Bullet Casting Equipment
04-13-2007 | 09:26 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, NC
Bullet Casting Equipment
Anyone know of a good place to find used casting equipment. I am looking to get into casting to see if I like it but don't want to start out by dumpingalot ofmoney into all the equipment and then find out it is to time consuming. Lyman has a kit but no dies. Is that the best way to go?
04-14-2007 | 05:12 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 0
From: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
RE: Bullet Casting Equipment
Lee.
Lee stuff costs about 1/2 to 1/4 the price of Lyman or RCBS casting equipment, the downside is that Lee equipment often times needs a bit of tweaking to run perfectly. By tweaking, I mean polishing, or lapping parts.
Lee production pot IV- A cheap ($49 vs $200+ for a competitors pot) 10 lb bottom pour pot that works really well. The downside is that they drip, but taking 5 minutes to lap the valve the valve seat cures this problem.
Lee 2-cavity pistol or 1 cavity rifle moulds- ~$15, these usually need to have their vent lines opened up and the cavities polished a bit to work well- about 1 hour worth of work. A six cavity pistol mould will really speed up production alot- I'm not sure how much they cost, all of mine are custom ordered 6-hole rifle moulds. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=654
Lee push through sizing die- ($11-12)these are optional, you can usually use most bullets as-cast, but the push through sizers work well for crimping on gas checks and truing up the driving bands on the bullets a bit. The sizing die mounts on your reloading press and is very easy to use. It also comes with a bottle of Lee Liquid Alox which is an excellent bullet lube.
If you are going to be using wheelweights for bullet metal, go to walmart, they sell a hot plate for about $8, and find a small used iron or steel pot <1 quart if possible. You would want to use this setup to clean your wheelweights instead of a bottom pour pot. This setup will also work if you want to simply cast using a ladle.
Go to this website for a wealth of casting information: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
Lee stuff costs about 1/2 to 1/4 the price of Lyman or RCBS casting equipment, the downside is that Lee equipment often times needs a bit of tweaking to run perfectly. By tweaking, I mean polishing, or lapping parts.
Lee production pot IV- A cheap ($49 vs $200+ for a competitors pot) 10 lb bottom pour pot that works really well. The downside is that they drip, but taking 5 minutes to lap the valve the valve seat cures this problem.
Lee 2-cavity pistol or 1 cavity rifle moulds- ~$15, these usually need to have their vent lines opened up and the cavities polished a bit to work well- about 1 hour worth of work. A six cavity pistol mould will really speed up production alot- I'm not sure how much they cost, all of mine are custom ordered 6-hole rifle moulds. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=654
Lee push through sizing die- ($11-12)these are optional, you can usually use most bullets as-cast, but the push through sizers work well for crimping on gas checks and truing up the driving bands on the bullets a bit. The sizing die mounts on your reloading press and is very easy to use. It also comes with a bottle of Lee Liquid Alox which is an excellent bullet lube.
If you are going to be using wheelweights for bullet metal, go to walmart, they sell a hot plate for about $8, and find a small used iron or steel pot <1 quart if possible. You would want to use this setup to clean your wheelweights instead of a bottom pour pot. This setup will also work if you want to simply cast using a ladle.
Go to this website for a wealth of casting information: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
04-14-2007 | 09:13 AM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,270
Likes: 0
From: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
RE: Bullet Casting Equipment
ORIGINAL: AFretired
Anyone know of a good place to find used casting equipment. I am looking to get into casting to see if I like it but don't want to start out by dumpingalot ofmoney into all the equipment and then find out it is to time consuming. Lyman has a kit but no dies. Is that the best way to go?
Anyone know of a good place to find used casting equipment. I am looking to get into casting to see if I like it but don't want to start out by dumpingalot ofmoney into all the equipment and then find out it is to time consuming. Lyman has a kit but no dies. Is that the best way to go?
04-15-2007 | 03:22 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Bullet Casting Equipment
Buy a mould and handles that fits your needs.... Then use an old castiron or aluminum skillet to melt the lead... Buy a cheapo ladle to get the lead to the mould, and your casting bullets right then...
Camp stove will power the skillet if you don't want to use the kitchen stove...
DM
Camp stove will power the skillet if you don't want to use the kitchen stove...
DM
