I'm just wondering how hard, messy, dangerous, economic it really is.

I don't hear of many guys doing it. For a person like me it seems it might

be more trouble than it's worth, but I'd like to hear from someone who

has been doing it. Interested in the equipment, learning curve, etc.

Personally it seems a whole lot easier to order what you want. There are countless of suppliers that make many different configurations for you to choose from.

Don't want to be melting lead around my home.

I cast my own muzzloader bullets have not done pistol or rifle.

 

My brother casts both pistol and rifle some of it is odd stuff reason for casting, I do know he drops them in water to harden them..

Its a whole 'nother hobby in a hobby. But, if you have a good lead hook-up, it is VERY economical. With free lead which is entirely possible you are looking at less than $2 per box of .45 ammo lol

I've been considering getting into it since I have a .41 long colt and getting good bullets for it is not easy. I already have a Lee production pot from when I used to make shad darts and split shots, would only need the mold and the sizing dies.

It is not that hard to do i do not do much of it anymore.. You want to do it outside have a very good set of welding gloves. you can buy a melting pot that has it's own gate to release the lead which is probably the safest way that is what my brother uses, i used a small heated pot that you poured. You also need to preheat the mold i would put mine right in the pot with the lead and a few pours would bring it to temp. once you do it for a while you get the hang of it especialy the temp and when to stop pouring.. i would knock the slag off back into the melting pot, i also used a stainless spoon to clean out impurities in the lead and to knock off the extra lead after pouring.

pistol and rifle bullets get sized and lubed with a sizer and you can taylor the size to your gun buy using the correct sizer to match the bore of your gun.

I do as we...i shoot cast in my 38/357 as well as 3030 303 8mm etc..

 

you will alo need lube sizing dies etc...it is a hobby WITHIN a hobby...

 

BUT ,make sure and is PARAMOUNT IMHO to have a PROPER respirator mask

While casting...just my humble opinion...

 

For most apllicagions and shooters its not worth the trouble...

Yeah I figure it would be cool to get it super economical, but it does seem like you need

the right workplace and yes, it seems even more complicated then the reloading process

actually is. Similar to reloading, looks like you have to have a bit of a fascination and love

for it to really make it worthwhile.

 

How long does it take to make 1000 bullets when casting? Do you do them one at a time?

For the muzzle loader i would make 30 bullets at at time, take about 1/2 hour.. They were 370 gr. it takes a little longer to set before removing out of mould, pistol and rifle being lighter sets quicker.

There are a number of steps to casting and I am BY NO MEANS AN EXPERT....however it seems to have worked for me...

 

I use a 6 cavity H&G mould for 158Gr wadcutters in .38/357.....

 

First you have to get your lead...I use surplus wheel weights... ( there is an art in and of itself in mixing your lead to get proper hardness etc.... )

for these bullets I DO NOT worry about that....I have NOT noticed any real ill effects while shootgin these...ok a tiny bit of leading but nothing dramatic...for plinking they work great...

 

Get the pot up to temp....and the mold...

 

start pouring them and drop them in a cold water bath...

 

dunno..I can make ...what...a few hundred an hour...I never really counted....LOL....

 

THEN...let eveything cool....retrieve the bullets...let them dry....THEN

 

Warm up your lube sizer press, I use a Star model and feed them ONE AT A TIME to size and lube them...

 

Then they are ready....

 

It is NOT terribly difficult...but once you get the gear and setup for what you want to do...it is kinda easy....

 

I ONLY do this for 30-30....303.....8mm and .38

 

In MY opinion it is not economical for other rounds...BUT I have done .45 from time to time...the problem with .45 is to use the CORRECT mold....otherwise you can have feed problems...

 

If you EVER want to just try it...you can come up here and check it out.......

Thanks for the detailed process.

 

Sounds like it'd take a lot more time at that rate. Good think bout buying bullets

is that you have them all ready to go as soon as you get'em.

 

It is cool though to customize your own rounds down to that level of detail.