1st casting session

[sbr6ppc]

I took the plunge and decided to get into casting. Tuesday, the brown truck made a stop and dropped off 2 boxes. I got a Lee Production IV-20 pot, 3 Lee SWC TL moulds for 44, 41 and 357, Lee sizer dies for .358, .410 and .430. I also got a Lyman Ladle, 2 ingot moulds and a thermometer.
Well this afternoon, I did my first cast session. I had some commercial .44 SWC cast bullets that just wouldn't shoot well so I decided to use these to melt down for my first try. I guess it was a success. I didn't burn the shop shelter down, I didn't get burned (welding gloves are nice) and I did get some usable bullets. Here are some pics, bullets and some of my goofs. I used the bottom pour spout. I checked the bullets and they are .412 size and they dropped 233 grains +/- 0.3 grains. These were from Lee's .410 215 gr SWC TL 2-cavity mould. I didn't have as many rejects as I expected. Cann't wait until this weekend to see how they shoot in my Blackhawk.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo135/sbr6ppc/content___media_external_images_media_44.jpg

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo135/sbr6ppc/content___media_external_images_media_45.jpg

[Old Caster]

Really isn't anything that is a reject just a do over. There is a long learning curve where your bullets start out pretty good but get better and better. -- Bill --

[runfiverun]

that 2/6/92 alloy does cast nice.
add some ww's. :lol:
now that youv'e gotten started things will progress smoother with each trip to the pot.
wish i could get some shooting in this weekend but we are expecting over a foot of snow.

[1Shirt]

Good start!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Cherokee]

The first step in along journey, it's fun.

[bigjason6]

Just be careful, you might get addicted!

[canyon-ghost]

Not bad. I shoot Blackhawks too. Have a 41 mag and a 44 Special.

Good Luck,
Ron

[gon2shoot]

Starting is the most important part....................now you're hooked. lol

[sqlbullet]

Another stolen soul. Even as I type this my wife is asking from the other room when she will cease to be the boolit widow.

[Bullet Caster]

Nice job, nice boolits. That's the way I got started. Got me a hunk of old plumbers lead, my coleman stove and a pot I had purchased off of fleabay and went at it. I had previous experience when I helped my dad build his house back in the summer of '69. Back then he had to use cast iron pipe as the county regs hadn't approved PVC and other black pipe for sewers. We had to caulk in the okum and seal with poured lead, then caulked with a caulking knife. Boy that was fun. But that exposure made me want to try casting boolits and now I'm hooked, prob. for the rest of my life. Thanks, BC

[Boolseye]

Well done! All on the day you got the stuff, no less.
Keep us posted on how they shoot.

[contender1]

I concur, once hooked, it's almost as addictive as actual shooting.