Hard Bullets

[lah]

Made a few today from quenched 92-6-2.

Cold water


The mould


Cold bullets

[kings6]

Boy that water "bath" ought to set those bullets right away!

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Never made my own bullets. Can you tell me more about this process and the benefits? You have my interest captured.

[lah]

I cast my first in 1973 & did so that I might bulk shoot. Casting is not voodoo but a simple, straight forward process. You melt lead alloy & pour into a mould. The bullet must then be sized & lubricated. From here it can be as simple or complicated as you wish.

As far as making something which looks like a bullet the main thing is correct heat.

Benefits? Cheap bullets. The bullet you wish. And the size you wish.

I find one of the simplest ways to begin is with round balls for you M/L. Also a round nose bullet with few sharp edges is another simple cast.

Another thing is how many bullets you wish to make. If you are shooting 2 or 3 times a week, 40 to 50 weeks per year your needs will be different than someone shooting a box or two per month.

Which caliber are you wishing to begin with? Mine was the 38/357 & the Lyman 358429.

[lah]

Jan 23, 2017 22:56:19 GMT -5 kings6 said:

Boy that water "bath" ought to set those bullets right away!

It do.

[dhd]

Jan 30, 2017 13:36:36 GMT -5 lah said:

Jan 23, 2017 22:56:19 GMT -5 kings6 said:

Boy that water "bath" ought to set those bullets right away!

It do.

I've never water quenched as I don't need them to hard, but I really appreciate your proper use of the  southern language. I was under the impression that only us southern South Carolinians (possibly a few in Georgia also) spoke it. Heck, finding other true speaker's makes me happy enough to fire up the old lead pot.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Where do you source the lead? What's a good leaf melting pot run? Not sure if I'm gonna do this or not, but I'll admit it probably is easier to source lead and make my own then wait for Cast Performance bullets to come back in stock.

[lah]

Jan 31, 2017 16:44:05 GMT -5 Quick Draw McGraw said:

Where do you source the lead? What's a good leaf melting pot run? Not sure if I'm gonna do this or not, but I'll admit it probably is easier to source lead and make my own then wait for Cast Performance bullets to come back in stock.

This came from maycoindustries.com/. That lot had enough alloy for 28,000 250 grain bullets but I've found for most my shooting I simply purchase cast ingots from the guys over on castboolits.

[dhd]

Jan 31, 2017 16:44:05 GMT -5 Quick Draw McGraw said:

Where do you source the lead? What's a good leaf melting pot run? Not sure if I'm gonna do this or not, but I'll admit it probably is easier to source lead and make my own then wait for Cast Performance bullets to come back in stock.

I suspect many have suggested this to you already, but casting your own really makes shooting certain guns, especially revolvers, easier. I also suspect you already are well aware of the many benefits of "making" your own: matching bullet size to throats/chamber, hardness/alloy, lube/powder coat, and last I'll mention here but not least is bullet shape/design. I have nothing against commercial cast, but I love being able to choose exactly what I want.

You mentioned Cast Performance bullets, so I bet you buy some sort of LFN/WFN bullets. Well then, go to Accurate Molds and enjoy the many molds of that type available.

I started casting many years ago because I could not buy the type of bullets needed (heavy BPCTR bullets of certain alloys and lubes) and have never regretted it. I find casting handgun bullets different than my big bullets, but it sure is nice having those multiple cavity molds dropping 2-4 bullets each time the sprue cools. There's that and no waiting on the mailman or Santa Claus in a brown truck to bring me bullets.

Jump on in, the molten lead is fine......