Casting... Do or do not. There is no try.

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WestKentucky

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Casting is about the only thing shooting related I haven’t done at this point. I have been reloading for 2/3 of my life and I’m only in my mid 30s. I have considered and backed off several times but now I am facing a few interesting possibilities in loading and I would need to start from scratch.

The things I’m looking at are:
.32 caliber DEWC or HBWC (same mood but with/without pin)
.45 caliber heavy lead for the bushmaster I’m planning to build.
16ga minnieball type slugs. (Possibly shot as well)

With lead prices jumping, moulds being scarce around here, and things changing quickly to be lead-free I just don’t know which direction to run. Should I look for a used Lee bottom pour, scour the internet for deals on new “kits”? Are there other things to cast with? Should I do it?
 
Casting is its own science. I have been casting for a few decades now but I really only like doing so to make bullets I can't get commercially. Mainly because of the amount of time it takes and sourcing lead and alloys for harder bullets if that's on the agenda. The biggest cost are the molds. Lee makes great casting pots. I use a 20 pound pot that is a top dip (no bottom spout). Lee molds are good, though I prefer a good set of iron mold blocks given a choice, but they are always more costly.

Examples of bullets I cast for are hollow point .357" (a modified Lee mold with hollow point nose pins installed), a 340 grain LBT LFN GC for my .454 Casull, and conical bullets for percussion revolvers. I have numerous other molds I seldom use anymore, mostly various .452" for .45 Colt or .45 ACP. For bulk shooting with .45 ACP and 9mm, I much prefer to purchase commercial cast.

I'd say get into casting if you need a bullet no one else makes or you just have the bug (nothing wrong with that either) and see how you do. There are tons of resources that cover the aspects of casting and reduce the time and frustration it takes to turn out your first perfect bullets.

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I started 43yrs ago with a single element hot plate and a Lee 5lb steel pot, and a Lee 150gr .311-150 FNGC mold and a push-thru .309” sizer.

Now I have over 60 molds, and vast assortment of sizer lubricators and sizers.

Yes, the supply of inexpensive wheelweights is slowly drying up, but foundry grade lead is available inexpensively if you look around. I’ve aquired about a 1,000lbs of assorted scrap to include about 150lbs of Linotype that I use sparingly.
To me, it’s still the main source of bullets.
If you want it done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself.
 
Lead free, here in CA, pertains to hunting ammo. Some ranges might have lead restrictions, but none that I've come across. For SD and targets you should be good to go..
 
I got into casting because I wanted to create Minie balls. Now that I have gone through that phase, and am beyond casting 30 caliber rifle bullets, I can say, casting is an expensive way to waste a lot of time. I could buy every cast bullet I wanted, and, after spending money on all the expensive equipment that is currently rusting from lack of use, I would have saved money and saved a whole bunch of time.

You can buy lead which is mixed, and that is expensive. Or you can spend time at scrap yards, which I have done, buy hundreds of pounds of lead and smelting the stuff into ingots.

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All of the lead I found at the scrap yard was dead soft, which is great for the musket, but to use the stuff for centerfire rifle, I had to add tin. That was expensive, tin is not cheap. Old wheel weights were mostly dead soft lead, hardly any antimony in the stuff. And now, forget wheel weights. They are all zinc or steel.

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I am shooting thousands of rounds of 200 LSWC in Bullseye Competition each year, and instead of spending hours and hours casting and sizing, it is just better to buy bullets from a caster who is also a Bullseye shooter. I also get a deal because he is a bud.:p I have been shooting plated bullets during timed and rapid fire to reduce the amount of lead in the air, it is unbelievable how much lead a cast bullet puts out in front of your face.

How much time do you want to put into casting bullets when you could be 1) spending that time shooting, or 2) living some other aspect of your life?
 
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Casting is a way to reduce bullet costs if you can get cheap lead, its a fun addition to the reloading hobby and if your into the prepping for a hard time deal you will have a means to make bullets.
I wonder about the lead free push myself but I hope that most states won't do what CA did. As for molds look at Lee molds to start out as there a good cheap starter mold that will last quite a while.
 
