beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas - The Firearms Forum

soundguy · 10-30-2012, 07:34 PM

have considered for a few months now to get into rolling my own.. er. casting my own.

some one lay out a beginner setup into casting.

IE.. what are the minimums needed.

next... gas checks. read up on them for hger speed stuff.. etc. rifle.

I understand that adds another few steps and more gear.. etc.

question.. pistol rounds.. such as 38? no gas checks right?

I don't feel the need to cast for everything I relaod.. nor would it be possible probably due to some of the larger things I shoot. but the ability to cast for a couple different things.. or even one well used setup.. that 38spl I have many things chambering that..e tc.... so could get lots of use out of that one especially... got at least 3 pistols and a levergun in it ..

steve4102 · 10-30-2012, 07:45 PM

I'm new to casting bullets so take it from a new guy.
I made my own lead head jigs since I was a kid, so I had a little experience in smelting WW. That was before the zinc guys came around, now you have to be careful not to smelt the zinc into your lead.

I started cheap in simple.
Lee Bullet molds, inexpensive and come with handles.
Lee Bullet sizing die and Alox Tumble Lube.
Use my Old Do-It melting pop left over from my jig making days.
I purchased a new Lee Magnum Melter , a Ladle and a Thermometer, but I still like my old Do-It thingy.

That's it so far, cept my new Hollow point mold that I am going to try.

zant · 10-30-2012, 08:36 PM

Basically same as above,moulds are about 50/50 Lee/RCBS...prefer the Lee for handgun...bottom pour and ladle.Been doing a while and after reading the LA links,I know I don't know squat,but my bullets fly true enough for 25yds..and shooting into haybale/steel backstop,I cut apart and recover once a year.Fun hobby

howlnmad · 10-30-2012, 08:55 PM

The minimum huh?

lead
a heat sorce
a pot (not aluminum)
stirring spoon
some flux (old candles, sawdust)
slotted spoon for skimming dross
mould with handle
broken axe handle (for hitting sprue plate with)
pouring ladle
thermometer (not absolute but nice to have)
bullet lube

mikld · 10-31-2012, 12:38 PM

howlinmad covered most needs. I started with a stainless steel sauce pan (2 qt.?) a coleman stove (mine was a single burner), a Lee mold a, Lee ladle/dipper, a plastic mallet (same one I used for my Lee Loader), an el cheapo slotted spoon and sawdust. I had access to a lot of wheel weights so I "smelted" these (melted, skimmed, fluxed, make ingots with a muffin pan). With clean lead I poured several hundred before I started getting acceptable numbers of keepers, and lubed with alox. I got a 3rd Edition Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook and read/reread several times (a must IMO).The most difficult part is controling temperatures; mold temp. and melt temp. but that comes with practice. The only way to learn to cast bullets, is to cast bullets...

Also hang out here, read the stickies, and ask questions http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php Every aspect of making boolits is covered.

soundguy · 10-31-2012, 01:30 PM

thanks for the idea on a manual to read.

RustyFN · 10-31-2012, 05:37 PM

This is a pretty good read, http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346199.

BDJ · 10-31-2012, 06:04 PM

Nice link ^^^

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

10-30-2012, 07:34 PM	#1
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,436	beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas have considered for a few months now to get into rolling my own.. er. casting my own. some one lay out a beginner setup into casting. IE.. what are the minimums needed. next... gas checks. read up on them for hger speed stuff.. etc. rifle. I understand that adds another few steps and more gear.. etc. question.. pistol rounds.. such as 38? no gas checks right? I don't feel the need to cast for everything I relaod.. nor would it be possible probably due to some of the larger things I shoot. but the ability to cast for a couple different things.. or even one well used setup.. that 38spl I have many things chambering that..e tc.... so could get lots of use out of that one especially... got at least 3 pistols and a levergun in it .. -->

10-30-2012, 07:45 PM	#2
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas I'm new to casting bullets so take it from a new guy. I made my own lead head jigs since I was a kid, so I had a little experience in smelting WW. That was before the zinc guys came around, now you have to be careful not to smelt the zinc into your lead. I started cheap in simple. Lee Bullet molds, inexpensive and come with handles. Lee Bullet sizing die and Alox Tumble Lube. Use my Old Do-It melting pop left over from my jig making days. I purchased a new Lee Magnum Melter , a Ladle and a Thermometer, but I still like my old Do-It thingy. That's it so far, cept my new Hollow point mold that I am going to try.

10-30-2012, 08:36 PM	#3
zant V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: S.Al Posts: 248	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas Basically same as above,moulds are about 50/50 Lee/RCBS...prefer the Lee for handgun...bottom pour and ladle.Been doing a while and after reading the LA links,I know I don't know squat,but my bullets fly true enough for 25yds..and shooting into haybale/steel backstop,I cut apart and recover once a year.Fun hobby

10-30-2012, 08:55 PM	#4
howlnmad Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harriman, Tn Contributor Posts: 2,566	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas The minimum huh? lead a heat sorce a pot (not aluminum) stirring spoon some flux (old candles, sawdust) slotted spoon for skimming dross mould with handle broken axe handle (for hitting sprue plate with) pouring ladle thermometer (not absolute but nice to have) bullet lube __________________

10-31-2012, 12:38 PM	#5
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas howlinmad covered most needs. I started with a stainless steel sauce pan (2 qt.?) a coleman stove (mine was a single burner), a Lee mold a, Lee ladle/dipper, a plastic mallet (same one I used for my Lee Loader), an el cheapo slotted spoon and sawdust. I had access to a lot of wheel weights so I "smelted" these (melted, skimmed, fluxed, make ingots with a muffin pan). With clean lead I poured several hundred before I started getting acceptable numbers of keepers, and lubed with alox. I got a 3rd Edition Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook and read/reread several times (a must IMO).The most difficult part is controling temperatures; mold temp. and melt temp. but that comes with practice. The only way to learn to cast bullets, is to cast bullets... Also hang out here, read the stickies, and ask questions http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php Every aspect of making boolits is covered. __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

10-31-2012, 01:30 PM	#6
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,436	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas thanks for the idea on a manual to read.

10-31-2012, 05:37 PM	#7
RustyFN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 592	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas This is a pretty good read, http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346199.

10-31-2012, 06:04 PM	#8
BDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 60	Re: beginner 101 casting? need opinion / ideas Nice link ^^^ http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm