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Old 11-10-2020, 09:34 PM
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Default I bet casting would be fun

So I’m thinking I’d like to do some casting for .357, .44, .45. What are some of the better brand molds that can form SWC/SWCHP and LRN?also could benefit from advice on sizing equipment and practice. I have some books including Lyman cast bullets manual, but I like getting others personal experience when they are willing to share. This new territory for me.
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Old 11-10-2020, 09:45 PM
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I wouldn't put my life savings on that bet. It's like asking, Can I save money reloading? Can I have fun casting? Maybe. Depends on how you define fun.
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Old 11-10-2020, 09:58 PM
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You may be an experienced reloader but by all means get a manual like the Lyman and read up on the equipment and knowledge required before you take up this hobby. I considered it until I did some investigation into what was required as well as time involved and suddenly buying my bullets seems like such a better idea!
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Old 11-10-2020, 10:51 PM
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Go over to castboolits.gunloads.com for a look at everything involved with casting

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Old 11-10-2020, 10:59 PM
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I have a friend who finds the lead, I smelt it down into ingots with him. I get half and have all the pouring and powder coating stuff and moulds for 45, 40, 38, 357, and 9. I enjoy making things and take great pride in homemade bullets wearing a fresh coat of powder.
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Old 11-10-2020, 11:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLT223 View Post
So I’m thinking I’d like to do some casting for .357, .44, .45. What are some of the better brand molds that can form SWC/SWCHP and LRN?also could benefit from advice on sizing equipment and practice. I have some books including Lyman cast bullets manual, but I like getting others personal experience when they are willing to share. This new territory for me.
Like you stated, I'm fairly interested in casting bullets myself.

After reading up on the requirements, I was left with this major question. Where are you going to source your alloys for casting? If you're one of the fortunate people who has a large local supply, I say you've overcome the biggest obstacle. If you plan on purchasing casting alloys from a commercial supplier; check on the prices and weigh the costs as well as the investment in time before you spend any money on equipment.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
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Old 11-10-2020, 11:29 PM
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If you do just be careful! Please NEVER attempt indoors!
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:06 AM
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Metal is important. Living on edge of rust belt lead is easy to come by and so is others like tin if you know were to go. I didn’t realize there are areas where lead is hard to come by and has to be bought. Heat source to melt lead, small ladle made by squeezing a big serving spoon and a cheap Lee mold and you will see if you like casting. There are guys who I think are more into casting than shooting. But I have always casted to shoot. Once you see what you want to do buy top shelf molds and sizing outfit. It will pay for itself fast. If anyone knows were I can buy factory 45acp for what I can load them for, I’ll take 20 boxes.
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:12 AM
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Any SAECO mold that has not been abused or severely rusted is to be highly coveted.

My favorites would be the HG #68 200 gr. SWCL and the 9mm 147 TNCL.

There are many other molds that are outstanding but the SAECO molds have always been MY version of top notch molds.

Randy
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:24 AM
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I cast 22 different bullets in calibers from 32 to 500 mag and all from Lee molds. SWC's include 105gn, 158gn 38/357, 214gn, 240gn 44mag and 200gn for 45. All cast extremely nice bullets and are as accurate as the best factory round I've tested. NOE has some very good HP molds, but I don't think they make one in 44. I treat casting, powder-coating and hand/re-loading as a hobby so I consider them fun and enjoyable. Casting has a learning curve that can be frustrating at first but doesn't take long at all to master.
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Old 11-11-2020, 01:01 AM
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You bet on a winner! Casting is fun. Saving money is not the point. Casting is a good hobby for shooters who like to work with their hands on projects and other hobbies in the garage or work shop.

Rather than calculating whether your time is worth more working overtime at your job, just get started. For a heat source for 20 years I used Colman pump up white gas camping stoves, gas and electric kitchen ranges. You might have to be single to use the kitchen stove but they work well. Made for the purpose bottom pour furnaces spoil you but they are not necessary, they do not make better bullets and they are not faster. Also cheap cast iron pots from thrift stores work great. However, a made for the purpose laddle with a side pour spout is well worth their cost.

Dive in. Have fun.

