Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Want to start bullet casting

Okay I want to get started in bullet casting. Basically I want to cast .45 LC bullets of about 300 grs @ roughly 1200 fps.



what kind of lead formula should I use? Wheel weights dropped in water?? wheel weights baked in the oven???



Linotype????



Do I need a gas check at this speed???



Lead me Obi-one...



Mark <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Those wheel weights will do you fine. The old ones that is. No need for a gas check at that velocity, just a good lube. Dropping them in a 5 gallon bucket of water will do you for cooling, it will harden them a point or two on the Saeco scale, makes it better yet for you. Might go plumbers lead if you are going to do any hunting with that particular round. I personally shoot softer bullets for hunting and save the WW lead for plinking and target practice.

MarkT, you don't say what you're going to be shooting your caast boolits in or what you're using them for. Hunting I assume? At that velocity you don't need gas checks if you're using a plain based boolit, so choose a plain base mold. There are those who'll say a gas checked boolit "steers" better, especially in a microgroove barrel. Mebe so, mebe no, particularly at 1200 fps. DO you need anything other than wheelweights? NO, and I'd not do any hardening at that velocity. You MIGHT find you need to add just a touch of tin to get good mold fillout, but I doubt it. Try first without tin and see. Regards, Woody

Hunting, and a Ruger Blackhawk, 45 Lc...

Thanx guys <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mark

MarkT,
Welcome to a whole new world. I can't say you will get addicted to casting, but it's highly probable.
To start, a Coleman stove, a dipper, and a small cast-Iron skillet will get you started. Lee tumble-lube might also prove sufficient - if you use your bullets in their as-cast diameter. That will be determined by your revolvers throats. You want your bullets 1/2 to one thousandth over throat diameter. Should you have to size, the Lee push-thru sizers work quite well. Lubing both before and after sizing, with the tumble-lube, can be a help here.
Plain old air-cooled wheelweights should work fine for your use. Should you feel the need to harden them up a bit - and this isn't always desireable or necessary - then you can water-drop (quench) them, as they drop from the mold.
I would suggest at least two molds between 250-300gr. Then you can do a bit of experimenting to see which you(or your revolver) like best. Plain base bullets should work fine, but if needed, the Lee sizers do a fine job of installing/crimping gas checks.
Then you will begin to read more about casting. Probably run across a few "deals" on molds, that are too good to pass up. You might want to pick up an electric pot for it's convenience. Then, since you seem to be running out of lube constantly, you decide to go with a lubrisizer. They can be pretty cheap on Ebay. Of course, along the way, you continue to aquire various molds, sizers, etc. After you have the lubrisizer, you realize bullet lube is kinda expensive, when you cast for eleventy different calibers, so you go to Cast Pics and learn how to make your own lube... Well, I hope you can see where this all goes. It just never ends! Welcome, and Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!..........Bug.

Bug,

Thanx for the ideas <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> sorry so long to repost, BUT I was in Vegas!!!
I like the idea of the coleman stove, gee I have one of those <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Kewl, I am going to get a Lee mold in 255 grains to start, and if I like this casting thing, right to mountain molds for my .45 LC 300-325 grainer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mark