How much do you cast/reload in a single session?

[am44mag]

I was reading through the "what I did in the reloading room today" thread and it got me wondering, how much do you cast/reload in a single session? I've got a bit of a chaotic way of doing things where I load enough rounds to shoot for a day, and it's usually to test new loads. I'm trying to standardize that though so I can just crank out 1000 rounds at a time and have them always be the same. I usually cast 100-500 boolets at a time, and it's usually at least a couple different designs. What do you guys do?

[NC_JEFF]

Reloading - I do a hundred of a load I want to try
50 if I'm not sure about it up front
Atleast 3-500 of a trusted load that I have faith in
Casting - I'm not a great caster but I try and do several hundred or more. The amount of clean alloy I have on hand dictates too.
Jeff

[daloper]

I cast a small batch at a time. Maybe a few hundred depending on how full I fill the pot. After I get my square plastic nut jar full I put away the casting stuff and get set up to PC. I will PC 100 or so at a time until I get them all coated. When I load them I use a Lee turrent press and I will do a 100 or so at a sitting until I have them done. After that I move to the next mold and caliber. Never in a big hurry and I like the quiet time at the bench.

[sureYnot]

When casting, I usually just have at it until the spousal unit starts making weird noises, such as, "why don't you wanna spend time with us?", Or "I'm going to kill you, if you don't put that down and come to bed".

When loading tried and faithful rounds, I like lots of 300, though any multiple of 15 will jive with my system of checks and rhythm.

Test loads get ten each. With a new gun, I like to find the high and low end of safety pretty quick so I can load up a good pile of various recipes that are known to be safe, while looking for that accurate load. If I could still shoot off my porch, it would just be lots of ten for this.

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[Shopdog]

Cast 100-500.... don't shoot handguns much anymore( safe's full of them though).Mainly bolt action CB's. Rarely load JB's.Main focus is varmint hunting so usually load just a box of 20 at a time.That lasts about a week with a cpl shots st game the rest get blasted.When setting up a new rig or new load development that number jumps to about 3 bxs a week.Just not a high volume shooter,preferring chasing things that help in the field,3 shot cloverleafed from cold bores.

[mozeppa]

i've been known to cast for 16 hours at a time.

re-load not more than 4 hours at a time.

[wddodge]

With casting it's not so much how many as how much lead do I melt. Usually 20-25 lbs at a time. Much more than that and my butt gets tired of sitting and the hands need a break too.

I load most of my handgun ammo on a Hornaday LnL progressive.. I load 100, fill the primer tube and take a break. The break might be half an hour or it might be till the next day.

Denny

[Hossfly]

I usually cast on the weekend, from 300-500, start PCing after that, then reload on Dillon every day from 100 to 500 till I run out of something. That reminds me, need more sp primers.

[Tom W.]

Pistol rounds are usually 100 rounds, Rifle rounds are less, just because I don't shoot that many when the range is open. I make mouse fart loads for the 30/30 just to see how they'll shoot. The 30-06 A.I. has enough sighted in loads should I go hunting again, and I still have an abundance of "trial" loads for it that shoot better than I expected....

[bedbugbilly]

Casting - depends on how my back holds out and how many cavity mold I'm using. I usually try to get at least 300 cast up at a session - sometimes more, sometimes less.

Reloading - for most, usually around 100 rounds. Batch loading for rifle, usually mourned 40 to 60 (30-30 or 8mm Mauser)

[zymguy]

whats a batch? I throw powder charges at a max of 50 (one tray full) but I may make 2000 of the same load over the weekend .

[reddog81]

For casting I usually just drain the 20 lbs Lee pot until the lead starts to dribble out rather than a steam. For loading it could be anything from 20 .30-06 rounds or 200 45 ACP rounds. Or whenever the spousal unit start making funny noises like sureYnot mentioned.

[RedHawk357Mag]

Casting maybe 500 or so of future projectiles. Reloading, pistol no more than 300, rifle maybe 20 at a time. Single stage guy.

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[DerekP Houston]

depends on the caliber for reloading, I typically just reload to feed my stockpile and replace what I've used. I prefer to do casting in bulk, I'll dedicate a few hours to it and try to get at least 1k-2k of keepers. If its a new mold or design I'll just do a few pours to try out.

[GhostHawk]

In honesty, I would say 3 out of 4 casting sessions I will cast over 100, but most often under 150.
The 4th session would probably be 50-60ish.

Same for reloading.

I do tend to reload in 100 round batch's. I may not get them all completed in a single session. But once I start on something I like to fill a 100 round box. Exceptions of course.

I recently found 32 .32sw long brass fired in my range bag. So I processed those, got enough new brass to make it an even 50. Cast 60 some Lee .314 90 gr tl TC bullets. Next day loaded them. Filled a new 50 round mtm type box which was small enough to fit in my Ruger Single Six case.

I don't shoot as often as I used to, or that much when I am there. 3 to 4 cylinders out of a revolver. Couple of mags out of a semi auto. If all is working as it should I'm happy with that.

Rifle probably less than that if all goes well. And if it does not, I'm just as likely to give up and try another day.

