1)do you really need a electric melter to regulate the temperature of the lead or can you just used a cast iron pot over a fire? i know that getting the lead hot enough to melt is easy enough but how much does temp affect the casting?

2)what concoction of metal do you cast with? Lyman #2, linotype, or some homebrew, etc... i dont need anything too hard just something to mix so i can use the 250-300 pounds of lead i got free from my brother(he works construction and remodelling and he pulled it up from bellow the tile in a fraternity shower). recently i have been melting the lead down and skimming the crap off the top and casting it in steel cans.these are going to be basic plinking rounds at first, so cheaper is better, as i am going to get into casting soon, latter i might cast hunting rounds and the like.

First, get a book on bullet casting. As far as melting lead; melting lead without a good temp control will make it hard to control the temp. But melting down this rough lead into ingots before putting it in a good furnace may be a good move. You will probably have to add Antimony and tin to get a good hard, usable bullet. The lead you are melting will probably scratch with your fingernail, meaning it is soft. A little harder lead will keep from fouling you barrel(s). Use beeswax or a commercial product to flux the lead and to remove slag. As far as correct temp, bullets will wrinkle if too cold, and will frost if too hot. This is where a furnace is a big help. One word of warning; have plenty of ventilation when you melt lead. Preferably outside. (Not good for health).

I use a plumbers pot on a hot plate, with just a little practice you will know how to regulate the temp for best results, I have used the pot on the kitchen stove but I did catch "heck" for doing it, as for the metal if you have pure lead you will have to add something to harden it. The recipe for no.2 alloy is: 5lbs pure lead, 4 lbs of linotype and 1 lb of 50/50 solder. The linotype is getting hard to find, if you have an old printshop in your area you can check and see if they have any.

What about wheel weights?

How about a Coleman stove?

yep, I've used a coleman camp stove, pull the grid up and set the pot right on the burner, another thing is with my set up I never mentioned is that I have a sheet metal cylinder around the pot, this gets the heat right to the metal and it melts a lot faster,
the way I understand it is that wheel weight are made with different alloys depending on who makes them, so you got to make your own judgement. Lyman gives a recipe of 9 lbs of wheel weight and 1lb of 50/50 solder for no 2 alloy.

I use wheel weights, linotype, 20to1. The best bullets I have made were from wheel weights and pure lead. 15# of wheel weight to 1# of pure lead.
After the bullets are cool I put them in a cake pan standing on the base of the bullet.
I put in an oven at 275degrees for a couple of hours and then turn the oven off and let cool over night, then size and lube.
Don't use the oven in the kitchen unless your wife is more understanding than mind and you don't mind a little lead poisoning.
I have an old oven that I picked up at a surplus place. Works on 110 and goes to 1200 degrees. A man that is well known to lead bullet casting told me this and I really like the results.
If you want the bullets a little harder put in a # of silver bearing solder instead of the pure lead.
Works for me, good luck.