need help in selecting casting pot.

[johnson1942]

my bullet caster closed his doors and is just going to stick to ranching. their is a guy semi interested in buying his equipment but that im sure is going no where. my birthday and christmas is comming up so im going to ask for a casting set up. i dont want a bottom spout out fit. i want it simple and that it will last with reasonable care. i want to use a good quality latle. i want to do about 200 bullets at least each casting. whats out their that will fit my needs. thanks before hand, johnson1942

[GARD72977]

I use a Lyman pot for my muzzleloader casting and I like it. I think that 200 bullets would be fine with any pot. The lyman lead dipper would trump the Lee in my opinion.

[MarkP]

Lyman or RCBC ladle, a 10 lb cast iron pot again Lyman or RCBS and a Coleman stove, and of course some molds. The small LEE dip type electric pots are pretty inexpensive and will eliminate the Coleman stove. or Lyman has a starter kit:

8232982330



The LEE pot shown only holds 4 lbs of Lead so to make 200 bullets they would need to be less than 140 grs

[454PB]

Another option is to get the Lee Pro-4-20 and either ladle cast as is, or remove the valve handle and plug the spout.

I've been using a Lee 10 pounder for ladle casting for the last 30 years or so. I simply brazed a piece of a nail in the spout.

[bangerjim]

Go with an electric Lee or Lyman as above. Get a Lyman side/bottom pour ladle. It is amazing and give you clean pours. The Lee ladle is good for stirring ONLY.

Do NOT use a coleman stove for casting!!!!! We have moved beyond the stone age! You can use a stove for rough smelting of garbage lead to get clean ingots for you casting pot. But a turkey fryer works far better.......more BTU's for faster/better melt.

bangerjim

[mooman76]

I'd get at least 10# pot and why not just go a little more and get the 20#. Then you can 200 bullets easy and more. Also when you use a bigger pot and add small amounts of lead like 1# you can keep going without having to wait for the pot to heat up again. I'm happy with the Lee ladle but most are not.

[HARRYMPOPE]

RCBS Pro melt is the bet hands down but more money than the others.

[Lead Fred]

I use a 20lb Lee, Did 200 .452 two nights ago

[Junior1942]

1. Lee 20 lb pot
2. Lee ladle for stirring and scraping.
3. Lyman ladle for casting. It's cast iron with a much larger volume than the Lee. Cast iron = stays hot longer. Larger volume = might be enough for two bullets.

The Lyman ladle really shines when casting bullets over a campfire. So does the little Lyman pot.

Here's the Lyman pot hanging in one of my campfires and with the Lyman dipper inside it.
http://www.castbullet.com/reload/photos/campcast03.jpg

[GARD72977]

RCBS Pro melt is the bet hands down but more money than the others.

That's a little pricey when he does not want to use the bottom spout!

[HARRYMPOPE]

it works as a dipper pot perfectly.I dip about 90% of my bullets with it.But you are right,a Lee or Lyman dipper pot would be fine for a small bit of casting.its just that i have never had an issue with my RCBS but my lyman and Lee pots eventuality have had them.My RCBS pot is 30 yeas old and going strong.

[True.grit]

Get a Lee bottom pour 20#. For the money it is a great deal. I have been casting for 14 years and started with a lee 10# bottom pour. I still have it as a back up. The 20# will come in handy when casting large caliber boolets, you will get more with out feeding the pot and waiting for casting temp. The only draw back is if your do not wait to be at the proper temp the bottom pour will get clogged up. Good luck and happy casting.