[Loudy13]

I usually cast between 500 and 1000 at a time. 300 is my max for reloading but now that I finally bought some more primer tubes that may change to more!

[Walks]

I cast from 3-4 molds at a time, so I empty a 20lb pot in 15-20 minutes. And I'm only counting the # of bullets after culling.
When loading ammo on the L-N-L, I usually load 4-500 rounds of a well established load. When loading on the single stage, I put together either 2-3 boxes of test pistol ammo, or 1-5 20rds boxes of rifle ammo.

[Tom W.]

I do have four 50 cal ammo cans in the shed that I either cannot pick up anymore or can barely pick up. One is full of cleaned and sized .45 acp brass, one is full of cleaned and sized 9 mm brass, one full of 230 gr Lee TC boolits for a .45 and the other is half full of Lee 9mm tc boolits. I no longer have any .45 cal firearms, so they might head for the pot if I feel froggy. Just a handful at a time, I can't move them since my surgery and this darn powerport that they left in my chest.

[Texas by God]

200 or so handgun loads at the most. Rifle 100 at the most. I spread it out over days sometimes. RockChucker, press priming, Redding powder measure, RCBS scales and Lee Scoops....

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[15meter]

Most of the time I'll cast 200-300 at a time, new/borrowed mold may be just enough to get the mold up to temp to get a dozen good boolits I can measure/weigh.

Reloading may be as low as a cylinder/ clip full to check fit/function of a new load to an ammo can full of a work horse load.

[Echo]

100-150, until the towel gets full, maybe 30 minutes, go in (cast on patio) and have some iced tea & computer, back out picking up those cast boolits, and cast some more, until the towel gets full, repeat...
I set mold on top of furnace to pre-heat, and generally get good boolits first try...225317
I cast about 50 of these this AM for my son to check out for his .308 - WW+2%Sn. Will cast a couple more different boolits and let him decide which he likes best...

[44Blam]

I normally cast a pot or two.
Last session, I cast about 200 .311 178 grainers and then about 300 .430 240 grainers - but it was close to 50/50 PB/GC. That was about 15 lbs of metal total. The .311's were a hard cast with a 3:2 ww to lino and the 430's were 5:1.

When I reload, it seems like I tend to spend about 3 hours and get about 100-150 cartridges loaded. But I did a quickie to ensure I had some rifle rounds for the competition this week and loaded an extra 17 in about 30 minutes. But all my case prep was done including primer seating.

My next casting is gonna be 400 grain .460s - you don't get that many in a lb of lead... I believe it is 17 or 18... But they're a hollow point NOE mould that shoots great in my Marlin and will put a stopping on most things that walk the earth.

[rintinglen]

I cast about an hour to an hour and a half, 300-600 boolits 6-12 pounds. I used to put in 8-10 hour days casting, stopping only to refill the pot and hit the can or get a drink. I can't handle that any more.

[cwlongshot]

I selected CAST 500-1000 and RELOAD 100-500. Well, mostly cause that mostly what I do. :drinks:

With loading, I will reload 5-10 to test a load or suggested load from someone. For a rifle, say hunting loads, 20-40pcs would be normal. But my Comp pistol/AR I'll do 500+ at a rip.

As for casting, I see I am about the same as everyone else. I cast as long as time allows each time, unless something specific is needed. Like last night. I cast 5-6# for a friend cause I figured that would provide 1-200 pcs for him. He wanted a softer bullet than I normally cast for his specific purposes. More often than not, I'll cast a couple 20# pots and call it quits. For me more often than not its quitting cause its dark out & bugs take over after dark! (I only cast outside.)

CW

[lightman]

Casting---I try to cast for 1/2 of a day. This will get me 1000 or 1200.

Loading-----I load my match and hunting ammo in lots of 100. (Think MTM plastic box)I'll load 223's in lots of 1000. Pistol ammo, once I have a load I like I'll load all of what I call my working stock. This varies some but is about 3500-4000 45's, about the same number of 40's,357'3,38's, 9mm's and 2500 or so 44 magnums. I keep these together by caliber and shoot them until they are gone then start over. Being retired now, a loading session will see about 500 at a time or until I get tired. Usually a few batches of 500 a day but sometimes a few batches every few days.

[Rug480]

I only reload for my 480 Ruger and for now only have a two cavity 435gr mold so the pot empties fast.

Cast about 50-100, Reload 50 at a time.

Going to get a 335gr mold to save on lead and plink with.

[DerekP Houston]

100-150, until the towel gets full, maybe 30 minutes, go in (cast on patio) and have some iced tea & computer, back out picking up those cast boolits, and cast some more, until the towel gets full, repeat....

LOL that's my same technique. With a PID and hotplate, seems like they are ready to cast just about anytime, when the pot gets low I dump all the sprues and go inside til i see its back up to temp.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Casting, depends on what bullet and when I get tired.
Reloading, depends on how many empty cases I have on hand.
CF

[avogunner]

I cast standing up so usually I'm done at the end of the pot (20lb's).

