Cast my 1st bullets today

[kyswede]

I cast my 1st boolits today, using my new Lee Production pot IV, a used Lee mold C312-185-1R I bought from smokemjoe, and some range lead ingots I bought online. I tried to keep it simple, using a single cavity mold, set the temp. control to 5, and had a blast. I did not want to quit. I cast 320 boolits, 224 good ones and 96 rejects, for a 30% reject rate. Not bad for the 1st time. Most of the rejects were from mold being too cold. Once I got the mold up to temp and got a rhythm going, I did pretty good. Here are some pics of my setup and my 1st boolits.
kyswedehttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_82894d817edab4a79.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=229)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_82894d817f1ceb874.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=230)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_82894d817f42c41f7.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=231)

[Az Rick]

Nice set up and Good Job. You're hooked now. I was in you shoes not too long ago. The guys on this site are great!, made my first casting session alot easier.

Best, Rick

[neilin]

Casting bullets is great fun! You will enjoy every session.

[RobS]

Good 1st time go at it..........................and now you are on your way.........................and with no way of stopping you it sounds like. :bigsmyl2:

[kyswede]

I have been accumulating my casting supplies and tools for the past year. I put everything on the cart I got at Sam's Club. I put a piece of 3/4" plywood on the top shelf to hold the pot, hot plate, and bullet and sprue containers. I would cast 50-60 bullets, then let the mold cool off while I added lead (and sprues) to the pot, put bullets in another pan, and re-wet towel for dropping bullets. I did not use my thermometer and did not flux. I will sort the bullets by weight tomorrow and check hardness.
I am definitely hooked.
kyswede

[bobthenailer]

Congraulations for enterning the world of bullet casting ! Not only will you save money in a sense , but it is a extension of reloading .
I started casting 40 + years ago in that time ive made well over 400,000 bullets . i usually make at least 10,000 bullets , sized & lubed a year in the month of febuary when theres nothing to do.
My record for 1 febuary about 10 years ago was 33,000 cast bullets

[dragonrider]

And the hook is set. :)

[Swede44mag]

I started with a propane stove out in the garage and graduated to a Lee dip pot then a Lee with a bottom pour.
I now and for many years use a RCBS pro melt to keep enough lead hot.
The problem I currently have is I am running out of lead and need to find a good/cheap source of lead.

I usually cast a 3 pound & a 1 pound coffee can full each session.
The sessions are getting further & further apart as I don't get to shoot as much as I would like.
It don't seem like I always have the right mold for the job, but that is probably because I keep buying different guns.

Looks like you have a good setup welcome to the addiction.

[1Shirt]

Excellent! Good start!
1Shirt:coffee:

[gray wolf]

Very good start-- be advised there is no end.
I like your set up BUT--it's way,way to neat, through some stuff around. ( kidding )

[kyswede]

I was mistaken about the mold I used, it was a Lee C309-160-R not the C312-185-1R. I have 2 single cavity molds and couldn't remember which one I used. I realized this when I weighed the bullets and they were all around 155 grains.I checked hardness today on several bullets using my Lee tester. Bhn was 12.5, not bad for range lead.
Gray wolf, the pics were taken before the pot was plugged in for the 1st time. Doesn't look like pics now. Missing from pics were my safety glasses and Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.
kyswede

[troyboy]

Good job. I am in the place you were a year ago.