Pot or bottom pour?
 

Looking at investing in either a pot or a bottom pour lead melter.

The pot i am looking at holds 4lbs of lead which is more than enough for the casting I do.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...4/1/LEE-POT-PM

Any of you guys using this kind of pot? Getting tired of using my coleman stove. Uses that expensive gold gas and heats me up just as much as it heats the lead :lol:

I use a plumber's pot and home made natural gas jet burner and dipper. I like it. Don't think I would care for a bottom pour.

Md, I started out with the methods you have used, I went to a 4 pound Lyman electric bottom pour and the temperature control made a noticeable improvement in the consistency of the size of the bullets and balls I poured, it also made things a bit faster.

I am just starting at casting. I went with the ladle instead of the bottom pour. That 4 lb pot seems kind of small to me md but I am casting heavy conicals and a lb of lead only gives me about 15 bullets. 440 grains X 15 = 6600grains. 1 lb. is 7000 grains.

I have no idea the size of my pot. Its not a bottom pour though. Its made by Lyman. You fill it with lead, heat until the right temp, then with a ladle cast until your hearts content. You don't want to get too large a pot because it takes more juice to keep the lead at the right temperature. I did help a person cast with a bottom pour pot. What a PITA that was. The lead kept cooling on him. Although it did work. I personally think I cast faster with a simple pot and ladle. But I am probably wrong.

I purchased a Turkey Cooker Kit from Menards (like a Lowe's Store). It was on clearance for $19.99. Inside was a stand the pot sits on, a bunsen burner, a large pot for the turkey of course, a thermometer, and spices. So I brought that home and wired a grate off an old gas stove onto the stand. The burner goes under that. The pot sits on the stove grate, and it works perfect. Plus I cook an occasional turkey in the pot.

Sounds like i will go with the pot then. Thanks guys!

I have use a bottom pour for years but now either would work I use to fill a 6 cavity gang mound. Now I just cast for Muzzys and 44 mag actually use one bullet for both.. A bottom pore 10 lb from Lee works very well my is over 20 years old and still going

I use a pot and my coleman camp stove and ladle. I have no problems casting.

ordered the 4lb lee pot earlier today. Fedex just dropped off my lyman maxiball mold! WOW is that sucker heavy.

cayugad
Either he did not have temperature control or did not use it right. Mine has the temperature set and it stays consistent once it heats to that temperature which is a big advantage in size control.