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[toallmy]

I can't really pick just one , it has a lot to do with how it's going but generally on a good day ill cast a thousand or more 9s , 38s or 45acps but rifle casting 2-300 Will be fine . Loading is pretty much the same with cast loads . But some days I relies I should go do something else before it gets on my nerves[smilie=1: . But I generally only do it when I feel like doing it .

[ThomR]

I normally cast until I can't see the bottom of a five gallon bucket or there is a large pile to one side. Kind of depends on the bullet. For 95 grain 380 bullets I don't cast a lot. I probably won't cast any more of them for several months as they are for my wife's pistol and she doesn't shoot as much as me. For 124 grain 9mm I will cast up quite a bit, powder coat them, then load as many as possible for a few days.

[trapper9260]

Should have how many pounds you reload. For me a 10lbs Lee bottom pour pot at a time and that is it for me and all I can handle at a time. As for reloading depends on what I need at the time.

[fredj338]

I cast for an hour, 90m max, so depending on what molds I am running, 600-900 at a pop. I rarely reload for more than 30m, unless I am working up ladder tests for precision rifle using the ss press. I load pistol on a 650, so just 30m yields me more than 300rds.

[marek313]

My real answer is "it all depends". Depends on how I feel and how my back feels. It depends on how my boolits are casting, how much time I have. It just all depends. For the most part I do at least 20lb runs and if I have time and feel good I'll keep going for few hours. Doesnt make much sense to break out all casting gear for 100 rounds. Just did over 1K of 9mm. Last batch of 230gr RN 45s was going so well I went through 50lbs of lead. This stuff doesnt go bad. I did a lot of casting in the winter so I dont have to do it now in the summer.

[marlin39a]

I use a Lyman 61, 10 lb pot. I usually run 2 pots for my session. 100 - 500 sounds right.

[Beau Cassidy]

Casting depends- bottom pour high volume bullets like 9mm or
45 or ladel casting rifle bullets. I try to cast a minimum of 3 hrs at a time
Preferably 5. Once I get the pot or mold up to temp I really like to roll. My bottleneck is sizing.

Casting varies. Before ditching the 550 and 1050 it may be several thousand at a time. Now- not so much. It may take me a few weeks to do a big run of ammo single stage once I set up for it. There is an Evolution or possibly Revolution in my near future!

[Grmps]

It used to depend on time, now my body dictates more of how long I cast. I like to do at least 1 pot per session though more frequently now I need to take a break(s) during the session:(:groner:

[robg]

Cast for about an hour so depending on molds 150-400 as that's enough for my wrists .as I tend to size and prep all my brass so when I want to load them up it doesn't take long to load up a 100or 2 with my pet loads.takes a lot longer if I'm load developing.

[Shiloh]

I load what I think I'm going to use. I single load rifle ammo. I load back up what I shoot up. That way I always have ammo ready to go.

Shiloh

[FISH4BUGS]

Since I shoot a lot of full auto, I can cast in lots of 1-2000 at a pop, and reload everything I cast.
I think the biggest batch I have done is cast 3000 9mm from a 6 cavity H&G #331, sized and lubed on a Star, and loaded on a Dillon 550.
Hey....winters are long and hard here in NH....what's a poor boy to do?

[wolf3006]

Arthritis will not let me cast a lot at a time. I cast for about thirty minutes wait a few hours cast some more get a few hundred a day.

[GregLaROCHE]

Casting I’ve often done over a thousand, but not much more. Sometimes less. It’s hard to stop when you get to the point of throwing really good ones. It’s either my wrist getting too tired or in the winter, my feet getting too cold. It depends too if I’m casting 140 grs or 500 grains.

Reloading I déprime and clean etc. 100 to 200 at a time, but only reload 20 to 40 at a time because I am still working up cast boolit loads. I do five or ten different combinations of each and measure each charge to a tenth of a grain.

[LabGuy]

I cast by the pot full, what ever I get from 20 lbs. I catch the hot sprue in my gloved hand and put it in the pot, until empty. As for reloading, test batches could be from 5-50. For production 200. I'm a single stage press guy and I have 5 loading blocks.

[Chad5005]

as far as casting im never out of projectiles for anything we shoot so its just a matter of what mold I grab to cast for stock,loading numbers are according to plinking,hunting or defense rounds for hand guns and in rifles its whatever is need for hunting and target practice and is always the same load for each gun

[KCcactus]

Casting takes longer to set up, so I do as many as I can when I get a chance to do it. I usually go for 1,000 - 2,000 at a time. Reloading sessions are usually under a hour, 2 or 3 boxes at a time.

[Harter66]

My casting sessions vary widely . It's pretty easy to get into a groove with 4,5,6 cavity moulds with 60-150 gr bullets and pour 30+lbs and end up with a lot of bullets . On the other side of the road when the 45s come out with 1,2,3&6 cavity moulds running 265 in the 6 cavity and the others running 400-535 it's a pretty short trip to the bottom of the pot and the sprue heater pot doesn't even get close to keeping up even with a 10# lead going in . A long session with the singles is only about 70-80 keepers , I try to do 100 pours per mould/session . That , if things are flowing well , can be as high as 200 or as low as 50-60 . The 535s@3 , 250s and 265s at 5-6 are sucking up 4 pours per pound so I only get 40-50 pours per pot . Those 225-55s and the 37s a guy could pour for 2hr out of 20# , the 55s@62 gr including the sprue barely use up 1 405/45 worth of lead . And the 37s have more sprue than bullets .

