I've been casting round ball and minie balls for 50 years and on those have always used pretty much pure lead - i.e. from scrap yard - sheathing from cable, lead pipe, plumber's lead, etc.
Now, I'm starting to reload for my 38 specials / 357 - casting my lead boolits - SWC and Round Nose. I've done some reading on here but the more I read, the more confused I am on what I need to cast my boolits. Chemistry was not my forte and I really don't have the time to mix alloys, etc. I had about 200 lbs of lead stockpiled - nice soft cable sheathing - and a guy I was trying to help out by giving him scrap iron decided to come back and steal my lead as well as all of my copper wire. So, I need to get something to cast with. I'd be more than happy to purchase it on here but I don't know what I should get. I just don't know what to get.
I don't shoot competition - primarily plink, killing cans, punch paper and dispatching an ugly woodchuck once in a while. I'm shooting everything from a 2" snub to a vintage 6" S & W Target Model M & P. I am not loading "hot" loads. So . . . what do I need? Pure lead . . . wheel weight lead . . . range lead . . . ????
I'm thinking that years ago . . . I'm talking many many years ago . . when folks had plier type reloading tools and cast their own and rolled their own . . they probably used what was available . . . primarily soft lead. So . . . I'm not casting rifle boolits . . . what will work best for my needs?
By the way . . . I've enjoyed this site very much and am amazed to find the different interests and aspects of the reloading hobby . . . lots of good information.
Thanks for advice and recommendations . . . greatly appreciated.