How many bullet casters out there?

[kostner]

Just interest in hearing from Calguns casters and what type molds and gear they use. I cast for 380, 38, 9mm, 45acp, 303 , 3006. Just ordered a Lee mold for 7.62x39 for my SKS to be able to shoot it at Angeles they don't allow chicom steel bullets and for good reason.

[707electrician]

Interested as well. I would like to start casting 9mm

[gunboat]

I am starting up again -- Digging stuff out of the corners and boxes. I took a twenty year vacation from casting -
Mostly all lyman moulds, 22 to 50/70 --
I do have a couple others, a Cramer three cavity 45 cal (200g truncated cone) and H&G 99 (190gr 30 cal.).
Going to stay pretty much with 22 and 25 for now --
Flagship of the fleet is a lyman 4 cavity 225415 45g, flat nose, gas check.
Suitable for my hornet, bee, and 222 --
Don't forget a lube/sizer, Star is possbly the best but RCBS/lyman/Saeco are good -- I understand the lee push through works well also. It is certainly a lot more affordable than a Star and better than the old "cake cutter" method with lyman hand dies.
my ha-penny

[bumpo628]

Lee molds and gear are a good way to get started.
You can get a two cavity mold with handles for about $20. The melters are only about $50. Sizers are about $15. So, for under $100 you can start casting. You can always upgrade if needed where you find it necessary.

I went straight for the six cavity molds, but you have to get the handles separately. Total for that is about $50. If you buy the two, but later want more volume you can always sell it and step up to the six.

[LGB Loader]

Lee gear (Furnace & various molds), 2 Hoch 4 cavity molds, Rowell ladles, RCBS molds, and Ingot molds and tons of free wheel weight and linotype.

[Abenaki]

I have been casting balls and boolets for over 30 years.
You don't need a lot of money to get started.
Lee molds do work fine......I have about 15 of them.

I cast for the following
38sp
357 mag
41 mag
44 sp
44 mag
45 acp
45 lc
30-30
7.62x54r
30-06
45-70

99% of the time I only shoot cast in a handgun.

I am just getting into paper patching rifle boolets.

and muzzleloaders, 36, 45, 50, 54, 58 and 62 cal.

Give it a try....you might like it.

Take care
Abenaki

[TKM]

Spent about four hours today with my Lee 4-20.

Melted some (50 lbs) scrap lead down into ingots. Finished up by casting about 1000 124 gr. TCs. from my new Lee 6 cavity molds.

Would have gone longer but the sun was kicking my butt.

[bohoki]

i'm probably the cheapest caster around but i only do 9mm and 45acp

lee molds

i would not cast for rifles as i have enough trouble scraping my horrible lead from 5 inches of bore

i really should make a vid how i do it

[sequoia_nomad]

I've tinkered with casting, but the problem for me is finding quality lead. My main source is outdoor range lead, which will work but is terribly inconsistent and usually rather soft, given the majority of shooters use jacketed bullets. I'd like to mix the range lead with wheel weights to even out the alloy, but we all know how Kalifornia feels about lead of any sort.

[bumpo628]

You can find all the lead you need over on the swapping & selling page or the vendor sales page at www.castboolits.gunloads.com. It generally goes for $1 per lb.
You'll also find more information than you want to know about casting.

[yoitsbruce]

do they shoot well in glocks and other autos, revolvers eat them up? i get tried of shops that run out of the jacketed bullets and casting my own should be a natural progression in reloading correct

[sequoia_nomad]

You can find all the lead you need over on the swapping & selling page or the vendor sales page at www.castboolits.gunloads.com. It generally goes for $1 per lb.
You'll also find more information than you want to know about casting.

Yeah I'm a member there also, it's a great site.

[longhairchris]

I cast with a friend, we like Lee molds & sizers and scoop from a Lyman pot. We use 9mm and .38 molds interchangably, just size the boolits to .356 for 9mm or .380 loads and .358 for 38/357 loads. Pan lube (various wax mixes) minimizes leading. I like the 2-cavity molds, they drop more consistent for me and the lighter weight is easier handling for long casting sessions.

Also do 12 ga slugs (unusually accurate) and .50 muzzleloader. Would like to get a mold for 8mm Mauser in the near future.

It saves a lot of money when shooting in volume, and casting is fun on its own. Just takes a little more time.

[bumpo628]

Also do 12 ga slugs (unusually accurate) and .50 muzzleloader. Would like to get a mold for 8mm Mauser in the near future.

What do you use for load data? Do you use 7/8-oz or 1-oz shot data or is it different. I've got the mold already, but I haven't loaded anything up yet. I use AA hulls, btw.

[bohoki]

if i had to pay for lead i wouldn't cast

white gas for my coleman stove is getting steep and i dont want to run our alcohol contaminated gasoline in it