As to loading it's the same thing . I'll sit down one weekend and trim/anneal or size or whatever sometimes 4-500 at a go . If I have a load that I'm scaling every load for say hunting loads 40-50 is the rule with occasional runs of 80-100 if I'm planning on some sort of a friendly contest . Pistols or loads where I'm set up in a rigid tray or 2 where I can charge 25-50 at a time and then seat and box or just box the trays like 9mm 40 or 45 ACP 2-300 is a breeze . I will admit 1000 prep or 500 on a single makes a marathon weekend .

[dverna]

Cast is high volume as I do not hunt with cast and they are all pistol caliber bullets used for plinking and practice.

Reloading can vary from 40 hunting rounds to over 2000 shotgun shells at a time. My max was 4000 12 ga in one session. Pistol calibers are 200-2000 at a time.

[sharps4590]

20+years ago I was like a lot of you guys, several hundred bullets at a time and however much empty brass I had was my "session". These days I might cast 75 bullets and haven't loaded more than 40 at a sitting in a long time. However, I shoot a lot of German, Austrian and other obscure cartridges so I usually have to reform and turn the cases, consequently if I have 100 of one kind of case that is a bunch!! Mostly I have batches of 50 per rifle. The two exceptions are my Schuetzen rifle and my Bartles stalking rifle. I have a couple hundred for each of them but they were exceedingly easy to form from 30 WCF brass. All the others required jumping through a lot more hoops.

[Texas by God]

It's too hot to cast right now where I live. I usually cast my year's supply of bullets on the one or two windy cold wet days we get in a normal winter.

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[dwtim]

I do two sessions: one late in the Fall and in the Spring. I used to do 100-200 for each caliber in one week. But now I'm gearing up to do 1,500 total for each session--as many I can handle in a weekend. This seems to be a better way to do it. Winter stuff is mostly .38 Special, 9mm and 45 Colt. I might shoot indoors, and these are allowed. The Spring will be the fire-breathers or rifle rounds. I also use to do a big mix of styles, but now I'm just doing one for the caliber....and a lot of 'em. This year's will be round nose.

Also: After casting, I like to let the boolits sit and soften up for a few months. I got behind due to life circumstances over the past few years, so I'm going to be casting until I get crabber's claw holding the mold handles.

[Goldstar225]

I try to cast at least 500 in a session. I have two loading blocks and typically load 100-200 per session.

[wv109323]

For 45acp,38 spec.,and 9mm I cast two or three pot full of 20. I cast to pot needs lead and stop to fill it up 2 or 3 times. Reloading on a Star or Dillon I last 3 or 4 hours before I need a break.

[Harry O]

I cast between 4 and 5 hours at a time. With single cavity hollow-base moulds, that is about 300 -350 bullets. With plain base double cavity, that is about 700-800. With a plain base 4-cavity mould (I have one of them), I don't know for sure, since I have never cast that long with it, but say about 1,000 for as long as I do cast.

[THerbert]

I tend to cast the larger bullets, and buy the smaller ones that I shoot in large volume. I've been shooting cowboy for about 4 years now, and when I'm healthy and shooting at least one match per month, that means I'm shooting a minimum of 200 44 WCF, 200 gn .430s per month. This coming year, I'm planning to change to .44 Spl, they're easier to load, and I'm planning on shooting another match per month, moving me up to around 300 per month of the same bullet. I have a 6 cavity mold now for that bullet, so I'll probably start casting those myself.

I'm casting for the .480 Ruger, 50-70 and 45-70 and .500 S&W, and the smallest bullet there is the 325 grain for the .480, and once I get going with the 2 cavity molds, a 20# pot seems to empty out in a hurry. The last casting session before it got hot, I ended up with a little over 200 usable .476" 325's. I'm waiting for it to get cooler, so I can start casting again. At a session, I cast until my back starts to ache from standing at the bench, then stop for the day. Usually 90 minutes to two hours.

I need some .459" 525 grain for the 45-70, and .501" 350 grain for the .500 S&W. I'll try to cast enough to get me through the shooting season, which for me is October through mid-May. I don't like shooting at indoor ranges unless I really have to, and in the summer here in the Houston area, it's just too hot and humid to enjoy shooting outside.

