A question for bullet casters

[snowman]

I would be interested in learning approximately what percentage of the total time you invest in loading is spent casting bullets. The amount of time spent would also be helpful information; say, per thousand bullets. However, if you could estimate the percentage of total loading time, that would be what interests me the most. You might also mention whether or not you use a progressive machine, though I would guess that most of you do.

Thank you for responding, friends.
Andy

 

[noylj]

When I used to cast, I also had a Hornady Progressive. Probably 70% of my time was smelting, casting and lubing. With the progressive, actual loading time per 1000 rounds was maybe 2 hours with time taken up refilling the primer pick-up tube to feed the primer tube.
Then, I discovered that all the time I spent sizing my cast bullets was doing me and the load no good. Accuracy for me improved by shooting as-cast bullets and leading dropped significantly.
So, I got sizing dies the same or larger than the as-cast bullet diameter in order to lube the bullets.
Then I got into pan lubing. Then I got into tumble lubing.
Then, I decided it was just too much trouble trying to scrounge up lead and smelting it, so I now buy commercially and tumble lube those bullets.
Note: if your barrel's groove-to-groove is 0.451", you want cast bullets that are 0.452-0.455" in diameter. Never have had any pressure signs from the larger diameter bullets and they are generally the more accurate.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Casting 1000 bullets at one time with one mould can get tiresome. I usually only cast around 500 at a whack. It depends on the bullet size too but, with warm up time, although you can be doing something else during it, I would say an hour and a half would cover the casting time. Another hour or so for sizing/lubing through a Lyman type sizing press.

I smelt in another process and the wife helps and it goes pretty quickly. When you are just filling ingot moulds, the longest time is for the lead to melt, not filling moulds.

The actual loading time is about 600rds per hour depending on which of my progressives I use. I have a case feeder on my Square Deal B from time to time, the wife, and that makes it a real fast process.

So for loading 1000 rounds that you cast all of the bullets for yourself, maybe 3 to 4 hours total time. I'm sure that is on the high side.

Just the other night, I cast up about 1500 45 caliber bullets in 3 different moulds. It took me about 2 1/2 hours. The next night I spent about the same, maybe a little less, lubing and sizing them.

The thing that makes it a priceless operation is that I have the type and amount of bullets whenever I can get to the garage to make them. With the recent shortage, it proved that those that purchase their components cannot say that. To have that option; priceless.

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
When I cast I normally do several molds at the same time and get a 2 or 3 mold repetion going. Fill a mold set it down grasp the next fill it. Go back to the first and eject the already cooled bullets. Refill it and set it down. By rotating molds in the casting process there is no waiting for the sprue to cool. Double cavity molds work nicely in this senario. But if I can add a third mold to the repition I do.
Once I get a rythem set up I can easily cast 500 pistol bullets an hour. I set ingots on top off the pot edge to preheat and as my pot gets down to about 75% ingot goes in. I flux as needed. I ususally am casting at 750 + degrees.
Rifle bullets I do the same but some molds due to long thinner cavities take more time.
I cast because the molds I use few would have and I taylor make my mixes. And then diameters.. Fill the throat of the weapon with a tight fitted bulet and leading become history.
So I would estimate that about 70 % of my reoading time is the bullet ready to load. But I cannot buy the bullets I reload anywhere that I know of. Plus I am not dependent on an outside source.

 

[Frank237]

If your hoping to discover that casting/lubing is an economical use of your time...I don't think you will. Buying a thousand commercially cast slugs is FAR easier.

But..those slugs will be a certain, popular style, and diameter, most likely with a bevel base. Cast hard as a rock, and lubed with crayon hard lube that will not wear off in shipment/handling.

I can cast ANY design, size, diameter I want...out of the EXACT alloy I want. Then lube with the lube of my choice.

FN in MT

 

[walnutred]

I wouldn't know how to begin to answer because I don't really track the time. Typically I do my smelting and casting when the weather or time will not allow me to do other shooting activities.

 

[dave b]

I enjoy making bullets more than reloading. So my supply of bullets is way bigger than my ammo supply. I'm ready for some cooler weather so I can use some of my new molds. And shoot more.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Like Missionsary I cast in a 4 mold rotation into a 4 compartment box. I cast from a cast iron pot on a single gas burner. I DON"T smelt. Consider it a waste of gas and time. I fill the pot with 15 or so pounds of WW and set my 4 molds around them. I skim, flux and cast, I use a RCBS ladle with pour spigot. I can easily cast 400-500 bullets an hour. I won't use an electric furnace as the melt and remelt is way to slow. I use a RCBS luber sizer for everything except .32's & .38's. These I tumble lube and shoot as cast. I store my cast bullets in 2 lb. coffee cans with snap on lids. I cast and shoot everything from .32 S&W to 45/70.
I have 2 progressive Dillon's set up and RCBS single stage. And a MEC and TEXAN shotshell loader.
I keep at least a 55 gallon drum of WW's on hand and usually have more than that. I do most of my casting in the winter months so I can be free to shoot all summer.
I have killed all manner of critters with cast bullets including deer and coyotes.
I make my own bullet lube out of canning wax and commode seals and it works as good as anything you can buy off the shelf. And it even works well in gas guns such as my garand and carbine.
Casting is a fasinating hobby and its the only way I can afford to shoot my centerfires a lot.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Gotta face the facts - reloading and casting isn't going to save you anything.