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Old 11-11-2020, 01:14 AM
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I've been doing it since 1972. Started out with a one cavity Lee 9mm mold. Now I have about 30 molds and cast for everything from .32 to 45/70. By trail and error i found out that a gas burner with a cast iron pot is WAY FASTER than any bottom pour furnace. I cast with 4 molds in rotation. When one gets too hot I lay it aside and got to the next one. By rotating through 4 molds the first has cooled down enough to use again. This way I can cast multiple calibers at the same time. I usually have about 1/2 ton of(free) WW's on and at any given time. by using my cast bullets in my handguns and rifles i can shoot(a lot) much, much cheaper that factory components. BTW Two years ago I started pouring my own shot(#8's) and this cuts about $2.25 off of every box of shotgun shells I load. I do all my casting/pouring during the winter months so I can shoot as much as I want to when the weather is good.
If you have a source of lead, a gas burner, an old pot and a $20.00 Lee mold you can start out very cheap and progress if you like it.
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Old 11-11-2020, 05:32 AM
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Casting, coating and loading appeals to my OCD tendencies. It is a fun and enjoyable hobby. I don’t have access to WW so I’ll go to the state range an hour early every once in a while and sift the berm for range scrap. 1/2 hour at the range and a few hours at home will yield about 50 to 75 pounds of lead ... good for a few rounds.

I cast indoors with a vented hood. Helps since PA weather tends to suck between Nov and March.

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Old 11-11-2020, 06:43 AM
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I consider both casting and reloading to be bad weather shooting activities. Therefore here in Ohio January and February tend to be my reloading and casting times. I started with Lee molds in the 70's and still use many. However I watch for Lyman and other iron molds at yard sales and flea markets so have slowly replaced aluminum molds I commonly cast for 4 hole irons. Although my favorite 45 Colt mold is an old single cavity Ideal mold that I think predates 1900.
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Old 11-11-2020, 07:32 AM
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I've been casting bullets for 48 years and I have many different moulds manufactured by many different mould makers.......the best in my opinion are the Hoch custom moulds. Hensley & Gibbs would be 2nd followed by 50's vintage Lyman/Ideal.
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Old 11-11-2020, 11:51 AM
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I no longer cast bullets but I kept all my gear--just in case. I started in the late 60's and prolly quit in the 90s. It's an OKAY process, I used a Lyman lubrisizer and regular lube. I have Lyman, RCBS and Lee molds, guess I like the Lyman molds the best. I likes straight linotype metal, it doesn't lead the bore and I could shoot plain base 44 mag. full magnum loads and they were very accurate. I'm 75 years young now days and I don't think I would enjoy it due to arthritis in my hands. The bottom pour electric pot is the way to go. Get a 20# one, I have 2 small Lee pots but get the larger size. Now days a lot of people powder coat bullets for what ever reason, the powder coat would eliminate the smoke from the bullet lube but it does increase the labor required to finish the bullets. I shoot outdoors so smoke isn't a problem for me.
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Old 11-11-2020, 11:58 AM
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When I used to cast my own bullets, I used Lyman molds and handles. I always used molds that cast 4 bullets per pour. I used a 20 pound Lyman bottom pour furnace with temperature control. I do not cast anymore as there are many companies that make excellent cast bullets. Casting equipment is expensive. You will also need to size your cast bullets too.
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:02 PM
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I'm sure there will be people that find a root canal fun.

There's all kinds of fun for all kinds of people.