[Budzilla 19]

usually there are two of us using the same pot and just rolling out the 6 cavity molds!! time we need more alloy, its time for a break, get some water, then jump right back in!!!!! Especially 124 grn 9mm's! cant seem to keep them around, lol. As for reloading, it's normally until I get tired of pulling the handles on those wonderful Dillon presses!!!! Loading 200 grn RNFP .45's on a Dillon SDB, if you got someone loading the empty brass, it goes fast, and a bunch till you give out, that's for sure!! .223 Remington on a Dillon RL-550B is an exercise for sure! Normally runs of 500.As for shotgun reloading, i'm like another person here, 1000-2000 per session.(trap and skeet competition burns through reloads fast) I got my MEC progressive set for larger lead shot for squirrel loads, 500 rounds loaded per year, if we shoot them all, i'm satisfied we had a great year! Good fellowship, lots of fun, gotta teach those young ones about hunting and fishing!! I don't work for MEC, but the 9000G series of shotshell reloaders are hard to beat!...………………………... Let the fireworks begin!!! HAHAHA!!!!!! Just kidding,guys. Be safe. The 'Zilla.

[dlbarr]

My trips to the range aren't as frequent as I'd like so I usually cast or reload 50-100 at a time. I build up enough of a reserve so that when I go shoot, I don't use up all of it.

[plainsman456]

When a type of boolit is running low i look for others as well.

I usually cast with 2 molds .
I mever keep count on how many i cast of type but usually do about 20-25 lbs of lead.

[Dieselhorses]

For casting I usually just drain the 20 lbs Lee pot until the lead starts to dribble out rather than a steam. For loading it could be anything from 20 .30-06 rounds or 200 45 ACP rounds. Or whenever the spousal unit start making funny noises like sureYnot mentioned.

I like that "spousal unit". I have one of them too. I mainly try to reload on Sunday nights when "90 day fiancé" is on, whatever night "Outdaughtered" comes on and a host of other times where her shows come on, LOL. Lately I've only loaded a 100 rounds of 4 or 5 tried and true calibers. I loaded 100 rounds on a Loadmaster now I have to go weigh each as I think I might have 1 or 2 double charges. :(

[Tazza]

I only cast pistol calibers, i generally do 5-7k at a time if the machine wants to behave. I run an automated master caster, some days it acts up and i just turn it off and walk away and i deal with it another time.

I try and reload a few hundred at a time unless i'm developing a new load. Test loads are about 20 of each charge. Once i have one i'm happy with, i'll do 500 or as many cleaned cases i have on hand.

[Dieselhorses]

I only cast pistol calibers, i generally do 5-7k at a time if the machine wants to behave. I run an automated master caster, some days it acts up and i just turn it off and walk away and i deal with it another time.

I try and reload a few hundred at a time unless i'm developing a new load. Test loads are about 20 of each charge. Once i have one i'm happy with, i'll do 500 or as many cleaned cases i have on hand.

Tazza, the "master caster" of yours- does it produce cast bullets of same quality compared to manual casting? Thx

[Tazza]

I'd like to think so, it uses a standard mould that you could hook handles up to for casting by hand.

The only thing that can cause quality issues is when you drop the projectile fro the mould, if you put a cloth down, you have a cushion for it to hit and not dent, but if you have a pile, there is always the possibility of a dent in it as it's still a little soft when it hits another one.

For my pistol rounds, they still shoot better than i can!

[Dieselhorses]

I'd like to think so, it uses a standard mould that you could hook handles up to for casting by hand.

The only thing that can cause quality issues is when you drop the projectile fro the mould, if you put a cloth down, you have a cushion for it to hit and not dent, but if you have a pile, there is always the possibility of a dent in it as it's still a little soft when it hits another one.

For my pistol rounds, they still shoot better than i can!Thank you, might dwelve in the automation soon, not sure. I got some "Googling" to do.

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[Tazza]

Lots of research to be done, but there are so many people on this forum that will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Feel free to send me a message if you decide to go that route. Hatch did a great job with the electronics for the wymanwin setup.

[Victor N TN]

Before I got so sick about 12 years ago, I would start loading most Saturday mornings and either cast or load 3 or 4 hours and stop for lunch. Then cast or load another 2 or 3 hours. Or until I got too tired to handle the 4 or 6 cavity molds.

[dragon813gt]

Casting is until I feel like stopping. I can go all day which is a lot of 20# pots. The lighter the bullet the more bullets I have at the end. The minimum I will cast is one pot full.

Reloading is completely different. If I’m working up a load I will load ten of each in whatever increment I’m working up in. If I already have a load I count by the primer box. Minimum is 100, I hate having partial boxes lying around. I have a lot of 9mm jacketed bullets that need to be loaded. I will load these by the primer brick.

Rifle rounds are a different story. I load them by the box. Which is typically 50. I have some larger boxes so certain cartridges are loaded by the 100. 223 is like 9mm and loaded in bulk. Either 100, 500 or 1K.

I really do hate having partial boxes of primers lying around. It’s even worse if it’s an odd number or a number that doesn’t fit into a box. Thinking about 19 primers sitting in a box is aggravating me. I have a spreadsheet to keep track of powder and primers so odd numbers annoy me.

I have very limited time to cast and reload. So I try to get as much done in the time I have. Setting up for small runs wastes a lot time. But it’s a necessity for load development.

