Casting my own bullets

[dclifton]

Alright im not looking to spend alot. but with the shortage of bullets and cost im thinking about casting my own 45. acp 45. colt and 44. bullets
Could yall give me a beginners list of the things ill need. IS it really intensive or pretty simple?

just wanting to make plinking bullets mainly.

[Jason19]

Well, first off those three calibers are the best and easiest for molds.

You will need a pot
Molds (lyman makes the best IMO)
sizer (best to have one that lubes at the same time)
Wax

Its a big money saver in the long run. If you know any roofers ask for any lead scrap they take off of old houses or look at home depot for defects.

[dclifton]

Well, first off those three calibers are the best and easiest for molds.

You will need a pot
Molds (lyman makes the best IMO)
sizer (best to have one that lubes at the same time)
Wax

Its a big money saver in the long run. If you know any roofers ask for any lead scrap they take off of old houses or look at home depot for defects.

Kind of what i was thinking. So it doesnt seem that costly to start up.

And could you ellaborate on the sizer and lube.

Do you size the bullet through your press like a casing to get rid of the excess lead? and to make it the correct size and shape.

[Jason19]

These guys are not the cheapest but they have good videos showing the process of sizing and molding. They can explain far better than I can...

http://www.magmaengineering.com/component/banners/click/14/

As far as lube I use Lyman Orange Magic.

[Draco]

The casting and loading is the easy part. Lee makes an electric pot that makes it very easy to pour into the molds. As Jason said, Lyman makes the best molds. The Lyman Lubrisizer is the best as well.

The hard part is getting lead and tin. You just can't use pure lead, it's way too soft. The lead needs tin in it to make it harder. Lead to tin in a 16 to 1 ratio is considered to be the best. That is wheel weights almost exactly. They are the best lead source for ready to go bullet making.

If you want to mold rifle bullets then you need to have a little copper cup on the back of the lead bullet. It's called a gas check. The Lyman Lubrisizer puts them on as you size the bullet.

[dclifton]

The casting and loading is the easy part. Lee makes an electric pot that makes it very easy to pour into the molds. As Jason said, Lyman makes the best molds. The Lyman Lubrisizer is the best as well.

The hard part is getting lead and tin. You just can't use pure lead, it's way too soft. The lead needs tin in it to make it harder. Lead to tin in a 16 to 1 ratio is considered to be the best. That is wheel weights almost exactly. They are the best lead source for ready to go bullet making.

If you want to mold rifle bullets then you need to have a little copper cup on the back of the lead bullet. It's called a gas check. The Lyman Lubrisizer puts them on as you size the bullet.

I was wondering what was the trick to lead because I figured pure lead seemed to soft.

[bassinking]

Me and my buddy mix half a pot of linotype lead with half a pot of wheel weight lead and bullets come out perfect

[BigTex.308]

Subscribed. Been looking into this and researching it as well.






Ike

[dclifton]

The casting and loading is the easy part. Lee makes an electric pot that makes it very easy to pour into the molds. As Jason said, Lyman makes the best molds. The Lyman Lubrisizer is the best as well.

The hard part is getting lead and tin. You just can't use pure lead, it's way too soft. The lead needs tin in it to make it harder. Lead to tin in a 16 to 1 ratio is considered to be the best. That is wheel weights almost exactly. They are the best lead source for ready to go bullet making.

If you want to mold rifle bullets then you need to have a little copper cup on the back of the lead bullet. It's called a gas check. The Lyman Lubrisizer puts them on as you size the bullet.

Ok well I've got access to plenty of wheel weights. So do I need to put Linotype In them as well If so where do I get it

[BigTex.308]

Ok well I've got access to plenty of wheel weights. So do I need to put Linotype In them as well If so where do I get it

I'll take any extra wheel weights you don't need.



And I think midway should sell it.




Ike

[dclifton]

I'll take any extra wheel weights you don't need.



And I think midway should sell it.




Ike

Just looked into it looks like its a little hard for what I want to do unless I mixed it. I may just try the straight wheel weight for target Shooting and plinking around

[Draco]

For pistols the wheel weights should be just fine. It was Elmer keith's favorite to use.

[Lokmdwn]

I have started looking into this as well. There was another thread about this a few days ago and someone mentioned the Missouri Bullet Company. There prices don't seem that bad and they also sell the lead if you still want to pour your own.

I do have a question for those that do pour their own. Do you make one at a time or does the mold allow for multiple bullets for each pour?

Jim

[Jason19]

I have started looking into this as well. There was another thread about this a few days ago and someone mentioned the Missouri Bullet Company. There prices don't seem that bad and they also sell the lead if you still want to pour your own.

I do have a question for those that do pour their own. Do you make one at a time or does the mold allow for multiple bullets for each pour?

Jim

You can buy multiple cavity molds. I have a 9mm that makes 6 at a time. Everything else is usually 2 at a time.

If any of you shoot 300 Blackout and want to try some 230gr projectiles, let me know. I made up a boat load and have no true use for them. Would like to see what you think...

[dclifton]

For pistols the wheel weights should be just fine. It was Elmer keith's favorite to use.

Yup what I was thinking! They said Linotype can get to hard and shatter.