I’m finally getting into casting

tlawler

tlawler

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I’ve been talking about it for a long time, but with covid making everything difficult to get, high prices, etc., I was putting it off. I had been looking to buy up a bunch of equipment and supplies on the used market, but all the used merchandise seemed to disappear off the classifieds and boards once covid got into full swing. Anyway, I finally found a good used lot of supplies and equipment for a price that I can live with. I’ll have to go through it, but it looks like I made out pretty well. It includes two Lee pots, several molds, most new, and all with handles, sizing dies, lube, a tumbler for powder coating(haven’t tried that method yet), and several hundred pounds of processed lead. I’ll have a better idea once I go through everything and weigh the lead.
 

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IMHO, casting adds as much to the shooting sports as does reloading. It's a whole new level when you can make your own bullets that are as good or better than factory offerings at a fraction the cost (once you have the equipment). If you don't already have it, get yourself a copy of the Lyman cast bullet handbook. Toms of good info. Also check out castboolits.com for another great resource. Good luck, and have fun!
 
+ 1 on cast boolit forum , it is a virtual treasure trove of knowledge . Like here it too is inhabited with some amazing & kind folks . It has become increasing harder to find good consistent alloy . Good thing most handgun chores can be done with reclaimed range lead .
 
Congratulations on getting started casting. I started just this past December. That Lyman book has a lot of cast bullet data, but it’s for mostly older powders.
David
 
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook
The latest edition is #4 , if you can get a #3 edition do so ... it has a lot of good older information that still applies .
Before you rush in ... Read the Information and How To chapters in front of each manual ... pay attention to what is written .
You save a lot of time and frustration by not making all the mistakes a newbe does . ... These Manuals are worth their weight in wisdom gold and not just for the load data in the last chapters .
In fact the most information you need is the chapters in front of the load data ... trust me .
In the 4th Edition ... Read the First Eighteen Chapters ... before you plug in a pot ! Your learning curve will be much shorter .
Gary
Casting since 1967
 
tlawler said:
I’ve been talking about it for a long time, but with covid making everything difficult to get, high prices, etc., I was putting it off. I had been looking to buy up a bunch of equipment and supplies on the used market, but all the used merchandise seemed to disappear off the classifieds and boards once covid got into full swing. Anyway, I finally found a good used lot of supplies and equipment for a price that I can live with. I’ll have to go through it, but it looks like I made out pretty well. It includes two Lee pots, several molds, most new, and all with handles, sizing dies, lube, a tumbler for powder coating(haven’t tried that method yet), and several hundred pounds of processed lead. I’ll have a better idea once I go through everything and weigh the lead.
Click to expand...

Looks and sounds like you're off to the races.

3 things:
Clean mold
Clean Alloy
Plenty of heat

Get those 3 things right and it's harder to drop bad bullets than good. A hot mold is a happy mold.
 
WARNING:while casting bullets is not dangerous for your health if proper safety measures and ventilation are used,you must be warned that it is highly addictive and may lead you to excessive expenses for the acquisition of moulds,sizers and other such specialized equipment(some of them customized to your own specs) which expenses might lead your spouse to extremes such as divorce.
 
I think I made quite the haul! Here’s the final tally:

645 lb. processed lead half pure and half 92/6/2 alloy all in ingots
2 Lee 4-20 melting pots
8 Lee six cavity molds, .356 and .452 with handles
4 Lee sizing dies
Bulge buster kit
2 Lee ingot pans
1 RCBS analog lead thermometer
Harbor Freight tumbler with 2 lb. Eastwood powder coat
Respirator with new cartridges and spares
Couple of buckets full of tools, lube, fluxing stuff, etc.
And can’t forget the 12 hdx containers.

And I got all that for $1000...how did I do?

ETA: And about half of the stuff is still new in the box!
 
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The lead alone is worth $700 to $800. The rest depends on condition. Assuming the 8 six cavity molds are in good condition there’s another $200. Assuming the pots work OK they should be at least $50 each.
 
reddog81 said:
The lead alone is worth $700 to $800. The rest depends on condition. Assuming the 8 six cavity molds are in good condition there’s another $200. Assuming the pots work OK they should be at least $50 each.
Click to expand...

One pot and 5 of the molds are still new in box as well as all of the dies and bulge buster. Other molds look nearly new. I think lead is going for $2.50-$3 a lb. from what I’ve seen on ebay and elsewhere.
 
What mounds did you get? I’ve been casting bullets since I was 12 years old……… I’m 63 now. Any questions you can PM me.
 
tlawler said:
I think I made quite the haul! Here’s the final tally:

645 lb. processed lead half pure and half 92/6/2 alloy all in ingots
2 Lee 4-20 melting pots
8 Lee six cavity molds, .356 and .452 with handles
4 Lee sizing dies
Bulge buster kit
2 Lee ingot pans
1 RCBS analog lead thermometer
Harbor Freight tumbler with 2 lb. Eastwood powder coat
Respirator with new cartridges and spares
Couple of buckets full of tools, lube, fluxing stuff, etc.
And can’t forget the 12 hdx containers.

And I got all that for $1000...how did I do?

ETA: And about half of the stuff is still new in the box!
Click to expand...

Basically, you bought 500 pounds of lead and got the rest for free.

Nice score.
 
Ruger 1 said:
What mounds did you get? I’ve been casting bullets since I was 12 years old……… I’m 63 now. Any questions you can PM me.
Click to expand...

3 different moulds, but duplicates...356-120-TC, 356-124-TC, and 452-230-TC. That should take care of 9mm, 357sig, 38super 45ar and 45acp. I’ll add other moulds as I can.

Thank you for the offer of help...I know I’m going to need some.
 
Casting is just what makes your reloads even cheaper and can make you
feel like you don't need anything but primers, power and brass to be as good as anything that is being sold.
I even cast HP .45 ACP, one at a time but I like how they turn heads
when showing them off and shooting them.... :)
 
Bullet casting is probably the most interesting part of the shooting sports in my opinion. So much to learn!

By all means, get the Lyman Handbooks and make a thorough study of everything before you begin. If you can find a copy of "Cast Bullets" an NRA publication by Col. E.H. Harrison you will be even further ahead of the curve, benefiting from about 20 years of intensive research and development work, lots of Q&A on specifics.

Good ventilation is an absolute must! All of my casting is done under a covered patio or in a garage with the overhead door open.
 
The Ideal and Lyman were making casting and loading equipment when Mr. Lee was just a gleam in his dad's eye!

Get either the Lyman Cast Bullet hand book 3rd or 4th edition OR the Lyman Loading Manual 46 edition is about 1980 and has most of the Cast Handbook info in it! I have #48 & #49, newer powders & cartridges, less real info!

Since you now have the means, learn to cast, then learn about sizing and Lubing. Then worry about loading data, you'll have to go with whatever powder is available anyway!

Ivan

+1 big time on good ventilation!
 
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