Bullet Casting

[milcol]

Would like to try casting lead bullets and have some questions, I saw where 20.1 lead alloy can be purchased and would like to know if this has to be fluxed,or can be poured without,also would a hot plate be ample heat to melt the lead and at what temp should the lead be prior to pouring.
TIA
Bob

[montana_charlie]

If you have a cast iron pot that is not very big...say ten or fifteen pounds of capacity...a hot plate should be sufficient. I used one for casting pure lead back when I started, and pure lead needs to be hotter than the alloys.

20:1 alloy can be purchased and used without a 'smelting step' (as required for scrap materials) but should be fluxed regularly to keep it free of oxides while casting.
This is especially needed when casting with a ladel, which is your only option if using a hotplate as the heat source.

20:1 alloy should throw good bullets at temperatures between 650 and 750 degrees...depending on your mould's 'personallity'.
CM