What you save in cost per round you make up in extra rounds consumed.

Time saved... ***gedaboutit! Takes more time and trouble to cast and reload than it does to buy factory or at least buy a bag of premade bullets to assemble your rounds.

Why do we do it?

Imagine a land where you can spend some quality time in the man cave, producing a product superior to any factory offering. Imagine not needing to wait in line for loaded rounds or being subject to fingerprinting (California) or limitations on quantity (California).

Picture yourself taking the center out of your target with rounds tailored to your firearm or telling your friends you shot that deer or hog with rounds you made - from the ground up.

It's a byproduct of having parents from the depression era, or maybe it has something to do with getting in touch with my inner scavenger, but in any event, I enjoy finding lead and turning discarded and otherwise useless junk into premium ammo.

We do it because we can.

I teach kids how to do it because they may NEED to do it some day (I hope not).

I teach my daughter's boyfriends how to do it because it sends a message and it helps us to know each other. Opens their eyes and they stay respectful and polite.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Gotta face the facts - reloading and casting isn't going to save you anything.

What you save in cost per round you make up in extra rounds consumed.

Time saved... ***gedaboutit! Takes more time and trouble to cast and reload than it does to buy factory or at least buy a bag of premade bullets to assemble your rounds.

Why do we do it?

Imagine a land where you can spend some quality time in the man cave, producing a product superior to any factory offering. Imagine not needing to wait in line for loaded rounds or being subject to fingerprinting (California) or limitations on quantity (California).

Picture yourself taking the center out of your target with rounds tailored to your firearm or telling your friends you shot that deer or hog with rounds you made - from the ground up.

It's a byproduct of having parents from the depression era, or maybe it has something to do with getting in touch with my inner scavenger, but in any event, I enjoy finding lead and turning discarded and otherwise useless junk into premium ammo.

We do it because we can.

I teach kids how to do it because they may NEED to do it some day (I hope not).

I teach my daughter's boyfriends how to do it because it sends a message and it helps us to know each other. Opens their eyes and they stay respectful and polite.

Wish I would have said all of that! Good Job, Snap!

 

[Forrest r]

Lubing/sizing the cast bullets takes the longer to do than casting them.

Never counted how many bullets I've casted per hour, I usually go by the weight of them. I cast 100# of lead in a session, it takes me between 4 & 5 hours to cast that much lead. The difference in time is due to the different weight of the bullets being cast, 124gr 9mm vs 200gr 45's, ect. I use nothing but 6 cavity molds anymore & when I cast, I just use the same mold for the hole 100#.

 

[Marksman]

Casting bullets is not the economical endeavor it once was, with the cost of lead and the equipment these days it makes more sense to purchase commercially cast bullets. The way that I do that to save the most money possible is to locate a bullet manufacturer located as close to me as possible to save shipping costs and negotiate their bottom dollar. I got together with several shooting buddies on my last order as the caster we purchased from gave us his bottom dollar price as long as we ordered 100K bullets. We could mix and match, that way everyone got what they wanted, it worked out very well. The next time we order I am going to try to find a supplier close enough that we can pick up the bullets to eliminate shipping costs.

 

[AH-1G]

If your hoping to discover that casting/lubing is an economical use of your time...I don't think you will. Buying a thousand commercially cast slugs is FAR easier.

But..those slugs will be a certain, popular style, and diameter, most likely with a bevel base. Cast hard as a rock, and lubed with crayon hard lube that will not wear off in shipment/handling.

I can cast ANY design, size, diameter I want...out of the EXACT alloy I want. Then lube with the lube of my choice.

FN in MT

+1

and I am retired and time isn't a problem and I can make a better bullet.

pete

 

[Forrest r]

I also have more time than money. My lead's free & I can cast/size my bullets for a specific pistol/bbl.

I cast 2 different mixes for my 624 & my 629/contender. I use a softer lead for target loads in my 624. I also size them to .429 for the tighter 624. The 629 & the contender bbl have a harder mix for the mag loads & are sized to .430.

Most comercial bullet casters size their 38/357's to .358. I size mine to .357 for my 586 & my contender bbl. I also size my 45's to .451 which most casters size them to .452.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Like Forrest r above, I cast for specific loads. Harder than snot for those real 44Mag loads while the target 38spl and 45ACP are a bunch softer.

I am working on two loads right now, a 45Colt for a M25 -7 I just acquired, a Ruger 45 Convertible and a Puma rifle. All are using a lead bullet from an H&G mould that almost no one casts, a 240gr LSWC that is designed for the 45AR. The shorter nose means I can load as long as I want (more room for powder) and still chamber in all of my firearms.

The other load is a lead 44Mag load for a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Special rifle with an octagon barrel. While it does have Ballard rifling, it is big, over .432" or there abouts. While there are some commercial caster that will size them special, so can I and my wheel weights we almost free. In fact, this morning sometime, I am going to the range to test some of these loads. 20.5gr AA#9 with standard primers and my newly cast Mihec H&G #503 solid copy. I also have several bullets that a friend cast with the penta hollow point version of the same mould.

