Removing bullets from old molds

[NewGuy]

I recently picked up a bunch of reloading/casting equipment.

Several of the molds have lead bullets still in them as if the guy had filled the mold and just set it on his bench w/ the sprue and all.

How can I remove these without damaging anything?

Thanks in advance.

[leadhead]

Just cut the sprue and knock the bullets from the mold.
Denny

[Bulldogger]

Just heat them up as you normally would till the lead softens, take it all the way to molten and pout out if they're stubborn about dropping out.

[waksupi]

What Leadhead said. It's no different than a fresh cast bullet, except cold.

[montana_charlie]

No heating required...
CM

[fredj338]

No heating required...
CM

Agreed, I often store my molds this way. Just knock the bullet out & preheat the mold, go casting.

[hammerhead357]

I used to store my H & G moulds this way when I lived in a fairly arid area. I would be cautious of doing the cutting on some other brands of moulds you might break something. I never have but if the lead was a really hard alloy you might run into trouble with a weak sprue plate or pivot bolt.
If you go the heating route I wouldn't let it get to the molten stage. This creates all sorts of problems sometimes. I would let the mold get up to casting temp. on the hot plate and then cut the sprue if I was concerned about damageing the sprue plate or pivot bolt....Wes

[NewGuy]

Thanks for the replies!

I have not started casting yet, but I have a very large stockpile of lead that I have scrounged over the last year or two.

Now I have lots of molds to try out.

[crabo]

I'd warm them up on a hot plate for a while if they are Lee aluminum molds. If they are also 4+ cavities it would be easier to cut the sprue.

[Shiloh]

Shouldn't need to heat it. A sharp rap should knock 'em right out.

Shiloh