't have to toss the Lee equipment when you move onto fancier stuff.

I was trying to find a lead bullet for 357 SIG. Dinkheads were telling me it could not be done. A couple of suggestions in that thread elsewhere gave the right answer. The was a Lee125 gr. bullet for 38-357 that worked great water quenched. The most recent Lee mold was a 45 Colt mold. It made a heavy flat nosed bullet very similar to some custom molds. You have more flexibility using Lee molds. You can tumble lube any Lee cast bullet-or anybody else's.
 
Lee molds will get you started. However Arsenal and NOE will keep you going.

Forget conventional lube. Use Hi-Tek. You can use the Lee sizing dies...but if you're going to cast for three or more calibers get the NOE system, in fact, just start with the NOE system as it offers a lot more options. Both the Lee and the NOE will fit on a single stage press.

If you're buying lead from Rotometals or something similar you're paying too much. Since you neglected to fill out your profile we have no idea where you live. If you live in a free state you should be able to source useable wheel weights. Learn to sort those and you're golden.

Depending on what cartridges you're loading for you can either use straight wheel weights or cut them 50/50 with pure lead. If you HAVE to order lead online get the super hard from Rotometals and use pure lead to cut it down. You can use pewter as a source of tin. $100 of the super hard nuggets cut with 175 lbs of pure lead and 2.5 lbs of added pewter will create 207.5 lbs of awesome bullet casting alloy.
 
I got started with an old trashed and dented Coleman propane stove and a cast iron saucepan from an import store.
The stove was free and the sauce pan was under $10
A couple of bricks and two short pieces of rebar, all fished out of the trash give the pot extra support, all for free.
A bit of sheet flashing to protect the old wooden picnic table I cast on outdoors---I don't remember what it cost, say a couple of bucks.
A pair of old welding gloves I was going to throw out (oil contaminated) $0
A face shield from my tile saw $0
A stainless steel slotted spoon from Smart and Final >$2
A stainless steel ladle from Smart and Final >$3
Old muffin pan for an ingot mold $0 (my bride wanted an excuse to get a new pan anyway)
Lee 2 cavity mold comes with handles $22
Lee Sizing/Lube kit $22
Lyman Lead Dipper $25 (I splurged on this, but a good dipper makes all the difference in the world.)
A small table fan and extension cord brought from the house (stuff I already had.) $0
A five gallon bucket of old wheel weights from a VW garage that went out of business and I was charged with cleaning out the building $0

Is that cheap enough?

If you want to really crank-em out, find two used 4 cavity Lyman molds with handles and go to town!
 
Been handloading for 45 years, including a huge amount of cast bullets, actually in my semi auto's, that's pretty much all I shoot, much more economical.
Now that I'm retired/on disability, and have pretty much all the time I need, I wanna start casting my own bullets.
Is there a reasonably priced kit that contains everything I need to go right from the box to casting bullets ? Minus the lead itself of course.

There are a lot of facets to casting and you pretty much get what you pay for.

For the money, Lee lead pots are pretty hard to beat. They're not as high in quality as RCBS, Lyman or the old SAECO's, but they're not bad. I use a SAECO for my large batch casting, but keep an old Lee with soft alloy for casting HP's.

If you're wanting bullets for plinking and general practice Lee moulds will do. I have several Lee moulds and I purchase them knowing they're probably not going to make quite the quality bullets that more expensive moulds will and that they definitely won't wear as well, but they'll do. New Lee moulds really need a bit of attention prior to using them as they always have burrs and rough edges from being machined too fast. My most recent was a 6-cavity I bought to cast plinking bullets for my .38's. Once I lapped the sprue plate and cleaned the burrs off the edges of the cavities it casts bullets plenty good for 25 yds. RCBS and Lyman steel moulds will last for generations and can be bought used worth the money. Moulds from NOE, Arsenal, Miha and Accurate are the cream of the crop when you want super quality moulds with which to cast high quality bullets.

To really turn out lots of bullets, find a used Star lubrisizer.

If you're not in a hurry, I'd recommend buying good used equipment and skip the kits. Ebay is always a good place to look as well as the Swappin' and Sellin' section of the Cast Boolit site.

35W
 
It would be great if you were near enough to another member to be able to watch them cast and try their equipment before buying. Maybe a member from a club or range that you belong to or someone at your local gun store.

There is a compromise between top of the line equipment and bargain equipment. Sometimes trying to learn on bargain equipment can be a turnoff. The same goes for buying expensive stuff.

I'll 2nd browsing through the Cast Boolit site. I'll also 2nd buying the Lyman cast bullet manual and reading through it.
 
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