My first time casting, went through several pounds of lead. These are my results! :-)

[SirNomad]

I sat and cast mostly bullets from the Lee 358-125-RF 6-cavity mold yesterday. I tried a 2-cavity Lee 309-150 mold, but I got it and the lead too hot and ended up with splattered lead on the inside (won't do that again!). I also tried (after that mess) on the Lee 365-95-1R 2-cavity mold with better results. They turned out really nice for the most part and I learned some good info about casting. I have both Titegroup and H-110 powder, and we'll be using them in both revolvers and a carbine. :-)

The 6 cavity molds from Lee are MUCH easier for me to use (I also am a lefty, and have nerve damage in my arms). In the future, unless it's a size that's just not available in the 6-cavity mold, I will DEFINITELY prefer to get a 6-cavity mold over others. Also, I suspect that the grain weights for the bullets are for a lead alloy with a higher tin/antimony content than what I used. I dropped my bullets into water when i cast them, they turned out hard enough for my liking, and those 358s are about 6 grains heavier (averaging about 131.5 grains). VERY much liking this method of getting bullets for my cartridges! I did lube a bunch of the bullets (on wax paper) with 45-45-10 that I bought from White Label Lube just a few days before, a little bit really does go a LONG way! The other bullets are so shiny and pretty, but I'm thinking I'll probably powder coat those using the "throw it in the vibratory tumbler with powder" method. :-)

FortuneCookie45LC's videos on YouTube were probably the most helpful, but that guy who was casting .38s for the cost of .22s is what got me going on this. Anyone know where FortuneCookie45LC hangs out? I'd like to send him a thank you message because I am super grateful for his video series! I'm really frustrated with YouTube getting rid of so many, and when I have the "extra" money, I plan on getting a 358-200-RF 6-cavity mold thanks to I hope I can spend some more time making these!249556

[Abenaki]

Welcome to the sickness...ummm...ummm...Hobby!

Take care
Abenaki

[sigep1764]

Those look pretty good from what I can see! Keep it going!

[lightman]

Those look good. Especially for a first time.

[Kraschenbirn]

Looks to me like you done good. Welcome aboard.

Bill

[JBinMN]

Congrats! Welcome to the adventures of the Galena Stream!
:)

[osteodoc08]

Welcome to the affliction

[abunaitoo]

Looks great.
Proof is in the shooting.

[Winger Ed.]

Looks good.

But watch out, your family may be planning an intervention to help you deal with this addiction..

[SirNomad]

I'm an orphan, so my only family here is my 10 year old son. AKA "free labor and snack bringer". :-D

(Seriously though, he's an awesome kid and is getting an education!

[mule1]

Welcome to a new level of self reliance!

[SirNomad]

Ooops I did it again! That's nearly 10 lbs from the Lee 358-125-RF mold. :-)249585

[Pablo 5959]

FortuneCookie45LC's videos on YouTube were probably the most helpful, but that guy who was casting .38s for the cost of .22s is what got me going on this. Anyone know where FortuneCookie45LC hangs out? I'd like to send him a thank you message because I am super grateful for his video series! I'm really frustrated with YouTube getting rid of so many, and when I have the "extra" money, I plan on getting a 358-200-RF 6-cavity mold thanks to I hope I can

Fortune cookie 45 lives in the bay area Northern California. He hangs out at San Leandro range on Davis Street.

[SirNomad]

FortuneCookie45LC's videos on YouTube were probably the most helpful, but that guy who was casting .38s for the cost of .22s is what got me going on this. Anyone know where FortuneCookie45LC hangs out? I'd like to send him a thank you message because I am super grateful for his video series! I'm really frustrated with YouTube getting rid of so many, and when I have the "extra" money, I plan on getting a 358-200-RF 6-cavity mold thanks to I hope I can

Fortune cookie 45 lives in the bay area Northern California. He hangs out at San Leandro range on Davis Street.

Oh, I meant in the virtual world! :-) Wow, that's deep in enemy territory! LOL

[Rizzo]

Ooops I did it again! That's nearly 10 lbs from the Lee 358-125-RF mold. :-)249585
Your bullets look very shiny.
What alloy mix are you using?

[cwlongshot]

Yup your hooked!

Welcome to the addiction!

Cw

[shoebox56]

Oh, I meant in the virtual world! :-) Wow, that's deep in enemy territory! LOL

FortuneCookie usually responds to comments on his YouTube videos, the recently made ones anyway.

[45workhorse]

You started casting to save money?:holysheep
Good luck, you will always need one more mold!!!!!!!
Hi, my name is SirNomad, and I cast boolits………...
Welcome, enjoy the wealth of knowledge on this site, I do!

[44Blam]

When you think about all the money you'll save, just realize that it's not money your saving, it's the fact that your shooting more boolits better...

[trixter]

He he he, first bitten. Keep on keepin' on.

[kevin c]

Welcome!

Fortune Cookie's videos were worth reviewing for me when I was getting started. Other resources with much of that information and more can be found here and on the LASC site. Voracious reading on these sites plus YouTube videos like FC45LC's helped me avoid a lot of rookie mistakes.

Read and view widely. Know your sources. Be aware that there are still controversies and conflicting opinions in the casting world. Don't hesitate to ask questions.

[SirNomad]

Your bullets look very shiny.
What alloy mix are you using?

Wheel weight ingots with a little added tin. I don't have a hardness tester but they aren't too hard. Honestly, I've been grabbing lead whenever I could and did not keep track of the exact alloy.

[murf205]

Ahh..you are a quick study, Grasshopper. You will do well in the world of the silver stream. There are many here who gladly share the craft secrets and nuances. Does the son like to help shoot up those boolits? What great fun it is to have a young shooter/caster to teach the safe practices to.

[SirNomad]

Ahh..you are a quick study, Grasshopper. You will do well in the world of the silver stream. There are many here who gladly share the craft secrets and nuances. Does the son like to help shoot up those boolits? What great fun it is to have a young shooter/caster to teach the safe practices to.

249772

Here he is practicing using the iron sights rather than the scope (see-through rings). :-) This was during the Spring so he was still 9 then.

[murf205]

Good job Dad. He will be the one who knows what to do when the rifle takes a tumble and breaks the scope. The iron sights will save the hunt. I started my son when he wad about the age of 8 1/2 and have a shooting/hunting partner for life.

[sledgehammer001]

Nice looking boolits, SirNomad! And the guys are not joking when they say you ain't saving money! You are per round, but now you'll just shoot more, and that's always a great thing! Enjoy, and remember, casting is a disease most don't want to cure :lovebooli

[phantom22]

Nice job!

[murf205]

AND.....you don't have to be at the mercy of politics or manufacturer's shortages or discontinuances! Good feeling, this independence is.

[popper]

No fins, no wrinkles, good sprue cut, just a few rounded bases! Good job.

[kevin c]

AND.....you don't have to be at the mercy of politics or manufacturer's shortages or discontinuances! Good feeling, this independence is.
Amen to that, brother.

[Conditor22]

There is a great sense of satisfaction gained from casting, coating/lubing, loading and getting good results shooting.

[44Blam]

The awesome thing about casting and reloading your own boolits is that you will shoot more and better.