Me. I don't find casting to be fun. Root canals neither.
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:20 PM
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I find casting to be sort of tedious. I do it because I ended up buying all the stuff and I have free lead. I tried some powder coating and that is more tedious to me. But I'll do it for one pistol that leads no matter what I do, and i've tried it all. Since I have free lead and all the equipment I end up reloading about any pistol round for about $4 a hundred. So I can shoot all day for very little. I guess that makes it worth it for me anyway. When I'm bored I go out and cast, I try not to be bored.
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Old 11-11-2020, 12:55 PM
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I actually enjoy casting ... just me , my pot, ladle and mould .. quite time , alone and pouring metal .
I started in 1967 with an iron pot on my Mom's stove .
Now I have a electric Lee Magnum Melter pot but still use a ladle .
You don't need any complicated equipment ... bottom pouring pots or degree from MIT ... keep things simple , one , two , three and four cavity moulds is all you need ... it ain't rocket science !
One bit of advice ... get at least a 20# pot , larger pots hold more metal and let you cast longer and make more bullets .
I live in Louisiana so lead isn't outlawed ... check local tire shops for wheel weight availability and local metal scrap yards for lead .
A simple tin / lead alloy will make usable bullets , that was all Elmer Keith used in his bullets .
A company called NOE www.noebulletmolds.com makes some wonderful aluminum moulds, they cost about the same as Lyman but are very sweet to work with .
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Old 11-11-2020, 01:04 PM
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I got back into casting last spring. My rationalization was that I saw the handwriting on the wall regarding reloading components. but probably I got back in because I knew I would enjoy it. And I have, once I re-learned everything I had known and did not know before. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of making my own accurate (finally!) bullets for my 32 S&W Longs, 38 Specials, and my 44 Special. I agree with my neighbor from South of me about lead sources. Tire shops especially.
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Old 11-11-2020, 02:36 PM
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Been casting for 35+ years and still enjoy it. I have moulds from LBT, NEI, Lyman, RCBS, SAECO, and even one Lee(cause nobody else makes one). The equipment isn't cheap. Buy a heater for the lubri-sizer. A cast iron pot and a propane stove works fine outside or in the garage and the ladles are easy to use. I have two RCBS 20 pounders. One for hard cast and one for soft lead roundballs. I shoot a lot of muzzle loaders and I can cast the best size for the bore. You will probably enjoy casting if You like to tinker.
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Old 11-11-2020, 03:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurusu View Post
I'm sure there will be people that find a root canal fun.

There's all kinds of fun for all kinds of people.

Me. I don't find casting to be fun. Root canals neither.
You pay for a root canal............In time casting pays you back.......And doesn't hurt either.
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Old 11-11-2020, 03:21 PM
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Also when lube went $4-5 a stick I started making my own from commode seal and canning wax.(or my wife's old scented candles) Mine works as good as anything you can buy.

There is great satisfaction killing a deer with a bullet I made or smoking clays or killing doves with shot I made.
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Old 11-11-2020, 03:26 PM
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Casting my own opened up a whole new world of reloading and shooting for me. And a quite satisfying/fun pass time. Nuttin' like gathering a bunch of scrap, dirty lead. Melting and cleaning it, and casting into ingots. Then taking those clean lead ingots and melting them, pouring into a mold and dropping some perfect, brand new, shiny boolits (and tossing the ones that don't look right back into the pot). Then lubing and sizing (even making your own lube) for an exact fit for the intended gun. Then loading and shooting them, getting excellent results. Nothing much more satisfying than that...

Also, I know my guns much better since I started casting, making bullets that perform quite well in each. For real life, real people info on casting and everything concerned with cast boolits, go here; Cast Boolits Many, many thousands of questions, answers, data and hints covering every aspect of lead bullets...

I started with Lee molds, and have 12 along with a couple Lyman and two ??? molds. Many have their own "personality" and need slightly different methods, but on a roll I get about 98% keepers...

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Old 11-11-2020, 04:42 PM
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I've been casting a long time and enjoy it as an adjunct to shooting (like reloading).

The thing that gets overlooked is the time, mess and expense involved in lubing and sizing. Tumble lube and Lee push through dies work well for little money and mess. Powder coating (the shake and bake method) is even easier and practically no mess.
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Old 11-11-2020, 04:53 PM
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Like you stated, I'm fairly interested in casting bullets myself.

After reading up on the requirements, I was left with this major question. Where are you going to source your alloys for casting? If you're one of the fortunate people who has a large local supply, I say you've overcome the biggest obstacle. If you plan on purchasing casting alloys from a commercial supplier; check on the prices and weigh the costs as well as the investment in time before you spend any money on equipment.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
Over on the cast boolits forum you can find lead in the for sale section for under 2 bucks a pound (TYD) pretty regularly. I just looked at a particular inexpensive vendor's cast and powder coated bullets and they worked out around $3.75 per pound (TYD). So, maybe half.

If you're buying from Roto Metals or someone like that it gets a little closer.

