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Thread: FINALLY took the plung!!

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Mauser48's Avatar
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    FINALLY took the plung!!

    Been here for about 3 years now and have been reloading for almost 4. I finally placed an order on midway for casting stuff! I got a Lee 20lb magnum melter, a Lyman ladle, a Lee 358 diameter 158 grain swc tumble lube 2 cavity mold, and some liquid alox. Can't wait to roll my own. Now I can make EXACTLY what I want. Once I get comfortable with this I'll start doing shotgun slugs. I have about 20lbs of lead shot from an old diving belt and about 5 or so pounds of some old commercial cast bullets I'll never shoot. Looking forward to casting with you all and getting deeper into the reloading hobby!

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    Welcome to the site and good luck on your first time casting.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    Very Nice - I would suggest you wash the shot first as it is generally coated with graphite. Graphite is a thermal barrier and adds a hurdle in the casting process.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    Walter Laich's Avatar
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    welcome to the fun

    be sure to let us know any questions that come up; we may not know the answer to all of them but we sure do know a bunch
    NRA Life
    USPSA L1314
    SASS Life 48747
    RVN/Cambodia War Games, 2nd Place

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Welcome, you are pretty well hooked now-- I don't think you will regret it. At some point look into powder coating. If you have any questions do what Walter said--ask. Most of guys here have learned a lot of lessons the hard way, no sense in you having to learn the hard way when you have so many that will be more than willing to help you out! Have fun, take good notes and be careful!

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Welcome! Once you fire up that pot... you're done! 8)

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Boolit Master claude's Avatar
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    and about 5 or so pounds of some old commercial cast bullets I'll never shoot.
    Good evening, FWIW, if those bullets are lubed, boil them in an old coffee can or something like that to get the lube off them. I only say that because I dumped a quantity of lubed, cast bullets straight into my lee bottom pour and it made a sizable mess, and created a pretty good stink even with the fan going.

    If you boil them the old lube floats to the top of the water and can be discarded after things cool down. Be sure to thoroughly dry the bullets before trying to melt them.

  8. #8

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy


    Buzz64's Avatar
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    Welcome to the dark side!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


    Bookworm's Avatar
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    I reloaded for over 25 years before I tried casting. Now I wonder why I waited so long.

    I'll never go back.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master

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    This is a deep rabbit hole with no end. Welcome to the club.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy

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    Welcome you'll like it here!
    Semper Fidelis, to God, Country and Corps!

  13. #13
    Boolit Master daloper's Avatar
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    Yes he has fallen down the deep rabbit hole. Welcome aboard.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Some day I'll start saving money too.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Tom W.'s Avatar
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    Sure we will....... I've been trying to save money since 1975.....…
    Tom
    μολὼν λαβέ


    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy dimaprok's Avatar
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    I started casting as soon as i bought my first revolver GP100 champion which is my first centerfire handgun. A friend of mine gave me 800 pcs of brass he saved up. I am very happy I took plunge. This week I casted over 2000 bullets over couple days, if i bought same bullets lets say 10 cents a piece it would cost me $200, but i only paid about $20 in lead. Bottom pour pot and 6 cavity mold is way to go. You can cast about 1000 per hour. I build PID controller cheaply it runs spot on with thermometer from NOE. Also for the first time ever with Lee TL 356 mold i casted with no rejects.

    Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Boolit Master Drew P's Avatar
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    I reluctant,y started casting, not really wanting to, but wanted the savings for my high volume pistols. Well, as soon as I started I realized I was having flashbacks to being a kid playing with solder and melting metal in dads shop. You know what? It’s still fun! In fact, I like casting a lot and I find that I’m producing way more bullets than I can shoot.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check