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04-08-2011, 10:09 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Nebraska
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Cast my first boolits yesterday
I cast my first boolits ever yesterday and boy was it fun. I have a 20# Lee bottom pour pot and used some wheel weights my dad had.
We have a buddy who has been casting most of his life and he is a great resource to learn from. I watched him casting awhile back and knew I had to try it. It is fantastic to have a resource available like him and my dad when you are learning a new skill. No question is a "stupid" question to these guys.
One thing I did learn about 20 minutes into casting- a Lee 2 cavity aluminum mold is a LOT lighter than a 4 cavity Lyman steel mold! Running 2 four cavity Lymans for several hours and my arm is a bit stiff this morning. Oh well - no pain no gain.
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04-08-2011, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Virginia
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I'm getting ready to do the same. Got a Lee Magnum Melter, RCBS dipper, Lee double cavity .457 roundball mold (for a Ruger Old Army), an original Winchester mold for a 25 WCF, and was lucky enough to score about 60 lbs of pure lead sheet at an estate sale recently where the guy had been a plumber. For $1. Also have a bunch of junk pewter around to use for a 20:1 lead:tin mix. There should still be a couple hundred pounds of fishing sinkers at home that my dad cast from wheelweights when he was running fishing charters too.
I haven't done any casting for about 40 years, when I cast roundballs for my flintlock from a cast iron pot over an open fire with one of those old Dixie Gun Works molds.
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" I said, good DAY! "
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04-08-2011, 04:08 PM
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US Veteran
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Off the beaten path, PA
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The best part is loading those freshly cast bullets into your favorite gun and setting it free at 900 FPS or better. It's a great feeling knowing you "made" your ammo...shortage, what shortage? Congrats on your new skills.
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Have .44, will travel
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04-08-2011, 07:56 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bomberman
The best part is loading those freshly cast bullets into your favorite gun and setting it free at 900 FPS or better. It's a great feeling knowing you "made" your ammo...shortage, what shortage? Congrats on your new skills.
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Couldn't have said it better! So, I'm not going to try! !!!!!!!!!
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04-08-2011, 11:23 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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I just came in from the man room after casting a couple hundred 357 bullets from new brass mold. Great way to past the evening ! Tomorrow I lube.
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You'll shoot your eye out kid
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04-09-2011, 03:55 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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I'm getting started in casting also.
I have two moulds that came in this week, a third on order. I ordered a furnace from Midway today. The only major item I still need is a good sizer/luber. I'm kind of lost on what to get.
I'm looking forward to doing some casting maybe next weekend.
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04-09-2011, 08:02 AM
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SWCA Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Massachusetts, USA
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GregG
The best lube sizer you can buy is the Star, made by Magma. Once I bought my Star I threw my RCBS lubesizer in the river. It poops out bullets so fast I can do hundreds in a couple of hours.
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04-09-2011, 11:02 PM
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US Veteran Absent Comrade
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Texas
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I have a Star and a Lyman. The Star is great for lubing hundreds of bullets quickly. However it has it's down sides. One is that it takes a while to get it set up for whatever bullet you're lubing. It's not to easy to do and is somewhat counter-intuitive. For smaller quantities, the Lyman (or RCBS) is faster and easier. The Star doesn't do well with long rifle bullets, and it doesn't seat gas checks; another reason why I have the Lyman too. Both have their place on my loading bench, but the Lyman is a lot more versatile.
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04-09-2011, 11:43 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: CA
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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator
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04-10-2011, 01:04 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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I joined there recently! Great site.
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