This should be interesting. These boolits measure .433". So, I am hoping that accuracy comes in there and that those 260gr pills get delivered at 1600fps. We will see!


OH, the other thing I forgot about is leading. I can make my boolits(bullets) so they don't lead in my firearms. When purchasing them, that may not be the case.

If you HAVE to buy boolits(bullets) I would suggest using tennesseevalleybullets.com. Jessie is NKJ_nut here on the forum. A great guy to deal with and a good friend. One that sticks by his product and his buds!

 

[AH-1G]

have you tried the 452423??.excellent bullet

http://www.sixguns.com/crew/cba.htm

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

For regular smokeless bullets, I buy from local casters. Casting is a lot of work, and I would much rather pay somebody else to do it than do it myself.

I only cast my Black Powder bullets. These are a specialty design with a huge lube groove to carry a huge amount of Black Powder compatible bullet lube. They are only available a couple of places commercially, so I just cast them myself. I cast three different designs, a 250 grain 45, a 200 grain 45, and a 200 grain 44. Being as these are Black Powder bullets, I cast them very soft. The 44s are pure lead, the 45s are about 25/1 lead/tin.

I generally only cast once or twice a year, that keeps me in enough bullets for the entire Cowboy Action season. I usually cast in the fall, when the weather has cooled off some. I cast in the basement with the bulkhead door open for ventilation, so I don't cast in the summer when I would be eaten alive by mosquitoes, or in the winter. I usually cast in the fall when I can leave the door open comfortably. I am all out of 44s now, so it is time to sit down and cast some more.

My casting sessions usually last all afternoon. I will cast around 2000 bullets total between the three different designs. I use aluminum six cavity molds, so I can cast up a lot in a hurry. I just keep running with one mold until I have enough, then switch to another design. I work fast enough that my molds do not overheat.

Lubing and sizing used to be a real pain with my old RCBS lubrasizer. All that went away when I bought a Starr. I can sit in front of the TV and lube and size several hundred bullets per hour. A couple of evenings and it is all done.

 

[HEAD0001]

I enjoy casting and reloading as much as I enjoy shooting. Heck I do not even mind trimming brass. I enjoy scrounging around for supplies of lead. Sometimes a few friends come over and we sit in the garage for the evening and clean up lead or cast bullets, or just BS. So for me it is a hobby. And one that I really enjoy. IMO that is how you have to do it. I have no idea how much "TIME" it takes me because I am never in a hurry.

IF your time is extremely valuable, or you just do not have the extra time to commit to both hobbies then it would be best not to start. But just be careful if you do start, you may enjoy it. Tom.

 

[MMA10mm]

I would be interested in learning approximately what percentage of the total time you invest in loading is spent casting bullets. The amount of time spent would also be helpful information; say, per thousand bullets. However, if you could estimate the percentage of total loading time, that would be what interests me the most. You might also mention whether or not you use a progressive machine, though I would guess that most of you do.

Thank you for responding, friends.
Andy

There are many, many variables involved here such as:
a) the size of the pot you have (I use a 90-lb Magma which was a MAJOR upgrade from the 20-lb Lyman I had used, which in turn was a HUGE upgrade from a 12-lb Lee pot...)
b) the size of the moulds (6-cavity moulds make bullets incredibly faster than a 1-cav or 2-cav mould)
c) the style of bullets you make (a SWC is typically slower to cast than a round-nose, especially a spire point, because the bullets just fall from the blocks at different rates of reliability/ease)
d) if you're casting hollow-points, it is MUCH slower, both due to rejects (usually due to the HP pin not being hot enough) and the fact that HP moulds are generally single-cavity (with a few exceptions)
e) the type of lubri-sizer you use (a Star is much quicker than a Lyman, and a Magma is hundreds of times faster still...)
f) if you use a lubri-sizer at all (there are several companies offering coatings in place of lube-sizing as well as Lee offering special-style bullets for these coating-lubes)
g) finally, if you use gas-check bullet designs, they add another step which naturally means more time...

I look at bullet casting as a hobby in and of itself, and I enjoy it just for that. Sizing/lubing is not so much fun and is a necessary evil to me. But, overall, I enjoy casting almost as much as shooting.

 

[shortrange]

While I admit I am fairly new to casting, so far I love it. Like Smithcrazy has said before I have a constant supply of bullets for all my handguns. What I want when I want.

I bought a Lee pot some tumble lube molds and some liquid alox, and started casting and shooting. The bullets I cast so far have been as accurate as anything else I have ever shot. I have 32, 38 44, and 45 caliber molds, and haver never sized the first bullet. I did buy a lead hardness tester so I could alloy my own metal. All of this equipment cost me very little and I dont know how it could be any better. I guess using sized bullets and expensive molds could be more accurate, but all of my tumble lube bullets shoot way better than I can so for me that is good enough. In fact the tumble lube 38 wadcutter is the most accurate wadcutter I have ever used, and with the alox there is absolutely no leading, that is something I fought with the over hard store bought bullets.