Casting question

[AJ]

That is different than casting. Casting lead doesn't vaporize lead.

Lead fumes can cause lead poisoning. However, lead does not let off fumes until about 900 degrees. Since most casters do not get to that temp. it should not be a problem.

 

[AJ]

Did you ever know of anyone that had high levels?

No, but then I never worked an indoor range. The only indoor range I ever saw while in the Corps was at the USMC/USN Reserve Center on Carnegie Mellon Campus in Pittsburgh, Pa. It was closed by the EPA due to lead contamination. Lead dust was all over everything inside the building. Had to wear full hazmat gear with full filtered face masks to go inside. To this day I refuse to use an indoor range. Spent 20 years working as a Medical/Surgical Nurse after I retired from the Corps and never ran into anyone with "Heavy Metals Poisoning", did read some case studies on it though. Know enough that I do not want to get those kind of problems.

 

[gunbarrel]

Attached is a PDF file with some basic lead safety information for beginners.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Well I ordered some of those pencils and tested my lead. About 300lbs is 4-5 bhn while another 200lbs is 14-15. I melted some of the harder stuff into ingots and decided to try and see how actual casting went. It’s FUN! I have a 6 cavity LEE 358-105-swc mold that I wanted to try. I lubed it, smoked it, and pre heated it and casted my first bullets. These are my first so don’t go too hard on me. They measure .359-.360 and I didn’t weigh them yet. I also have an old rcbs 2 cavity 38-140WC mold that I want to try out. I’ve been reading and watching so many videos on everything and I’m having a blast with this.

 

[serger]

This is what I use to size my bullets.
I size after I powder coat them.

Lee Precision, Inc.. Classic Bullet Sizing Kit

 

[AJ]

This is what I use to size my bullets.
I size after I powder coat them.

Lee Precision, Inc.. Classic Bullet Sizing Kit

I have two Lyman Luber/Sizers from when I used mainly alox to lube with. Now that I powder coat, I use the Lee Sizers also.

 

[max503]

Lead isn't from breathing, it is from injestion. Most folks with lead issues were folks that worked with lead that smoked. They handled lead then put cigarette in mouth. If you keep your hands washed and don't touch your face, mouth or something you plan on sticking in your mouth, you are not going to have lead issues.

Rosewood

IMHO as hobbyists, our greatest source of exposure is breathing lead-laden dust. The stuff that gets stirred up when we handle those old wheel weights, of when we skim the pot, or when we tumble cases.

Any operation that gets your hands dirty or leaves a taste in your mouth is one that is giving you exposure.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I didn't start casting until about 2012 or so. I had leading issues in several cartridges. Played around with molds, oversized molds and even the "beagle" trick. Worked out most of the issues, but once I started powder coating, those molds that gave me leading issues no longer do so. PC'ing solved a lot of leading ails and the ammo is so much cleaner now. I won't go back to lubing except for some gas checked molds.

Rosewood

Beagle trick?............I used "em" to run deer and rabbits.
Started casting in 1972.....For a Browning P35.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I want to start a reloader's anonymous group. I started just doing hunting loads with my father. I guess that makes him an enabler. Then I moved into reloading 38/357. Then more pistol and rifle calibers.

Then I got hooked on the really hard stuff. I started casting 38/357. I moved onto 44 special, 45ACP/460 mag. I am now into .308 for 30/30. It is a special kind of addiction. Kinda seems like there is no in between, you are all in with reloading/casting or you are a regular at Scheels or Midway USA to buy whatever is cheapest.

Is there a scared straight for kids to not get into reloading?

And....You can stick your tongue out and say 'pphhhuuu" when there are no bullets on the shelf to be bought.

 

[rosewood]

Beagle trick?............I used "em" to run deer and rabbits.
Started casting in 1972.....For a Browning P35.

I may have spelled it wrong, but I think it was a guy on the castboolit forum with that handle name that came up with it. The idea was to take a piece of metal duct tape and put a piece inside the mold on either side of the cavity to shim it open a bit. That would give you a bit more diameter and sizing would straighten the boolit out and be slightly larger.

Rosewood

 

[serger]

Have you tried the new/newer style sizer from lee? 20 dollar body that screws into the press, and then you spend 12-20$ per sizer die and punch you want to push through

No sir I have not. I catch sales at the usual
Peddlers and/or on gun broker or Ebay. It
seems there are always folks trying to get
rid of stuff for cheap if you wait and look.

 

[rosewood]

The new lee sizing die setup was designed for the new APP press. It has case/ bullet feeders that greatly speeds up brass sizing, boolit sizing and primer pocket swaging. I really like it. The new sizing dies do work on other presses and u can use the old sizing dies on the APP, but not as convenient.

 

[rosewood]

in my paper work for the challenger press that came today, it appears that it can be used on any lee press

Yes, that is what I said, just not so concisely. And lots of other brand presses also.