Howdy ya'll,
I was not sure where to post all these questions in one post, so I'm posting here. I hope nobody minds.
I was on the board here a year or so back as DaveInOakwoodGA. I was getting close to being ready to start casting bullets. I had acquired the following, based on recommendations from this forum:
a turkey cooker
a couple of cast iron dutch ovens
a top notch ladle
a top notch thermometer
a set of stainless steel implements to clean the with during step 1
several zip loc bags of saved up candle residue
a zip loc bag or two of cheese sealing wax (for lube making later on)
a 20 gallon propane tank
a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights
several buckets of lead sheathing from a dentist's office
Then I moved and things went to hell in a handbasket and I haven't been able to get anything done related to casting. Finally, all that's over with and I can get back to things I'm interested in.
My perspective on casting has changed a bit as I've had time to think things through a bit more. Originally, I wanted to use the Lee "tumble lube" type molds and use the Lee Alox to simplify things. Now, I'm thinking I'd rather go a bit farther and make my own lube as well as do the lube sizer thing. I plan to cast only for two calibers (.45ACP and 9MM) initially and make a large quantity of bullets.
I need assistance in a few areas:
One, I need help picking two molds, one for .45ACP and one for 9MM. I'm shooting out of 1911's and a Browning Hi-Power clone. I want to cast with a "six at a time" mold and I would prefer to use an "old standard" that's known to be effective for each caliber. I'm thinking an H&G #68 LSWC 200grainer for the .45ACP and I honestly don't know for the 9MM. I'm also thinking Lee molds if possible, because they're less expensive in the 6-holer version than most and the folks here seem to be happy with them, once they're leemented.
Two, I need help picking a lube sizer. I don't know much about them, though I've read a bit on the forums lately. I want to use the felix lube and I live in NorthEast Georgia, a pretty warm place most of the year. I'm thinking I might could get by without a heater, but would be smarter to buy a luber sizer that could have the heater installed later if I so chose. Any comments or recommendations? I really want to buy only once on these items and I'm not sure where the value point is for these. I notice the Lymans seem pretty popular, not sure about other brands.
Third, I need some recommendations on the ingot molds. My original plan was to use angle iron and have a buddy of mine cut it to length and weld it. He's had the materials a year and half and hasn't gotten it done, so I'm giving up and going to plan B, which is buying other molds.
Finally, I need to do all of the above using a reasonable amount of money, as I work for a living.
Thank you for your help,
Dave