Anyone here do it? Thinking of getting into it for 9x18 and .38spl when I finally start reloading.

 

Seems like it would be worth it, I know my grandfather did this with his .38spl service revolver. He used lead shotgun shot.

 

If I do my math correctly even if I payed $50 for a 25lbs bag of shot thats (25x7,000) 175,000 grains. Thats 1,750 bullets at 100grains each. Thats 2.8c a bullet.

 

there seems to be a large discrepency in mold prices.

 

http://www.midwayusa...-1-ogive-radius

 

http://www.midwayusa...nose-bevel-base

 

Is the $20 one crap or is the $100 one overpriced?

 

Where do people who can't get free lead go about buying it from?

You can buy premade ingots to melt, or you can go around to the small mechanic places and ask if they have wheel weights. The process with wheel weights is a bit more involved since you'll have to flux and dross the melt and add some antimony to harden the lead after it cools.

 

If you do find wheel weights, they come in 5 gallon buckets (usually). So you should get plenty of lead out if it. I don't know about moulds, so someone with more knowledge can chime in on that.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=57

 

That's a link to a casting forum I found. Tons of info.

 

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

 

An online book about casting bullets. I was thinking of getting into casting and this book shed a lot of light on thing for me.

 

Best of luck!

Lots of lead available on ebay. Flat rate shipping boxes are great for it. The USPS must hate lead!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=lead+ingots&_sacat=See-All-Categories

You can get lead from scrap dealers locally for around $1 a pound, they buy for around $.50 a pound. Check Craig's list as well, keeping in mind what the scrap places buy and sell for. Stay away from car battery lead.

the lee molds work fine for me. i have the 6 cavity molds about 38 bucks. also dont forget to get the handles .

I have been using the Lee two and six cavity moulds for many years to great effect in .38/.357 and 45ACP. The lead I used was prefired projectiles reclaimed from the berms of my club.

 

I only recently stopped casting due to a sudden reduction in free time due to studies and family. If you will be shooting a lot, casting is financially economical, but it came to the point for me where it just made more sense to buy pre-cast projectiles.

 

If you do get in to casting make sure you take adequate measures to avoid

getting lead into your system.

 

See Lunkers post about lead in the body.

http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php?/topic/33053-recreational-shooting-and-lead-toxicity/page__view__findpost__p__440307__hl__%2Blunker+%2Blead__fromsearch__1

I will indeed be careful. I get blood tested 4 times a year to keep track of TSH levels. I'm sure my doctor wouldn't mind adding a lead test as well.