[kevin c]

I cast to feed my action pistol habit, which goes through two to three thousand rounds a month. I have been casting in two or three morning or afternoon sessions to make a one to two month supply of 3 to 4 K, using a bottom pour with a feeder pot and eight cavity molds. I do that outdoors on my deck at times when there is nothing to break my rhythm. Loading I do in my basement, sometimes on an ad hoc basis of 200 to 400 rounds, but hopefully I'll set up a regular weekly loading session that is long enough to provide extra ammo to stockpile.

Tazza, what is the production rate on your automated Mastercaster? And can you really walk away from it to do other things as it runs?

At this point casting with an 8 cav hand held mold is still fun and interesting for me, and I think there is plenty of room for improvement in my technique in terms of quality and volume. But if an automated casting machine can cut production time with equivalent quality, even if it needs to be attended, but especially if not, the time saving may make it worthwhile for me.

[gundownunder]

For casting, I've got a 40 pound pot and a bottom pour ladle and several 4 gang molds, which I use 2 at a time. Depending on what I'm casting 25 - 30 pounds from the pot will yield about 1000 - 1500 bullets. Then I refill the pot, and if I'm feeling fit, I'll come back in the afternoon and do it all again.
Reloading for my brother, my niece, and myself, I usually end up reloading in batches of about 100 - 250 rounds, and a few times a year, like after the nationals, I'll end up doing 500. Just to put those numbers into perspective, I only own 1 single stage press, no progressives, or turrets.

[Bazoo]

I generally reload small batches. Between 50 and 200 is the norm for me. I cast 100 to 300 or so at a time. Pends on the notion im in. If I am going with a mould that is not giving me any problems.... I might go a while.

[prs]

I used to cast and reload more per session, but it turned fun into work. How many boolits at a session is a guess and varies depending upon wich bullet or slug or ball and mold cavities. But, I notice I typically go through about 20# to 25# of ingots per session.

prs

[Conditor22]

I'm still doing load development so I'm in the 100 - 500 range several times a month

[onelight]

When I cast I try to do a few all day sessions right in a row and only do it a few times a year . Mainly Keith bullets .44 and .357 a couple of GC bullet styles for 44 and a few 45 colt and auto , .32 s and for my 45/70 I used to cast much more when I did the casting for the group of guys I shot with. I need my casting shed finished , can't bring myself to work on it in the heat and humidity we have been having.
I buy a lot of commercial cast for my twice a week range time.

[Hanzy4200]

My situation is unusual, as I have a busy house. 6 kids. I cast for an hour, do something or get called away, come back, ect. My pot has been running since 10 am today. Going down for the 5th time tonight.

[Tripplebeards]

I Normally fill my lee 4/20 pot to the brim and cast till it’s empty. I’m about ready to quit when I get to the last inch or so of melted lead but milk it out to the end. I casted up a pot full of a lee 200 grain hollow point .360’s from my MP mold yesterday. They will keep me going for a while. I like to cast up at least 10 pounds...closer to 20 pounds so when I weigh and sort them in one grain increments So I have the majority, or at least 200/250 all in the same 1 grain variance. When I cast I want enough boolits casted to the same weight that I can ladder testing them with a few powders and have enough left over over a few hunting seasons when I’m done. I have a few piles of unused boolits laying around on reserve so I get carried away. It’s just nice to be able to load and shoot Instead of starting from scratch every time. With bigger batches it keeps my BH more consistent imo. Takes a couple hours for me. I dump lead in my pot and mow the lawn, add more lead and set my mold on top to heat up and then weed wack. By the time I’m done I everything is heated up and ready to start. I then have to pour a good couple dozen to really get the mold hot enough for fill out and then I’m good to start pouring quality boolits.

[Dapaki]

I guess I am the odd-ball as I keep adding lead to the pot as I cast. I gather the boolits off the towel, gather the sprues and toss them back in the pot and top off with ingots. I only run the pot down to empty it to clean it when it drips.

I usually run about 150 boolits at a sitting, my hands get tired easily so I move on to PCing them and when that is done, I cast another batch, PC, rinse and repeat until my hunny gets home or calls me in from the shop.

[Conditor22]

My situation is unusual, as I have a busy house. 6 kids. I cast for an hour, do something or get called away, come back, ect. My pot has been running since 10 am today. Going down for the 5th time tonight.

For casters with kids, I strongly recommend fastening your pot to the bench when it's on. I'd really hate to see a little one pull a pot full of molten lead down on themselves

[Aunegl]

Casting and reloading were the only way for me to play with handgun metallic silhouettes.

[Ozark mike]

Apparently not enuf

[robg]

i cast for about an hour at a time as my hands give me gyp .so cast between 2-3 hundred at a time with 2 or 3 2 cavity molds

[ReloaderEd]

[B)]Don't do much reloading anymore. I still have a few small projects such as shooting my 270 Winchester every so often, doing range detail (RSO) at our local gun club. Hunter Safety every month which has been cancelled almost forever now. [B]I used to cast bullets but the lead free range rules dictate the use of jacketed bullets.

[El Greco]

I cast about 18 lbs was very session then I PC and size. I’m running out of shelf room. Then I reload whatever I’m low on. Then I have to go to the range for a lead deposit. And the cycle starts again. In other words, I have to reload to shoot and then I have to shoot to reload.

