casting bullets

Short answer is YES and NO

all depend on lots of varables
bullet shape ,size, weight , lube , velocity ,pressure and what gun and what powder you use and if you asked 10 people that have lots of experience you will get 10 different answers

pure lead with no or small problems
cowboy style/loading ok
anything that you can find loading data for swaged bullets ok to some problems

any thing with magnum in name some to lots of problems
 
lyktohunt said:
Can you use pure lead bullets ,velocity would be under 1200fps, or will I have to add something to make them harder
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For 99% of applications the answer is no. Antimony is the hardening agent in lead alloys. You might want to pick up wheelweights. WW alloy will work without gas checks up to including the velocity ranges you are suggesting - I assume you are talking pistol calibers here. Water quenching bullets right from the mold will harden alloys provided there is some antimony in the alloy.

Take Care

Bob
 
Thanks, I have lots to learn I am thinking of casting for a 32-40 with about 170gr flat nose bullets in low velocity rounds. Also I may try some 30 cal bullets for my 30-30 of which I expect these to be faster.A friend has most of the equipment,I will need to get a mould for the 32-40. He has some big lead bars that came out of submarines for ballast
 
Actually, you can do very well with most rifles if you add about 5% tin. They'll still be soft, but will still do just fine as long as you don't push the velocity too hard.
Grouch
 
soft cast bullets

grouch said:
Actually, you can do very well with most rifles if you add about 5% tin. They'll still be soft, but will still do just fine as long as you don't push the velocity too hard.
Grouch
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X 2
if keeping your velocity on the low end and you make sure your bullets are not undersized which will prevent gas cutting you should be good.
let me know if you need any bullet lube, i currently have some sticks on sale.
 
lyktohunt said:
Thanks, I have lots to learn I am thinking of casting for a 32-40 with about 170gr flat nose bullets in low velocity rounds. Also I may try some 30 cal bullets for my 30-30 of which I expect these to be faster.A friend has most of the equipment,I will need to get a mould for the 32-40. He has some big lead bars that came out of submarines for ballast
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Since you are just starting out, here is a forum you ought to consider joining. I would also suggest you buy two paperback bookd, both published by Lyman. The Cast Bullet Handbook and Lyman's Pistol and Revolver Handbook. Both are excellent reference guides. The former will tell you all you have to know about lead alloys.

Here is the forum: http://castboolits.gunloads.com

Take Care

Bob
 
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I'm using clip on wheelweights for lead, water quenched and gaschecked up to 1800 fps in a Marlin 30-30, and air cooled plain based at 850fps in the .44 mag
 
To answer your question, pure lead will not be good if you are going up to 1200 fps, unless you are using a gas check. In any case you would want to add a little bit of tin to help the mould fill out easily. However, anything more than 2% or so is a waste of expensive tin. Tin is not there to make the bullets harder; antimony is the ingredient that makes for harder bullets. Wheelweights have antimony, at least the older style clip on ones.
So, try a bit of tin, use gas checks and a good lube and see how they work. Good luck.
If you are using a bullet without a gas check, it is another game, and you will probably need a harder bullet and pay more attention to sizing diameter and lube.
 
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