A little scrounging in your local area may turn up some lead you can use for less or free if you're lucky.
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Old 11-11-2020, 05:14 PM
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You pay for a root canal............In time casting pays you back.......And doesn't hurt either.
I agree one has to pay for a root canal. It was not agreable but it didn't exactly hurt.

Casting will not hurt, provided absolutely no mistakes are made.
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Old 11-11-2020, 05:32 PM
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I can’t really say I enjoy casting. Would like to snap my fingers and have bullets fall from heaven like mana. It ain’t going to happen so I cast. I do take certain pride in turning out decent bullets. It ain’t space science if you don’t know want you are doing in a week you might as well quit. Guys like me came up casting without all the fancy stuff they have now. It’s nice to have but not necessary. There is or was a show on TV called Cup Cake Wars. They competed to see who made prettiest cup cakes. My wife watched it all the time. I expect to see similar show on cast bullets.LMAO
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Old 11-12-2020, 04:02 AM
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47 years of casting bullets. Several seasons of PPC competition, many years making my own practice ammo, many hunting seasons using cast bullets in several rifles. I find the subject fascinating, and there is always more to learn.

Recommendations:

1. Get the Lyman Handbook. Great basic information, step by step tutorials, and trouble-shooting advice. Also get the excellent NRA publication "Cast Bullets", long out of print but seen occasionally on eBay and other on-line sources.
2. Be thoroughly familiar with all safety precautions before you start, and constantly focus on safety first. Good face and eye protection, good heavy duty apron, good gloves. Any type of moisture (rain, condensation on tools, sweat dripping off your nose) needs to be kept away from your lead pot; a single drop of water in molten lead expands immediately into an incredible volume of steam causing an explosion of molten lead that can travel several feet away!
3. Definitely an outdoor activity. I work either on a covered patio or in my garage with the door open for good ventilation.

I started out on the cheap with a 1-cavity Lee mold, ladel, and salvaged cast iron pot on the camp stove. I have stuck with Lee over the years. I now have a couple of dozen, all 1 or 2-cavity models. I have two bottom-pour pots, allowing me to cast with one while the other is coming up to temp. I usually use 2 or 3 molds at a time, fill one and set it aside, fill the other, then strike the sprue on the first mold and drop the bullets, refill, repeat with the second, and so on. With that method I can usually produce two or three thousand bullets in a few hours.

I have a bench-mount lubricator sizer, which is a great convenience. Lee can provide a more simple and inexpensive tool set for lubing and sizing that works quite well for smaller quantities.

When I started out I was loading .38 Special and 9mm for about 2-1/2 cents per round (powder and primers). 47 years later, I now figure about 5 to 6 cents per round for .38, .357, 9mm, .45ACP, .40 S&W, and other common handgun calibers. Compare that to 25 to 50 cents per round for training ammo, when you can get it.

I also shoot a lot of cast bullets in rifles from .25-20 to .45-90, and a dozen others in between. Very few rifle loads cost me more than 10 or 15 cents per round. That compares to 50 cents to $2 per round (sometimes more) for factory rifle ammo, and many of the old rifles I love have not had available ammo for decades.

To be completely honest, I have to say that I enjoy bullet casting and reloading at least as much as I enjoy shooting.

Learn all you can, stay safe, and have fun for many years!

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Old 11-12-2020, 07:02 AM
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MP Molds
Specializes in hollow point molds.
They are supposed to be some of the best made in the world. Miha Prevec (MP Molds) is in Slovenia.
Glen Fryxell gives them his highest praise..
MP HP Molds review by Glen E. Fryxell

I have always wanted to get into casting as well but have never had the proper space.
This has not prevented me from reading as much as I can about it.
That also helps my overall understanding of cast bullets which I prefer to load and shoot over the jacketed numbers.
If I was to start casting, and I am still thinking hard about it what with the new isolation going on, one of the first moulds I'd get is:
MP 432-256 PB Hollow point 2 cavity mold
which is a HG#503 clone for the Keith 44 HP (and solid SWC).

