Melting lead

[kris smith]

[Kyle1886]

I used an old muffin tin for melting tire weights to make led ballasts for my camera/tripod booms some years back.

Have no idea it something like that would work in your case.

Good luck.

Respectfully
Kyle

[H8Mud]

Big jobs I melt in a cast iron pot and use a lead pouring ladle to pour molds. On smaller jobs I melt in an old tea kettle and pour the lead out like I'm making tea.

Other than my Ladle, I buy my kettle or pots at the thrift store.

[ar15barrels]

So if I’m only going to be casting for one thing and very rarely at that I don’t really want to have more equipment laying around unused.
What are some lead melting containers you use on an open flame burner.

Cast iron dutch oven sitting on a turkey fryer burner for melting and alloying a batch.
After your lead is alloyed, you can keep the pot at temperature and pour bullets with a casting ladle that you keep in the pot to keep it hot.

[BIGOX]

When i started i used a Cast iron dutch oven sitting on a turkey fryer propane burner for processing or making alloys. Cast iron pot for small or special alloys. A cast iron muffin pan for making ingots. A long stainless steel spoon and ladle. All this i already owned and i still use. In fact I used earlier the morning and I'll do another session tonight. Now I have a lot more ingot mold trays.
Buy good gloves!

Why not cast other boolits? Lee moulds aren't expensive and after casting all you'll ever need for that particular rifle then sell or trade for money or a different mould.

[kris smith]

[BIGOX]

How much are you paying for lead?

[kris smith]

24.99 for a 5 lb ignore if hardball or 28.99 for a ingot of 1:20

[Cowboy T]

Oh, that's too much. Head over to the Cast Boolits forum. There are people selling reclaimed range lead for a lot less than $5/lb. A Lee mould will get you squared away very nicely for casting, and for not a lot of money. The idea about ladling the lead straight from the Dutch Oven or similar is a good one. You'll need to get your alloy to at least 550 degrees F if there's some tin in there. I do my casting at 600 to 700 deg F.

But it does beg a question. Doesn't someone make 450/577 bullets for sale commercially, since you're not going to be doing this very often?

[pacrat]

Since you objective seems to be a adhering to the KISS rule. [Keep It Simple Stupid]

Have you seen this instructive vid? https://ugetube.com/watch/the-mk-i-m...oYEAAshAk.html

An IMO even simpler but less traditional lube method would be using LEE TUMBLE LUBE.

With the low velocity, soft alloys, and liberal throat dims of the MH. Author explains why he sees no need for sizing, plating, or other various procedures many use. All of which increase cost, and difficulty of "roll'n yer own".

[TKM]

The best way would be to borrow somebodys Lee bottom pour. Somebody that lives in Lemon Grove would probably be easiest. I'll even throw in a bunch of lead.

[Duck Killer]

The tea kettle way is a great way of going. Just watch your temperature.

[kris smith]

[bohoki]

anything steel is fine i use a 6 inch cast iron skillet lead is heavy use the smallest one you can find

i just use a spoon to fill my molds

smoke your molds

have a wood rod to tap the sprue plate and fulcrum to knock out the bullets

[M1NM]

You can go cheaper but not easier. This with a dipper and you're all set. Doesn't take up a lot of room either.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1262210973?pid=476462

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010197418?pid=161177