Need help choosing my first mold

jethunter said:
Powder coating is quite good if you don't shoot large quantities. It is somewhat labor intensive and I only use it for high velocity cast rifle bullets for that reason. For my pistol bullets the regular lubesizing works good and I can easily lubesize about 600 bullets an hour, compared to about 50 bullets/hour for powder coating.
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I do shoot a fair amount... Maybe I'll go for tumble lubing to a 'lubrisizer' instead of gearing up for powder coating.
 
ChromeArty said:
I do shoot a fair amount... Maybe I'll go for tumble lubing to a 'lubrisizer' instead of gearing up for powder coating.
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9mm is a tough round to shoot cast in without leading. I've tried everything and the only surefire way for me to shoot cast with zero leading is powder coating. Next best is Hi-Tek coating, then lubrisized with good, soft lube - speed green or 666-1. Tumble lubing was the least successful. I tried straight alox, 45-45-10, and BLL. This is out of both a Kel-Tech Sub 2000 and a Beretta CX-4 Storm. Multiple bullet styles sizes and weights. And the leading is in the first couple inches, not the end of the barrel so it's not that I run out of lube. I've adopted the practice of 100 rounds of Hi-Tek followed by 20 powder coated. The PC bullets clean the lead right out. Same bullets, load data, point of impact. Works well and minimizes the labor involved with powder coating.
 
I haven't ever had any leading in the 9mm, my last one never saw a jacketed bullet in the first 5000 rounds it fired - and I wasn't even casting back then. Just ordinary commercial cast bullets made by whatever was available when i needed them. Just lucky I guess.
 
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ChromeArty said:
My neighbor just asked if I wanted this! Gave me, I'd say at least 8kg, roll of 50/50 solder! Looks like my bullets will be hard enough... for a lifetime!
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Solder (tin) isn't for hardening it's for improved mold fill out. Antimony is the main component in lead alloys that adds hardness. Also arsenic, and if done correctly zinc although at this stage of your casting experience, try to stay as far away from zinc as possible! None the less, the solder is a major score!
 
sawzall said:
Solder (tin) isn't for hardening it's for improved mold fill out. Antimony is the main component in lead alloys that adds hardness. Also arsenic, and if done correctly zinc although at this stage of your casting experience, try to stay as far away from zinc as possible! None the less, the solder is a major score!
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Ooooh! I must have gotten that idea into my head from a misinformed youtuber... it does happen from time to time :)

Thanks for the clarification!

Looking forward to my casting stuff getting here big time!
 
ChromeArty said:
Ooooh! I must have gotten that idea into my head from a misinformed youtuber... it does happen from time to time :)

Thanks for the clarification!

Looking forward to my casting stuff getting here big time!
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I can buy antimony lead easily but tin is harder to get. Good score.
 
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