I love casting. I can load 1,000 rounds of .44 magnum or .45 Colt for less than $100. That's a pretty good reason to do it even if I didn't enjoy it.

However, if you're going to start casting shot, that's an entirely different animal. I've never delved into that, but there are a lot of Youtube videos on it. I believe the company is Middleton that makes the shotmakers.
 
Molds are rarely found locally. The internet allows you to buy new or used from across the world. Even decades ago I think most Lyman and H&G molds were purchased via catalog. Lee molds are a decent value and NOE molds are my other go to molds.

The casting pots are relatively cheap if you go the Lee route. I haven’t ever seen many used casting pots for sale. Most of my molds cost more than my Lee pot...

Finding lead can be spotty. I had a source for free wheels weights when I started casting but I’d only get 50 lbs at a time and was kind of a hassle. I’ve moved onto just buying lead off craigslist and armslist when it’s available. If I see someone with lead for sale I usually try to buy it all if it’s in the 100 to 300 lbs range. Less than 100 lbs I don’t mess with. I’ve got a couple year supply right now but still check craigslist monthly to see if there is anything for sale.

You can cast with other materials but lead is prefers by most people. Zinc can work or there are other alloys that are lead free but they more expensive and probably harder to do.
 
Speaking of lead sources, back in the late 80's and early 90's all the linotype presses were becoming obsolete and I would call and drive around every print shop and local newspaper printer in the yellow pages and ask if they had any linotype they wanted to get rid of. They either gave it to me by the bucket full or for a pittance. At one point I must have accumulated over 100 pounds of it. Then when I had young kids in the house I quit casting and mothballed all my equipment. I gave all the linotype away to a friend, thinking I would never cast another bullet.

Fast forward another decade and I got bit by the casting bug all over again and was kicking myself for giving away all that linotype.
 
Casting lets you make boolits for everything and anything you "accumulate" over then next few years. Yes, you will accumulate both bullet moulds and casting alloy, but you will be in a position to custom make ammo that works in rifle/pistol at just about any velocity/pressure. I shoot everything between .577/450 Martini Henry and .224 Velo-Dog with castboolits.
 
To cast or not to cast is a personal decision. The bullets that you listed are not easily available for sale. Molds are not a problem. There are several companies that make custom high quality molds for a fair price. The bigger problems are finding affordable lead and having the time to cast.

You can spend as much or as little as you want on equipment. On the low end of price a new 20# Lee bottom pour pot is less than $80. A new 6 cavity Lee mold with handles is less than $60. ( but not in a couple of your bullet choices) You can use a Lee bullet sizing die in your loading press to size with and you can tumble lube, pan lube or powder coat. On the high end of price you can go with a $600 Magma pot, a $375 Magma (Star) bullet sizer and custom molds for $125-$135. You can go with automated equipment at even higher cost. Or you can go in between and even stumble on bargains on used equipment.

Lead is still out there, in most locations. There in Tn where you are it shouldn't be a problem. You just have to look and ask, and be persistent. I have collected probably 400-450# this year just from past contacts, all for free or the occasional box on donuts. And I'm not even actively looking anymore.

Many casters cast because they like the feeling of being self sufficient. Or because they enjoy crafting a good shooting bullet from a pile of ugly scrap like Slamfire pictured above. And then some of us enjoy scrounging for lead and the thrill that you get from making a great score. Some of us also enjoy the feeling of shooting a possible with a bullet that we cast ourselves.

But most of us will tell you to forget it if you just won't to save money.
 
I just did an amazon shopping cart investigation. I’m pretty sure I have answered my own question. For a cheap pot, three molds (not even what I wanted, just random stuff to estimate cost) and sizers, mold release agent, lube... $300 just in initial outlay not counting lead. I can buy a whole lot of bullets for $300. Now, if I run across a pile of equipment in a yard sale I’m on it like a dog on a 3 legged cat.
 
I cast and do not smelt. I can generally buy ingots for about 1.25 a pound and that makes my costs plenty low. I get a lot of satisfaction from casting and being self sufficient. It also means I cast things I cannot buy, like 54 Cal muzzleloader bullets. If you have the desire, do it. If this is about cost, save your money and buy bullets.

