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Casting bullets

one2hutn
looking to start casting bullets for 45, 30 caliber, and 38/357.

What molds and furnaces are best?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • one2hutn
    i have never tried this but i am thinking a head in case SHTF and we have a hard time if the DEMOCRAPS get in the big house
    will tire weights work for casting a .45acp i also have a lot of reclamed lead shot and a few molds i have picked up her and there
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  • bpost
    I cast as small as 6MM in rifle bullets, but the larger the diameter of the rifle bullet, the more it becomes advantageous to cast for it. My 375 H&H Encore barrel loves cast bullets at about 2,000 FPS. Shooting cast bullets in it makes it cheap to plink with.

    This site http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/ is the Mecca of casting lead projectiles.

    As far as easy to cast; just about any pistol case is a natural for cast bullets; the 357, 38 and 44 are well served by using Keith style bullets. The 9MM and 10 are available as RN and truncated cone designs that feed very well in most guns.

    Welcome to the fun filled world of casting and shooting your own!
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  • one2hutn
    Thanks Bpost. I'll check that sight.
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  • perry shooter
    Cast pistol bullets are much easier on barrels then jacketed bullets but be sure your pistol barrel is designed for lead bullets DO NOT shoot lead bullets in a GLOCK also any firearm with gas operation as in some cases like a ruger rifle semi auto 44 mag it can clog the gas cylinder.
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  • one2hutn
    Thanks Perry.
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  • chiefr
    Casting is fun, but has its hazards. I have been doing it for at least 30 years. Some of my most accurate pistol ammo is made with cast bullets. My recommendation would be to get a copy of Lymans Cast Bullet Handbook and read it before you start. I can't think of a better publication on this subject. This book has been in print for many years and mine is worn out.
    Personally, I do not cast for anything unless it uses a straight case, with the exception of the 8mm Nambu, because I can't find bullets for my Nambu, but you can load just about anything if you so desire. Bpost is spot on.
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  • jonk
    The standard caster will be able to realize up to 2000 fps with regular alloys and gas checks and lube.

    Some really expert casters have pushed 3000 fps with no leading but it is a very tricky thing- I've been at it 10 years and can probably push the 2000 fps envelope slightly higher but wouldn't try 3000 myself.

    So you may be looking at reduced loads, but I know of no caliber you can't shoot cast from if you want. The smaller bores are a bit trickier but certainly not impossible.

    One other option that would be fine for your 300 but not your 22-250 (well it would but it would be hard to do due to the size of the bullet)- is the old paper patch idea. The lead bullet wrapped in suitable paper can be driven as hard as a jacketed bullet, believe it or not. This however is a fairly advanced procedure (not hard, just involved) for someone already comfortable with casting, but it is worth keeping in mind as your skills develop.
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  • one2hutn
    Jonk! Very interesting-thanks. My first reloading set up was a Lyman and I have read the manual front to back repeatedly. I have studied what it involves to cast bullets but never purchased the equpment and started. I gave all my reloading stuff to a friend when I had to move and just this last year bought a Lyman Set up again(was happy with it the first time!. This time I have a family and own a home so I won't be picking up and jumping around anymore; so next comes the bench, maybe a smelter, some molds, and a sizer. I'm sure it's easier to buy cast bullets, but the thought of taking an animal with a handload and a bullet I made just makes it that much more of an accomplishment to me.>Chris
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  • Nwcid
    I had been wanting to do some casting for quite some time now. Handload came hunting at my house this year and brought some of his stuff to show me the basics and some tricks.

    Check out http://www.grafs.com as they have a great selection, good prices and $5 shipping. I just picked up a 20# pot, ingot mold, ladle, and a lub/sizer die (already have some bullets that need sized) for $110. I figured I would get my lead into some ingots and then decide what kind of bullets I want to cast.
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  • partisan
    I used to cast, but decided the results weren't worth the effort. I can tell you that with "hot" pistol loads, you should always use gaschecks. I learned the hard way years ago with my .44 mag.
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