I've actually been collecting lead for quite awhile for another (completely different) hobby: gamma spectrography.
To figure out what isotopes are in radioactive minerals and artifacts, a heavily shielded container
of some sort is needed to block background radiation from the earth and sky.
I also love chemistry and metallurgy so the urge is definitely there.

Sorry if this comes off a preachy from one with no experience at all.
Don't mean it that way.
Enthusiasm got the better of me.

A couple of other great books besides the Lymans are
Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets by Veral Smith
and the Fryxell "From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners"
Glen E. Fryxell, Cast bullets and firearm information and history
There are many other cool articles at the LASC site.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Mihec 45 HP-1.jpg (25.1 KB, 16 views)
File Type: jpg 45 Mihec HP 2-1.jpg (23.6 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg 432-395HBWC_2CAV_BRASS_3-460x260.jpg (59.3 KB, 16 views)
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Old 11-12-2020, 09:29 AM
Drm50 Drm50 is offline
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The MP molds are quality made, but a little pricey for beginners. I’m not a fan of Lee products so over the years have bought used Lyman/Ideal, RCBS ect used. Molds are like dies, buy good stuff even if used and you only buy once.
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Old 11-12-2020, 10:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D Brown View Post
Like you stated, I'm fairly interested in casting bullets myself.

After reading up on the requirements, I was left with this major question. Where are you going to source your alloys for casting? If you're one of the fortunate people who has a large local supply, I say you've overcome the biggest obstacle. If you plan on purchasing casting alloys from a commercial supplier; check on the prices and weigh the costs as well as the investment in time before you spend any money on equipment.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
Cheap or free alloy is the key to succesful casting imo. If i have to pay more than $1/# for alloy, i'm buying my practice bullets.
The time issue isnt a factor if you enjoy it as a hobby, as i do. If recycling scrap into useful bullets is satisfying, then its worth the time & my bullets are pretty much free.
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Old 11-14-2020, 12:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indigo View Post
Go over to castboolits.gunloads.com for a look at everything involved with casting
^^^ This. Pay special attention to items regarding safety and PPE. Melting & casting are relatively safe, but penalties for porking the pooch can be severe. The tinsel fairy can be very unforgiving.

As for "fun?" I dunno that I would call it "fun" but it's very rewarding. There's the thrill of the chase... finding free or cheap lead. Finding bars of 60/40 solder at the scrapper for $.50/lb. Discovering a bucket of old skool lead/tin wheel weights. Fluxing and skimming the silver pool and pouring ingots of clean metal that will eventually become your uber cheap ammo. Filling your mold, knocking off the sprue, opening the mold and watching gleaming boolits of your own making fall out.

I live in Kalifornistan. When my buddy & I have a casting session we might toss an occasional remark towards the gun & ammo grabbers in sacramento.

Oh... molds? Can't go wrong with SAECO or NOE. I also have several Lee molds that work just fine.

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Old 11-14-2020, 09:28 AM
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Casting since 1980. Never have to worry about bullet supply. In times of plenty I will buy some cast bullets for volume shooting since my work limits my leisure time. Just need to keep at least five year supply of powder and primers

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Old 11-14-2020, 03:25 PM
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Although I have a lot of moulds for various bullets, I mainly cast .458, 405 gr, hollow base lead bullets. Lubed with SPG. That is the correct bullet for a trapdoor Springfield carbine. Try to find a commercial source for that. Casting can be tedious, but it is also a source of some not very common bullets.
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Old 11-14-2020, 05:38 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
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I have three hobbies;shooting,reloading and casting.When the weather is nice,I shoot.When it is lousy,any of the other two'll do.
Been doing it since the mid '70 and this week again I learned something new for improving the quality of my cast bullets.
Learning new things is rewarding and fun.
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Old 11-16-2020, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemo288 View Post
MP Molds
Specializes in hollow point molds.
They are supposed to be some of the best made in the world. Miha Prevec (MP Molds) is in Slovenia.
Glen Fryxell gives them his highest praise..
MP HP Molds review by Glen E. Fryxell

I have always wanted to get into casting as well but have never had the proper space.
This has not prevented me from reading as much as I can about it.
That also helps my overall understanding of cast bullets which I prefer to load and shoot over the jacketed numbers.
If I was to start casting, and I am still thinking hard about it what with the new isolation going on, one of the first moulds I'd get is:
MP 432-256 PB Hollow point 2 cavity mold
which is a HG#503 clone for the Keith 44 HP (and solid SWC).