[BigAlofPa.]

I don't cast. But ill load what i shot after a session on the range. Could be 50-200 rounds.

[Rich/WIS]

Cast in large batches, easy with 5 and 6 cavity molds. Rifle usually 50-100 at a sitting in 50 round batches, pistol 200-300 at a time, although usually size, tumble and expand and take a break. Prime charge and seat later that day or the next day. Enjoy reloading and casting so like to spread fun out over several days.

[robg]

i tent to size and decap one day then trim expand and prime on another .then when ive got a good load worked out i might load up a couple of hundred rounds .i only use a single stage press so batchs make sense for me .

[dwtim]

My casting sessions are limited of by the amount of lead my pot holds safely--generally 12-15 pounds, depending on the shape of the ingots. In a full day session, I can fill the pot three times before it's too dark outside to continue. The amount of boolits cast depends on the caliber. (About half of the production by weight is sprue. :roll: I need to change my style.)

I do huge batches of fodder boolits using 4 or 6-gang molds only every once a while. Generally those are meant to be low quality practice rounds. Otherwise I just run the pot a few nights a week to (a couple of times during the year) and fill those smaller green boxes using a two-gang mold.

I used to load only when needed....maybe 50-100 rounds at a pop, the night before I went to the range. Now I batch everything (like robg), because I have a single stage press, and it makes sense to do it that way. That way, all I have to do is swap dies, drop power and grab some boolits. It's easy to do 200 rounds an hour with a single stage this way.

Now I have a dedicated ammo safe, so I load until there's no more room in the safe. I also bought a couple thousand cases a couple years ago, and tripled the amount of ammo cases on hand. (Back in 2018 I figured we were due for an Olde Fashioned American Consumer Hoard-fest. And of course, there's almost no pistol ammo or small primers to be found lately.) I never really counted the amount in my ammo safe--maybe it holds 2000 rounds are so?

[prs]

I guess I am the odd-ball as I keep adding lead to the pot as I cast. I gather the boolits off the towel, gather the sprues and toss them back in the pot and top off with ingots. I only run the pot down to empty it to clean it when it drips.

I usually run about 150 boolits at a sitting, my hands get tired easily so I move on to PCing them and when that is done, I cast another batch, PC, rinse and repeat until my hunny gets home or calls me in from the shop.

I break the rule; I drop the spru directly into the pot. I have learned to do so without any splash. A 20# pot (my 20# only really holds about 15#) drains quickly when running one or two 6 cavity molds of 200+ grains each. To keep the pace with those hungry molds I run a second 20# pot from which I ladel alloy into my working pot.

prs

[Conditor22]

I also return my sprues to the pot.

I flux with pine sawdust and wax creating a granular barrier that stop oxidation, keeps the heat in, stops the sprue from splashing and slows their re-entry into the pot.
https://i.imgur.com/iVILHTi.jpg

I keep an eye on my PID and if the temperature drops to much, I take a quick break

[Divil]

Casting 100-300 bullets per session. Reloading usually around 100 rounds per session.

[Gunslinger1911]

AM44mag - you forgot PC/ sizing ! lol

Casting is my Sat / Sun morning calm time. Get up, get coffee, get ProMelt heating, surf the news to see if the world blew up when I was asleep. Cast for 2-3 hours, mostly MiHec 4 cav pistol boolets - feeding pot constantly.
Sometimes the dip pot for huge 500 Smith / 45/70 boolets if running low.

Reloading, may be 20-40 350 Legends for son in law; may be 50-100 500 Smith to put BIG holes in something; may be 100-200 45/70's for us to blow up stuff; may be 500+ 9mm / 45 ACP for training for SHTF (LOL).
Smaller batches on Lee turret; bigger batches on Dillon 500

I feel a major "zen" when casting; the flow of things (rotating moulds - (2-3 at a time), adding ingots , filling each mould as it likes (each mould has a "preference" as to how it wants to run; pressure v/s gravity, "sit time", how you dump the boolets, etc). I get in the moment - next thing you know, there are 50 + lbs of boolets to size.

PC'ing is as I feel like it - a few hundred at a time, why waste a hot oven !
Just getting started in PC - mostly for AR's that can't take lube.
lube/sizing or PC sizing is done in front of the laptop, watching some dumb movie or Netflix series - stuck on Agents of Marvel at the moment.

[robg]

When casting i drop sprues back in pot but i only flux before casting then don't flux till I've emptied the pot as I get less weight variation that way.

[mha]

I cast for maybe 2 hrs or so using double cavity molds. Seems like I go thru about 20 lbs or more, so maybe up to 1000 bullets at a time. Tend to switch calibers as I get a pile of one size built up.

I add sprues and ingots to keep the level up as I use a Lyman dipper for pouring. I try to knock the sprues into a RCBS cast pot, then when it is full I add the lead back into my LEE pot.

Not the best production method but it works. I am getting back into casting so I am easing back into it. Starting to look at 6 cavity molds for more production. Have about 900 lbs of linotype and a couple hundred of wheel weight and soft lead, so I should keep busy for a while.

