bullet molding ?

[moooose102]

so i have finaly decided to start molding my own bullets. before i buy dies, i thought i should ask this. i am going to buy lee tumble lube molds, (mostly because i like the looks of the "micro-grooving" as i call it, and the fact that i will not have to buy a lubrisizer right away also figures into it) and i figure that the six cavity molds will be a little trickier to learn how to use, but after the "learning" period, are the six cavity molds that much faster that the twin bullet molds? the thought had crossed my mind that the twin molds, being simpler to opperate, may actually be faster than the more complicated six cavity molds.

 

[Remo-99]

Well the twin cavity moulds seem like they cast about four times faster than a single cavity, so what's a six cavity gonna be like?
I don't know I don't have a 6 cav, but I do know that I'm happy with the rate my twin cavity moulds cast.

 

[MMCSRET]

I use single and double cavity molds and they work well for me. I shoot 300+ rds a week and cast for all my handguns and most of my rifles. I have dies for 140+ calibers and cast for a great many of them.
Its very worth while to me!!!

 

[ranger335v]

There is a definate learning curve to casting. Multiple hole molds make it much faster to build a pile but they do take a little longer to learn to use. But few bullet casters are brain surgeons or rocket scientists so most anyone with a bit of common sense and powers of observation can learn to do it fairly quickly.

 

[243winxb]

2 or 4 or 6 cavity, The more cavities the better, less work. 20lb pot better for 6-8 cavity molds. More bullets per melt. Aluminum & iron molds, are what is different. Aluminum heats and cools fast, so cast fast. Iron holds the heat better, but cools slower, when bullets get frosted. If not buying a lube/sizer this is where your learning curve will be needed. Different alloys different diameters, bigger is better then undersize. Lots of Lee tips and info at link below.

 

[rcmodel]

I prefer using two, 2-cavity molds as opposed to one 6-cavity.

You can lay one down and let the sprue cool while filling the other one.

Then repete.

A 6-cavity gets so hot you have to wait on it between pours.

rc

 

[.38 Special]

I generally dislike Lee but have had good success with their 6-cavity molds. They are several times faster than a two cavity, and because they are aluminum, they are not as fatiguing to use as 6 (or more!) cavity cast iron molds. I have had no troubles with it overheating, but I tend to cast at fairly low temperatures, and am also not bothered by frosty bullets. (They shoot just as well as the pretty ones.)

RC's trick of using two molds in rotation is a good one. I often use it when casting hollow points, which can be a slow and irritating process, and requires additional cooling time so as to avoid damaging the fresh bullets. But I've even used it with a 6 pot Lee and an 8 pot Hensley&Gibbs. Lots of bullets, but awfully hard on the forearms!

 

[armoredman]

I use Lee 2 cavity moulds, good stuff, with a Lee 10 pound production pot. Get the cheap Lee push through sizer, (comes with the LLA lube), until you want to spend for the pubrisizer. I just use the push throughs - work great.

 

[ants]

Let's call it 'casting' rather than molding.

There is no 'trick' to a 6-cavity mold. It's just as easy as the 1, 2 or 4 cavity mold.

If you're afraid of 6 cavities, buy the 6 and just use 2 cavities. Within 10 minutes you'll use all 6.

Wheel weight lead in a Lee aluminum mold generally casts at the advertised diameter.

Lee Liquid Alox (LLA) is the most common film lubricant, but Rooster Jacket is 100 times better. It goes on easier, isn't so sticky, dries more completely, doesn't smoke, smells nice, cleans up easier, and there's a rooster on the bottle . It costs 3 times as much, but you get 4 times as much in the bottle. For best non-sticky results, read the directions for the Rooster and use a fan to dry them.

 

[FROGO207]

I agree with rcmodel that two molds are faster to use as there can be more cooling time. My mistake was thinking that 2 cavity was enough, then got a 6. Soon after got another 6. that works the best for me. Being a plumber I have a lead pot run on propane and it will hold 40 lbs, = lots of bullets. I use Lee molds.

 

[fatelk]

I haven't done much casting lately, but have used two cavity Lee molds for a couple decades. A while back I picked up a six cavity Lee mold. If you want to make a lot of bullets, you'll never go back to the two cavity molds. They really are that much faster, and a ten pound pot is not big enough.

I've pretty much given up casting now. I can't seem to find lead for less than a buck a pound, and at that price it's really not worth my time anymore.

 

[moooose102]

well, at a buck a pound, that makes 30 - 230 grain bullets for a buck. which ='s 3000 for $100.00. i can not find that kind of deal anywhere around, internet, or in shops. i know that there is electricity costs, and other incidentals as well. but it is not that much compared to the savings. in fact, that is why i decided to start casting. for the price of one bullet purchase (for 4 pistol calibers), i can buy all the casting equipment. then all i have to buy is lead, and the other consumables once in a while. plus, i am tired of waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more for bullets to be "in stock" so i can buy them! i have 2 metal scrap yards withing 15 miles of my home, and several more within 40 miles. if i can not find lead at one of them, it has fallen off the face of the earth! around here, wheel weights are running about $20.00 a 5 gal bucket. the problem is that there are to many reloaders, and not enough tire stores! every place i go seems to only have 1/4 of a bucket of weights at this time. i may have to go into the big city to get ww.

 

[GP100man]

go here www.castboolits.gunloads.com/

GP100man

 

[kimbershot]

lee 6 cavity

i bought the 6 cav 45 acp 230gr rn mold. also use the 10lb lee pot. i found it very easy to fit mold under the unit and start pouring. takes maybe 2-3 pours at most to get mold up to proper heat levels. i made 400 bullets in a little over an hour. i have loaded some that were resized @ .452 and just did a quick load of 25 rounds that i didn't resize-saving some time. i don't bell the case very much, so the non sized required a little more hands on to keep straight in my LNL. all were lubed and i am going to the range tomorrow to test. my total cost of a reload is less than .08 a happy problem!!