What do I need to start casting?

[olds442guy]

Thinking about starting to cast my own 44s, but I'm still new to reloading and have never casted anything before. What all do I need to get started, and where are good places to buy the lead ingots?

[Aticus]

Originally Posted by olds442guy

Thinking about starting to cast my own 44s, but I'm still new to reloading and have never casted anything before. What all do I need to get started, and where are good places to buy the lead ingots?

First you need a place with excellent ventilation. Second you need a good melting furnace. Third you need a long sleeve shirt, a sturdy apron and dust filters are recommended. Fourth good molds and a wooden mallet. Fifth something to put the sprues in after you cut them from the top of the mold. Sixth something soft to drop the bullets on as they come from the mold. Seventh an ingot mold. Eighth a metal thermometer.

As for as metal you will need lead, some antimony, and some tin. Pure lead makes good bullets only for muzzle loaders. 50-50 solder works for the tin and antimony linotype metal is better. A metal supply house is a good source though ready made stuff was availablr from Midway USA.

Most importantly get a good book on bullet casting and find someone with casting experience and consult both.

That should get you started, enjoy.

Pecos

[venomballistics]

a mold
a melter
a sizing die
as much lead as you can scrounge.
carry on

[Ziptar]

First thing to do is join this forum: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

Then read all the stickies in the cast bullets, casting equipment, alloy, and other bullet casting related sub-forums.

Don't. Create and account and immediately post a "what do I need to get started casting?" Thread. New comers are very welcome and unlike the most of the rest of the internet the castboolits folks are the nicest and most helpful there are. They won't bite your head off if you do make that post. Its just that there are probably 2 or 3 of those already today alone..

Your profile doesn't have your location but if you are in the New England area I am co-organizer of a bullet casting workshop that is being held on May 19th in Shirley, Mass.

Its an annual thing that we do over on the Northeastshooters forum.

We will cover everything from smelting scrap lead, range lead, wheel weights, etc into ingots.

Alloys, molds, casting, lubing, amd sizing,. Everything from start to finish, its all hands on and free!

If you've already got a mold or we've got one there in your caliber you will leave the workshop at the end of the day with cast bullets you made with your own hands and a head full of knowledge.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbu...Thread-(May-19)

Anyone from this forum is welcome to come. PM me or sign up on the NES forum and post to the workshop sign up thread.

Also read this thread: http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbu...nfo-Megathread

[shooter37]

Not to paraphrase anyone, but, FIRST: buy a copy of the Lyman bullet casting handbook and READ carefully. Once you understand the details then we (old timers) can suggest individual items to purchase.
Alloy can be as simple as plain clip-on wheel weights or try ROTO METALS for certified alloys.
Last point: see if there is a fellow shooter/caster near your home who will mentor you.
Good luck.
Al

[Rule3]

First thing you need is FREE(nada, zilch) lead (or alloy) all the casting pushers have access to that. Then they tell ya how easy and cheap and great it is. Course they never add up the price of all the molds and melters, sizers etc and such but you can do it with a camp stove and a cast iron pot. Then they will say I am lazy cause I don't go mine the berm at my range in the sub tropic jungle heat with bigs and snakes and Gators. What fun!

So send me 200 lbs of FREE lead and I will cast also.

If you don't it ain't worth the time trouble and expense.

JMO so Flame away.

[Dale53]

Here is a FREE and what is more important, a VERY useful book for download:

From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide For Handgunners, Table of Contents - Fryxell/Applegate

Use the pdf download, print on both sides of your paper, and take the book to Staples or Office Depot and have it bound. That's what I did. I have been casting for a VERY long time and yet I found the book a good read but chock full of REAL and useful information.

Nothing worthwhile is given to you - get off your butts and learn a very useful craft while allowing yourself to shoot for a fraction of factory ammo. You probably won't save money, but you will sure enough shoot a whole lot more...

Dale53

[ruger-p94]

Definite on the book. Everything that you need to know is in that book. It brings all the what" ifs "into light. Have fun and wear gloves...cheers..........but not to read the book

[mark454]

There is a lot of good advice given in this thread. However, it is my opinion that the first thing you need is lead (or alloy). If you can't get what you consider an economical supply of lead alloy, it is not worth it. I cast to save money. When I started casting, alloy in the form of wheel weights was free. Not only are lead wheel weights expensive these days, where I live (in NY State) they have become illegal to sell or buy (fyi - Lead Wheel Weights - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation). Other sources of alloy are available but they are not free.
If you want to cast because of bullet availability or because you think you can improve your guns performance, money isn't a consideration. Start with a good book, the Glen Fryxell link in the above post, and enjoy.
Mark

[jimkim]

1)Lead/alloy
2)Something to melt the lead/alloy in and pour it.
3)A bullet Mould.
4)Some bullet lube.
5)A way to size and lube your bullets.

If you're into the whole minalism thing you might try this. Campfire Bullet Casting and Loading

[David LaPell]

A copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is a good read, a decent pot, if you are just starting out get something simple, I still use my little Lee ladle style pot, a RCBS thermometer, something to flux your lead with, a good lead supply, I use pretty much all wheel weights for everything these days, a good place to cast. I would start with one mould and then work up from there.