One overlooked issue is that you won't run dry in the next shortage.
 
I live near a Doe Run Secondary smelter, so I can get certified bullet metal for not too many shekels. However, I am working through a bunch of gifted scrap lead. I quit worrying about what the Brinnel was on bullets I cast for 9mm, as I powdercoat and with proper sizing I have no issues.
I enjoy casting, and even cast for my 7.62x39mm, a great NOE mold. ;)
 
Bullet traps help bring casting into a better focus,so to speak. Barrel wear(lack of),and accuracy(noticeably better) further the idea of seeing casting your own as a logical step forward.

Is it for everyone? Heck no.... but that's like asking who makes the "best" varmint or deer rig. You plunks down your money and roll the dice. Good luck with your shooting.
 
I just did an amazon shopping cart investigation. I’m pretty sure I have answered my own question. For a cheap pot, three molds (not even what I wanted, just random stuff to estimate cost) and sizers, mold release agent, lube... $300 just in initial outlay not counting lead. I can buy a whole lot of bullets for $300. Now, if I run across a pile of equipment in a yard sale I’m on it like a dog on a 3 legged cat.

I think your on the right path. It's kind of like buying an expensive press right now to load 9mms. Right now it isn't worth it with 9mm's low prices but the next time there is a election related shortage and you can't buy ammo, then the cost becomes justified and you'll be glad you did.
Same goes for bullets.
In one of the past shortages I had to dig out my production pot and cast some so I could keep shooting. It doesn't get used that often anymore but I'm glad I have it when I need it.
And I hang onto my lead ingots like their money.
 
I am fairly new to casting but quickly aquired lots of stuff.

this summer i went from 20 lbs of lead to over a thousand lbs of lead and 300 lbs of lino and mono type.

it is out there.

craigslist has been a good source and letting friends know you are looking for lead. if they aren't gun people tell them you are making fishing sinkers.

500lbs if my lead came from people that just wanted it out if their houses. widows of plumbers that used it for work.

it sort becomes an obsession.
beware of zink wheel weights. they will ruin your day.

go to castboolits.com
 
Maybe you should start with finding a good supply of lead. My local scrap yard has it. He knows me and saves the good stuff for me.
Casting is very enjoyable. I recommend you get the equipment and go for it. 20151230_161858.jpg
 
Casting isn't for everyone but then again neither is a well thought out plan. The reality of it is that time and resources are the 2 main things that should be the deciding factor for casting/no casting. Some people just don't have the time to add casting into their schedule. Others don't have access to lead or a place to cast said lead.

Some view the cost of initially starting up as too much $$$ or don't have all @ 1 time. To me this is an extremely poor decision. The biggest cost in reloading components to me is the bullet. If the op goes out and finds his bullets for $.10 apiece it will not take long to burn thru 3,000 bullets. The choice becomes buy 3,000 bullets and burn them up shooting/hunting. When there gone, there gone along with the $300. Buy $300 in equipment and it will do nothing but go up in value. Nothing better than buying something, using it for decades and then selling it for more $$$ then you have into it. In simple terms being paid to use the equipment.

Myself I've been casting since the 80's. Did a lot of horse trading to get where I'm at. But at the end of the day my casting/swaging hobby has paid for itself and every piece of equipment (including molds) that I own.
 
I cast for about 15 years, but sold all of my gear. I’m a shooter, not a reloader. I reload to facilitate shooting, and casting was/is simply a time wasting activity I don’t want or need in my life.

If I went to a garage sale and saw a retired set-up for cheap, I’d consider it much like looking at a tumor, having removed the first cancer I’ve occurred, and have the foresight to NOT invite it back into my life.
 
