Casting bullets
 

I am thinking of getting into bullet casting. Is the lee pot an ok pot? I really don't want to invest more than 150 dollars into it right now. I figured with molds, pot, sizer, lube, 150 is about right.

I usually hate lee, but thier molds look affordable too.

RE: Casting bullets
 

I have used a Lee pot for at least 20 years for my bullet casting. Did me okay. You will need to play with the temperature of the lead to see what works best for you plus you should warm up the mold before casting. I did this by putting a corner of the mold into the lead for a few minutes. You get better results if you smoke the interior of the mould by sooting up the cavities in a candle flame.

Sure made shooting a handgun inexpensive.

Ben

RE: Casting bullets
 

I like the lyman molds. Looking for 45-70 405gr and 44mag 240gr semiwad cutters. Are the lee molds good guality?

RE: Casting bullets
 

There are only two Lee products on my loading bench. The Lee primer, and a Lee melting pot. The quality on the Lee melting pot is acceptable, but the small Lyman pot is also a great pot. And the small pot is all that is needed to get started with. Actually the small pot is great for advanced casting as well(the Lee is also acceptable).

As far as molds are concerned I would(I do) avoid Lee molds. I consider Lyman to be the lower end of molds. I also really like the RCBS molds. The RCBS molds work very well. Tom.

RE: Casting bullets
 

BC, the Lee Production (10 pounder) pot is OK. I bought mine in 1970 when I was stationed at Fort B. Harrison, IN., and after a number of years, the bottom-pour spout setup stopped working right. I screwed a small wood screw intothe spout to plug it up, removed the spout plug and handle setup, and have used it with a Lyman dipper ever since!

It melts the lead pretty fast (mine's a 110-volt)and gets hot enough to cast good bullets even with pure lead.

Obviously, they are plenty durable, as mine has been dragged from Indiana to Texas, to NY, to PA, and now back to NY, has been used to cast literally thousands of bullets, and it still works......

This is one Lee product that I can recommend w/o reservation.........

IF I ever need a new pot, it will be another Lee. But the 20 pounder next time.

(Before I got the Lee, I had a Lyman. One day the spout just broke off, and dumped moplten lead all over my carpet. Maybe I should not have been making bullets in my bedroom???)

RE: Casting bullets
 

Holy cow, that sounds like a greek tragedy. About as bad as when I seen a turkey frier dump over.

You know I forgot about you. Your pretty close. Maybe if I pull the trigger, I can stop buy and you give me a tip or two.

RE: Casting bullets
 

Guys is casting bullets a safe thing especially with toddlers in the house?

I know your heating up lead and eventually handling it. But not sure it leeches into your skin just from handling.

RE: Casting bullets
 

Casting should be done in an open, airy room, or better yet, outside. (I now try to do all my casting in the spring & fall, when the weather is cool, but nice. Then I set up my casting operation on the back patio.....

Leadwill not harm anyone unless they ingest (eat) lead fragments or powder that can result from handling the lead objects. It will NOT seep into your system thruyour skin or lungs, unless you directly inhale the fumes off of the lead pot while the lead is molten, such as when fluxing, etc. Don't let kids handle lead items.

You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish with cast bullets.

I recommend getting Veral Smith's handbook, Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets. (LBT-Lead Bullet Technologies) Good Luck & have fun!

RE: Casting bullets
 

Thanks eld. I want to get into it. Kinda surprised at most prices right now.

RE: Casting bullets
 

Lots of molds available on e-bay if you can stomach their anti-gun policies.................................Harold