I've actually been collecting lead for quite awhile for another (completely different) hobby: gamma spectrography.
To figure out what isotopes are in radioactive minerals and artifacts, a heavily shielded container
of some sort is needed to block background radiation from the earth and sky.
I also love chemistry and metallurgy so the urge is definitely there.

Sorry if this comes off a preachy from one with no experience at all.
Don't mean it that way.
Enthusiasm got the better of me.

A couple of other great books besides the Lymans are
Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets by Veral Smith
and the Fryxell "From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners"
Glen E. Fryxell, Cast bullets and firearm information and history
There are many other cool articles at the LASC site.
At some point in time ... stop walking around the edge of the pool ... the water is fine , come on in and get wet ...swim with us ...you'll Love it !

Being the master of your own bullet supply feels so good !
Gary
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Old 11-16-2020, 04:48 PM
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Funny you should mention the pool.
I have been an aquatics professional (on and off) for over 50 years.
Currently teach and guard at the local Y.
You are right.
The best way is to just jump in!
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Old 11-16-2020, 06:53 PM
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Wow ...I don't know why that analogy with the swimming pool came to me, I could just see someone who wanted to take the plunge , had studied up on swimming , thought it would be fun ... walking around the edge of the pool , looking at all the others in the pool swimming ...So I thought I would invite you in the water with us ...
I wonder if fate led me to use that example ... you having 50 years experience in aquatics ... I'm hearing "Twilight Zone" music right now ...
Is that sort of freaky or what ? I wonder if it's a sign !
Gary
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Old 11-18-2020, 09:33 PM
ShootMeStraight ShootMeStraight is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Funflyer View Post
I cast 22 different bullets in calibers from 32 to 500 mag and all from Lee molds. SWC's include 105gn, 158gn 38/357, 214gn, 240gn 44mag and 200gn for 45. All cast extremely nice bullets and are as accurate as the best factory round I've tested. NOE has some very good HP molds, but I don't think they make one in 44. I treat casting, powder-coating and hand/re-loading as a hobby so I consider them fun and enjoyable. Casting has a learning curve that can be frustrating at first but doesn't take long at all to master.
Those look like some high quality bullets. How long have you been casting?
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Old 11-18-2020, 10:53 PM
Geno44 Geno44 is offline
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One other benefit of casting is that you can always make bullets as long as you have the lead if store bought bullets become unavailable.
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Old 11-19-2020, 01:31 PM
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When I got interested in casting I read everything I could find. Found the castboolts.com and read even more but was still on the fence. I finally looked at YouTube and got to see what I was reading and that's all it took.

Because I wasn't sure if I'd like it I got started ad cheaply as I could. So I bought a pot regular cooking pan and ladle from good will I think total cost there was 3 bucks. Then I bought a Lee mold 20 bucks and a hot plate with the coils exposed another 20 bucks a Lee push through sized that comes with the bullet lube found some lead and started casting.

One of the great things about casting is you don't have to spend a ton of money just to find out if you enjoy it. If you do then you can add items to speed things up and different better molds as you can afford or want to to try. I have ms so it took me a while to get what I have now and I really enjoy casting. My favorite molds come from accuratemolds.com its a one man show and as far as I know the truly custom mold maker. You can look through his online catalog and if you don't like what you see email him and if you have the design already in mind let him know the measurements if you know them no worries Tom will help you out. He is quick to respond and very patient and very quick to send out the mold I've received them from 1-3 weeks from ordering to my door.

For me it's a great hobby and now with the different styles of bullet coating having to have a certain alloy mixture just about every kind of lead works without mixing.

In my opinion starting out with the 45acp or other low pressure round would be the best to start with and get the basics down then proceed from there.
Sorry for writing a book but making my own bullets and discussing them is a favorite activity of mine. Remember everything I've explained is from my experience and is just 1 redneck opinion

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Old 11-20-2020, 11:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BillSussman View Post
Those look like some high quality bullets. How long have you been casting?

I've been casting for a little over a year.
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