I see a lot of talk about lead, finding lead, buying lead, where to buy lead, etc. In my little neck of the woods there's several sources for lead. I've used free range lead for 99% of my casting shooting needs since 1990. It's nothing for me to pick lead between sets of hit the ranges after a hard rain typically gathering 500+# of range scrap a year. After melting the range scrap down there's lots of copper jackets left over.
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I sell the copper jackets to the scrap yards as #2 copper, been doing this since 1990. Not a lot of $$$ but it pays for the propane & electric and home made bullets lubes used for the year with $$$ left over.
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2018 was a bad year for me, just didn't have to scrounge lead at the ranges. I also pickup brass & what I don't use or sell I'll scrap. This is all I did for 2018 scrap wise.
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Most scrap yards hate handing $$$ out when asked about selling something back instead. I ended up buying #165 of lead that day for that $91.50.
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I've always sold of extra lead for $$$ to buy dies/presses/powder/primers/molds/sizers/swaging equipment/slush fund set aside for deal on anything to buy and resell to make $$$/etc. The pure lead (pipes on right) I melted down and sold for $1 a # to the bp guys. The #5 bars/pigs were babbitt and sold them for $3 a #. I kept the rest for myself including the tin rich soldier.

Used to sell a lot of cast bullets & swaged bullets, not so much anymore. It all starts with lead and how to process it. There's a bunch of the old propane tanks laying around. Cut the bronze valve off and your left with 2 1/4" holes in the top. The holes make excellent vent holes along use them to fill the tank with water to cut the lid. There's a weld line around those tanks. It's there to hold a steal ring in place to support the 2 halves of the tank when the put them together/assemble them. I like to use a 4 1/2" grinder with a cutting wheel to cut just below the weld on those tanks. Just cut thru the tank and leave the ring. The end result is a tank with a lid that will easily melt 100+# of lead at 1 time in less then 1 hour.
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Takes around 1/2 hour to turn the 100# of lead into ingots.
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Free lead ='s free bullets of $$$ selling the lead or bullets.
 
Free lead sounds good. Not sure bending over 5000 times to pick lead out of the dirt counts as free though. :D

Yup, sometimes to have to dig deep (no pun intended) and think outside the box. A long long long time ago they made these things called tools. More specifically hand tools, ya I know big shock, no batteries required!!!! Anyway there's a bunch of these things called hand tools from way back then that are still in use today. 1 of them is called a rake, another 1 of them is called a shovel & well you rake the bullets into a pile and then (wait for it)
You shovel said pile of lead/bullets into a bucket. :what:
 
Buying lead is kinda like buying land as an investment. You can use it over and over and over as much as you want and when you get tired of it you can sell it for pretty much what you paid for it or more.
 
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I just very recently started this hobby after putting it off for years. Reason for putting it off was many fold, first being all the horror stories I'd read on people trying to start casting for their 9mm and all the trouble they had with leading and bullet sizing and all the extra parts and thingy's needed to make it work. Second was as many mention here the availability of lead. I live in Wisconsin on the border of Illinois and have a son in Minn.. Well Illinois and Minn. have banned/outlawed lead wheel weights many years ago so looking there is a complete waste of time. Also all three of these states list lead as a hazardous material and the scrappers/recyclers will not sell it to the public. Lastly most of the auto salvage yards will no longer allow you to go out into the yard because of liability reasons.

My story; I shoot a lot of 380 auto and was unhappy with the precast lead bullets I was finding and plated bullets are also very limited and jacketed are costly. Some friends on a few of the forums sent me a few different cast bullets that they made to try. Turned out I found one I really liked and shot well in my guns. From there I was able to find 1 tire shop that gave me 1 5gal bucket of mixed wheel weights. Thing weighed about 140#. So I sorted that all out and got 95# of COWW, 23# of SOWW and the remainder of steel/zinc and assorted garbage. Figure that is a good start.

From there I took an old 1500watt hot plate and found an old SS 5.5" sauce pan and started rendering all those COWW's and pouring that into a muffin tin. I then purchased a copy of the mold I had shot along with a Lyman ladle I found used, cheap, on ebay. And that is how I got started. It is not fast and not very efficient but it worked and all for the cost of some time and very little money. It was at least enough with little enough investment to make me realize that I wanted to continue. I now have a Lee bottom pout pot and a second mold for 45acp. Next is to work on a steady source of lead.
 
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