I powder coat as well and have found that is a lot better than pan lubing or tumble lubing.

[Mal Paso]

I don't return sprues to the pot until I refill the pot. I like to sit low and see the spout so it's too much of a reach and it's a distraction. I usually make over 3 casts a minute. I run a 25 lb pot now and when I'm down to an inch of alloy I'm ready for a break.

About 800 boolits in a session unless I get serious.

[35 Rem]

I used to cast 1,000 at a time when I was selling bullets in college but now I tend to do more like 100 to 200 at most. My feet start to hurt and wrists too at about that point. It also depends a lot on whether it's a handgun or rifle bullet. I can't see firing up the pot for less than 100 though.

Reloading also depends on the cartridge. I may just load 10 rounds if it's a new rifle load. Most of my handgun loads are something I've used for years so I load more of them. It also depends on the time of year. If it's cooler outside I'll load more because I load in my garage and hate working in the Summer heat. I like to keep my favorite cast loads in big boxes with hundreds of rounds inside. Even with those I'll fill the box over several sessions where I load maybe 100 rounds at a time. I do it for fun and when I get tired I go do something else and start again another day.

[JCM45]

I usually cast about 300 bullets per session. Load 100 at a time with my Lee Classic Turret Press.

[tmanbuckhunter]

A good casting session of BPCR match bullets is about 200 for me in a 3 hour session. I usually load about 100 at a time.

[deltaenterprizes]

Not as much as I used to!
It depends on what boolits I want to cast whether I hand cast or use the Master Caster.
Hand casting I will do a couple hundred, Master Caster I will double that or more.
Reloading it depends on the caliber.
9mm couple hundred to 1000.
Rifle 100 at a time on the single stage loading for accuracy.

[Texas by God]

I cast bullets by rotating three 2- cavity molds in tandem. I usually quit after one Lee pot.
I've got the moulds laid out next to the pot; ready to cast- but it's just too dang hot presently!

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[Bigbore5]

Casting depends on the bullet weight. I'll do alot more for the 38 than for the 500. Same for the loading. Usually 250-300 for the smaller rounds and 100-150 for the bigbores.
For the rifles I use a progressive and lots of 500.

[Soundguy]

I usually do multiple projectile types in one setting. Maybe a coffee can full of buckshot, then switch over to handgun bullets.. On those I like to cast at least 65- 75 of each type. That equates to a box of 50, plus some culls if needed, plus some test rounds. Spares just hit the jugs on the shelves for next loading session.

[414gates]

I prefer to make the bullets for one year in advance.

I wait until the weather turns cool, and the wind picks up a bit, then I set up the melting kit outside.

My last session was over a couple of days, I made all the big bore rifle bullets I planned to shoot for the year.

I need to get another session going soon, I signed up for competition handgun shooting again, and I have four calibers that will need bullets.

The Lee 6 cavity moulds speed up the whole process.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

This is one of those things where when you start you say to yourself "I'm going to cast a million bazillion boolits!". Then you get into it and it eventually starts to suck and a few hundred ends up being good enough.

But the real answer sometimes depends on what you're casting. Big single cav moulds for muzzle loading 50 boolits is a lot. A Lee 6 banger can crank out a lot of plinking boolits but the thing does get heavy after an hour or so.

[hawkeye1]

I usually do about 1000 at a time. One style. Then load 500 at a time. I’ve been thinking if I get another Lee 6 cavity mold, I could do 1000 of each type. Two thousand in approximately the same time. Pour one while other mold cools.

[Johan Steyn]

I cast between 1000 and 2000 in a session depending on molds being used. Handgun I load between 100 and 500 at a time depending on caliber and intended use. Rifle I load between 10 and 50 at a time depending on whether it's for load development or if I'm loading an established load.

[OFFSHORE]

I fall into the 50% category of these pole numbers. If I had a range here at my house, I would be in the 1000+ club for sure!!! I really enjoy tinkering with bullets and dialing the firearms I shoot cast boolits out of.

[jgstrug]

I shoot lever action silhouette and don't really enjoy reloading. I have been shooting 40,and reloading 40 for a few years now.

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[oley55]

I fall into the 50% category of these pole numbers. If I had a range here at my house, I would be in the 1000+ club for sure!!! I really enjoy tinkering with bullets and dialing the firearms I shoot cast boolits out of.

:goodpost: That's me fer sure.

[dannyd]

:goodpost: That's me fer sure.


Yep, over at Gateway there's about 150,000 of mine. ;)

[oley55]

Yep, over at Gateway there's about 150,000 of mine. ;)

it's at least 40 minutes (30 miles) one way for me which means I end up making all kinds of workup loads in advance that never get fired for one reason or another. How great it would be to load up a few, step out back and see how they fly?

[dannyd]

it's at least 40 minutes (30 miles) one way for me which means I end up making all kinds of workup loads in advance that never get fired for one reason or another. How great it would be to load up a few, step out back and see how they fly?

It's about 25 miles for me, but I go every Saturday rain or shine. :)