LEE stuff will get you into the casting game on the cheap. If you want top of the line gear that'll last your lifetime, get RCBS. The Pro-Melt pot is expensive, but its worth every penny and comes with a lifetime, no BS guarantee. They come up on eBay every now and then, sometimes for some very sweet prices. If money is a factor, you're probably better off going to a junk store, yard sale, etc...and picking up a cast iron cooking pot, dutch oven or bake pot. While you're there, look for a used Coleman camp stove (if you don't already have one) a stout stainless steel soup ladle and you're ready to start casting! I'd prefer this to buying a LEE pot.
Your best bet in moulds is to stick with the "top" brand names like H&G, SAECO, RCBS, Lyman. They're either iron or steel moulds that if cared for will last your lifetime. LEE moulds are made from aluminum, which, obviously, doesn't wear as well. However, they are much, much cheaper than the other brands. You might have to do a little tweaking to get one to drop bullets that are true "round".
Lee does make a pretty good luber/sizing kit that will work with any reloading press. This is much cheaper than buying a dedicated luber/sizer like the RCBS Lube-A-Matic II. It will size your bullets after which you can use the Lee Liquid Alox to lube the bullets by dumping the bullets and lube into a container, shaking them about until the bullets are coated with the mixture and then dump 'em out on wax paper to dry.
If you plan on casting for multiple calibers, a luber/sizer may be the way to go. If you go this route, you will also need to purchase the proper sizing die and top punch that fits the profile of the bullet you're casting. RCBS and Lyman make quality tools, as does SAECO and STAR.
The cheapest source of bullet metal is your local tire store. Used wheel weights make ideal bullet material and are usually free or available at a small fee. Pick yourself up an old round muffin tin to use as an ingot mould, a piece of candle, bacon grease, beeswax, bullet lube etc... the cast iron pot I mentioned earlier and dump in your wheel weights. Fire up the Coleman stove and in a little while the wheel weights will start to melt. Once they're all melted the dirt, grime and steel clips will start to float to the surface. Place a piece of the wax, bacon grease, etc... into the melt and stir the metal using your ladle. This fluxes the melt and causes impurities to float to the surface. Smoke will come from the melt, light a match or use a propane torch to ignite it. It will burn off very quickly. Skim off the dirt, clips, etc... and you'll be left with clean bullet material that's ready to be cast into ingots for later use, or you can start casting bullets right away! Keep an old towel or a bucket of water for dropping the warm bullets on to or into.
The Lyman handbook also tells you how to make your own alloys with different Brinell Hardness Numbers (BHN) that are suitable for different tasks. Local scrap metal dealers, printing shops, etc...may also be good sources of scrap lead, wheel weights or linotype. The latter is especially sought after, however, as computers are rapidly replacing the old set type printing presses, this is getting harder and more expensive to find.
It is recommended, however, that before starting to cast you get yourself a good cast bullet handbook like the one published by Lyman. Read and study it. Remember to ALWAYS were safety goggles/eye protection. Get yourself a pair of welders gloves or similar heavy duty leather work gloves. Always cast in a well ventilated area free of falling water/liquid or rain. A good face mask/breather is a good idea to keep you from inhaling any microscopic airborne lead particles. Its rare, but better safe than sorry. Its also a good idea to wear safety boots or at least nothing open toed, i.e., sandals while casting. Jeans, cotton long sleeve shirt are a good idea. Stay away from anything synthetic that can possible melt into your skin. Finally, when casting, make sure you keep all water, sweat or any liquids away from the melt. A single drop of water can cause a lead explosion that'll spray molten lead everywhere. It smarts when this happens!
...mic
