Casting my own bullets

[runnin n gunnin]

OK Boys, I am going to open Pandora's box here.

Like I have always said, Chevy's, Ford's, Dodge's we all have our preferences.

I have done well in keeping ahead of the wave of panic in the country re: 2nd amendment, firearms and ammo. I love those Missouri Bullets, and have two orders made in September, one of which just shipped.

OK , so a long way around the barn. I am playing with the idea of casting my own bullets. Looking at the required equipment, furnace, lubers, molds, etc.

I do believe you get what you pay for, so I don't like running cheap to save money at the cost of quality.

So, let it roll. If I move ahead, what am I looking at for cost and your favorite (mos successful) equipment, what do I need exactly to start production, what works best for you all, and, bottom line, is it worth it or not?

As always, I appreciate the input !

RNG ! ! !

[JEBar]

this is something way above my paygrade .... I'm looking forward to reading about casting bullets

[Jdl447]

Lee production pot. NOE molds. Powder coated.
Castboolits has a ton of information.

[John E Davies]

I can’t offer any equipment advice since I won’t cast.... If I had a shed or building with power, away from my house, I would probably do it. Inside my attached garage, no way..... To the guys that do this in their basements....... Read and understand this, be lead safe and don’t contaminate your house.

https://oem.msu.edu/images/annual_repo ... g-sept.pdf

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Oldbrass]

Lee pot and aluminum mould served me very well when I cast round ball and REAL bullets in my 54 muzzle loader days. Seasoning the mould and getting the temperature right is just part of learning curve. There are so many lubes and homemade snake oil concoctions it's boggling. Only advice is smelt lead in WELL ventilated area

[Oldbrass]

OH it's worth it if you can find cheap or free lead. Good luck with that these days

[Headhog]

Lee production pot and 6 cavity molds. I stopped casting about 20 years ago, but if I did today I would hi-tek coat them. Wax lubes were a pain to apply. Finally as Oldbrass mentioned Smelt in a well ventilated area. I always did mine outside.

I smelted my bullet lead in a large pot and then cast that in 16 oz. sinker molds. This way I had bullet lead, of a known mix, ready to just add to the production pot.

Paul

[fortyshooter]

Read up on the project from many sources and of course you will learn the most from doing!

[runnin n gunnin]

Thanks Boys, I appreciate the info. I have been reading the Castboolits threads. I know enough to cook in open air, and I like the Hi Tek from Missouri bullets. Something I was thinking of in light of current state of affairs, but not motivated enough to drop a grand on stuff and then not like it or its not worth it.

As always I appreciate everyone's input.

[dave77]

OH it's worth it if you can find cheap or free lead. Good luck with that these days

I have at least a couple hundred pounds of good pure lead that I would give to any forum member. I would think that shipping cost would be very expensive. I see you're in Yelm, if you're ever over to Wenatchee you're welcome to as much of it as you want.

It's from some stained glass window came a couple of friends and I got years ago, we melted it down in to small ingots. My share filled a milk carton container and even back then I couldn't lift it, had to split it into two containers. I only made a couple hundred round balls so still have most of it.

[Oldbrass]

Dave77 that's very generous. I haven't been on the Right side of the state since I drove semi and passing thru on Sturgis runs. I've got about 20 pounds left

[Vaquero]

I do a little casting, I have to Lee pots, and a half a dozen or so molds.
I tried bullet lubes, but found that to be way to messy.
I now powder coat all mine.

I just wanted to learn to do it, just in case some time in the future it may be necessary.
As long as you can find some cheap lead, getting hard to come by.
You can make some cheap boolits.

RP

[Travlin]

I have cast my own since 1969. Every time that I would purchase a new rifle or handgun, I made sure that I bought a bullet mould and the sizing die for my Lyman 450. That way I never had to depend on an unsure bullet supply. I use an old Lyman lead pot and have plenty of pure lead and linotype to make my own number two alloy. I strongly suggest getting a copy of The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.