Well, I had the furnace, a 309 30-30 mold and 25 pounds of lead shot laying around for 6 years but I always bought my projectiles. Last week I ran out of projectiles with 231 primed brass remaining. This week I have casted my first 120 projectiles. Next to dig out the sizes and luber and give that a go. Lots a fun so far.
I am a Caster
- Thread starter fraserdw
- Start date
I have about 55lbs of ingots I made last year. Left overs from making my own weights for my duck decoys. Debated on turning all into some 30.06 projectiles. Debated on just doing powder coating similar to fishing lures. Anyone done it like that before?
NorthernCX
CGN Regular
- Location
- In My House
I'm off from work for at least the next month, I've got my progressive press set up, 2 pails of wheel weights, an ingot mold, 4 bullet molds and a LEE melter that have never been used, and I've started sorting the weights and getting ready to make my own. Probably over a hundred pounds of weights to start with... think an RCBS melting pot on a single burner hot plate will work? It's the old coil-style.
Good for you !!
I expect to be doing the same once the weather warms here. The lock down in Ontario will mean there will be no excuse for not having lots of lead to throw down range when the clubs re open.!!
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I too used an standard RCBS cast iron pot - I used it on a two burner Coleman camp stove with the wind screens up and only the larger burner. Found it seems to make a difference to keep some liquid melt in the pot when adding more wheelweights - seemed to melt faster. And definitely be prepared for a steam/melted lead spray if even a drop of moisture on a wheel weight - inside the clip I think they hide. Hurts like a bugger to pick that off your lip, forehead, where-ever... Would think much less chance of that melting down lead shot, so long as it was kept dry.
As well, I like "cheap" so I use sawdust from my crosscut miter saw as flux - fir, spruce, whatever got cut the last time - seems like you want the organic - sawdust, bees wax, etc. to get mixed into the melt and the carbon seems to float all kinds of crap out - I use a paint stir stick size splinter from spruce firewood as my stiring /inside of pot walls scraping stick - it gets charred up, too, but cheap, and I like "cheap".
As well, I like "cheap" so I use sawdust from my crosscut miter saw as flux - fir, spruce, whatever got cut the last time - seems like you want the organic - sawdust, bees wax, etc. to get mixed into the melt and the carbon seems to float all kinds of crap out - I use a paint stir stick size splinter from spruce firewood as my stiring /inside of pot walls scraping stick - it gets charred up, too, but cheap, and I like "cheap".
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vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
If you spill on the coil it might burn through. Then you need to grab the ends with needle nose pliers and overlap them to keep going. LoL
I like my Lee pots better.
Half a century back, one of the gun pundits, Dean Grenell or Dan Cotterman, wrote:
"After a while, you have to ask yourself, am I a shooter who reloads, or a reloader who shoots?"
I propose that the question for us is: "Am I a reloader who casts, or a caster who reloads?"
"After a while, you have to ask yourself, am I a shooter who reloads, or a reloader who shoots?"
I propose that the question for us is: "Am I a reloader who casts, or a caster who reloads?"
infideleggwelder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I cast for .303 and assorted muzzleloaders. I use a large ladle holds about 3lb lead to render scrap lead for ingots, usually over a fire. I cast with a small ladle and torch. I am looking for an electric Bottom pour pot, some of my molds may be better suited to a faster filling.
I also cast aluminium and am working towards brass casting.
I also cast aluminium and am working towards brass casting.
I stopped casting years ago but may consider starting up to cast buckshot if our club gets set up for some 3 gun shooting. I have a lot of supplies I hide away when I gave my BIL my casting equipment, find your own lead. 
It seems that equipment has worked it's way back in my loading room, won't get into rifle bullets but perhaps pistol slugs.
It seems that equipment has worked it's way back in my loading room, won't get into rifle bullets but perhaps pistol slugs.
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
yup. Casting my own bullets is like baking my own bread. One thing you may want to keep in mind Fraserdw, there is about 10 times the amount of arsenic in lead shot than there is in your average wheel weight metal. I usually add 1 pound of shot to nine or so pounds of wheel weights.
Happy casting!
Dwayne
Happy casting!
Dwayne
I just remembered about the arsenic in lead shot. Melt in a well ventilated area K. I quit using shot because it wasted so much. It is better to sell the shot and buy lead from the tire store. Or get free wheel weights from the tire store. Shot is going for $50 a bag now depending on what size it is.
From a few days ago. 45 acp 230 grain. I will powder coat them.
half empty
From a few days ago. 45 acp 230 grain. I will powder coat them.
half empty
