Which lead for casting round balls and Lee REAL bullets?
06-22-2018, 06:13 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 143
Which lead for casting round balls and Lee REAL bullets?
I'm considering casting round balls and REAL bullets in .50 and .54 calibers. Never done any casting. I've been reading and watching videos.
Is pure 99.9% lead what I would need to use? Will be shooting them in Lyman and Pedersoli rifles.
Been looking at Roto Metals site. https://www.rotometals.com/pure-soft...99-9-5-pounds/
Any suggestions and/or guidance on casting would be greatly appreciated. I also have Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Just got it.
Many thanks,
Paul
Is pure 99.9% lead what I would need to use? Will be shooting them in Lyman and Pedersoli rifles.
Been looking at Roto Metals site. https://www.rotometals.com/pure-soft...99-9-5-pounds/
Any suggestions and/or guidance on casting would be greatly appreciated. I also have Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Just got it.
Many thanks,
Paul
06-23-2018, 04:49 AM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,747
Personally I like my lead a little harder then pure lead. I add approximately 3 oz of wheel weights per lb of pure lead. You above link's lead is pretty costly. You may be able to find it cheaper if you do a search at your local Marketplace on Facebook.
Or if you're like me you have a long distance friend that occasionally sends me a box full of ingots.
Or if you're like me you have a long distance friend that occasionally sends me a box full of ingots.
06-23-2018, 04:52 AM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
Both would normally be cast from pure soft lead. Flux your lead when it is at pouring temperature, don't get the lead so hot it frosts. If you get into it on a regular bases a temperature controlled lead furnace or pot will be worth while.
06-23-2018, 09:13 AM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
11-16-2022, 04:12 AM
#5
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Texas
Posts: 2
What I do
Ok ladies and germs.
here's what I do. As a suggestion only of course.
this works for me..
I live in the city of Fort worth.
I get my lead from scrap yards, usually about a $1.00 a pound.
they are mainly sift lead from roofing vents.
I cut them up with Tin snips, and melt them, I purchased about a pea size piece of paraffin wax and it will do 1 of 2 things. Either flame up or smoke like crazy. Do NOT do this in your house. Unless you want a butt chewing from your other half, and no I'm not talking from personal experience, I'm not that crazy.
it will bring all the impurities to the top. Scoop them off . Bingo almost 100 pure lead.
a good temp is about 800° but if the lead is hot enough it will not stick to your ladle.
I cast them into 2 pound round molds, they stack better on the shelf.
here's what I do. As a suggestion only of course.
this works for me..
I live in the city of Fort worth.
I get my lead from scrap yards, usually about a $1.00 a pound.
they are mainly sift lead from roofing vents.
I cut them up with Tin snips, and melt them, I purchased about a pea size piece of paraffin wax and it will do 1 of 2 things. Either flame up or smoke like crazy. Do NOT do this in your house. Unless you want a butt chewing from your other half, and no I'm not talking from personal experience, I'm not that crazy.
it will bring all the impurities to the top. Scoop them off . Bingo almost 100 pure lead.
a good temp is about 800° but if the lead is hot enough it will not stick to your ladle.
I cast them into 2 pound round molds, they stack better on the shelf.
