Newbie needs advice from the Wise

[GregLaROCHE]

Thanks Landowner. Sometimes I think my opinions and advice may not make a big difference, but I like to give it anyway and let others decide if it’s needed.

[Walter Laich]

not much to add but . . .

I would be leery of using your kitchen oven to powder coat. PCing gives off fumes and the inside of my wally world is $19--new toaster oven is covered in fine residue.

My PCing gear is a #5 plastic bowl with lid, said toaster oven, Lee push through that's about it. made some wire trays out of hardware cloth and bought an oven thermometer that hands off the wire shelf. Don't trust the dial on them.

I enjoy PCing almost as a second hobby.

[Iowa Fox]

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get into casting. A double cavity lee mold and Lee alox. I wouldn't even size them. If its something that you find enjoyable then you can slowly spend money on equipment upgrades, also you'll have a better feel for where you want to go with equipment.

[Combatmedic63]

Thanks Landowner. Sometimes I think my opinions and advice may not make a big difference, but I like to give it anyway and let others decide if it’s needed.

Let me be the first to tell you that your reply and knowledge is very much appreciated by me. Please continue to share your knowledge with others and never think that it doesn't matter or isn't needed.

[Combatmedic63]

I know I have said a couple of times in this thread, but please know that I appreciate all the knowledge and tips you guys are sharing with me. This forum absolutely has the BEST members of any forum on the internet.

[murf205]

Doc, since you live in Maine, do they allow handgun hunting for moose? Get to work on a pet cast load for your 45 and show us a moose trophy!

[LenH]

When I started casting I was using a Lee 4# pot an Lyman ladle and 2 or 3 different 2 cavity Lyman molds. It was slow and tedious but I was able to keeps shooting.
My brother and I split the cost on a RCBS lube sizer. My brother quit casting but I still have all that old equipment and it still works. I got that stuff in the mid 1970's

Good luck and welcome aboard.

[Combatmedic63]

Doc, since you live in Maine, do they allow handgun hunting for moose? Get to work on a pet cast load for your 45 and show us a moose trophy!

Yes sir, we absolutely can hunt moose with a handgun here. I just have to be lucky enough to win a chance to do so in the lottery.

[ascast]

Combatmedic63 - 1st - thanks for your service 2nd - I have received stuff on the "pay it forward" plan on this site once or twice, so I owe somebody something. So your it. Let me know what you need. I probably have it around. I do not do a lot of sizing. But I may have standard size dies you need. You never said what you plan to shoot caliber wise, or I missed it. I shoot BPCS when I can and the casting is slow and tedious. But I am sure my bullits are round when they drop. Not so sure with 6 cavs going fast for 38's or 9mm's. This may be a factor in your set up and choices. I know I have a few dippers, and Lyman/RCBS spare mold handles. My favortie casting bench is a top from an old electric stove from the side of the road. I wired it for 110 and built a crude suitcase for it. I can run 4 burners at once if I want. Its handy for preheating. PM me with addy and "want" list. welcome aboard

[Combatmedic63]

Combatmedic63 - 1st - thanks for your service 2nd - I have received stuff on the "pay it forward" plan on this site once or twice, so I owe somebody something. So your it. Let me know what you need. I probably have it around. I do not do a lot of sizing. But I may have standard size dies you need. You never said what you plan to shoot caliber wise, or I missed it. I shoot BPCS when I can and the casting is slow and tedious. But I am sure my bullits are round when they drop. Not so sure with 6 cavs going fast for 38's or 9mm's. This may be a factor in your set up and choices. I know I have a few dippers, and Lyman/RCBS spare mold handles. My favortie casting bench is a top from an old electric stove from the side of the road. I wired it for 110 and built a crude suitcase for it. I can run 4 burners at once if I want. Its handy for preheating. PM me with addy and "want" list. welcome aboard

Sorry for the delayed response, I had a shoulder replacement recently and had complications after the surgery. First off, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your appreciation of my service in the military, but it was my honor and also my duty to this country, I also thank you for your generous offer to help me out with needed items to start casting. A PM is on the way.

[Wayne Smith]

Doc, just one piece of advice not so far offered. Start with the 45, not because of size but because both the 9mm and 41 Mag are high pressure cartridges, which adds some complications. The 45 is a low pressure cartridge, or to put it another way it has lots of expansion room. This makes it somewhat less challenging to shoot cast. Once you have mastered your 45 then learn the other cartridges. Besides, there's not much you want to do with a pistol that the 45 can't!

[Bigslug]

I want to start out with 9mm, .41 Mag, and .45 colt

CM63,

My own path has lead me to shift toward tumble-lube bullet designs wherever they can work. In my case, that's done in order to save time, but it can save you (at least initially) the need to invest in stick lube, a lube sizer, and sizing dies for those calibers. As the velocities creep up above 1500 fps or so, you'll need to start considering gas checks, at which point the sizers become essential, but for handguns, a TL bullet that drops a sufficiently large diameter (.001" to .002" over groove diameter) will suffice in the autos. For revolvers, the same concept works, but it's USUALLY better to match the bullet to what will slip-fit through the cylinder throats.

I'm using White Label Lube's 45/45/10 to swirl them in.

[Combatmedic63]

Doc, just one piece of advice not so far offered. Start with the 45, not because of size but because both the 9mm and 41 Mag are high pressure cartridges, which adds some complications. The 45 is a low pressure cartridge, or to put it another way it has lots of expansion room. This makes it somewhat less challenging to shoot cast. Once you have mastered your 45 then learn the other cartridges. Besides, there's not much you want to do with a pistol that the 45 can't!

Wayne,
Thank you for the good advice. I am definitely starting with my .45 caliber molds and will work my way up to more difficult calibers.

[Combatmedic63]

CM63,

My own path has lead me to shift toward tumble-lube bullet designs wherever they can work. In my case, that's done in order to save time, but it can save you (at least initially) the need to invest in stick lube, a lube sizer, and sizing dies for those calibers. As the velocities creep up above 1500 fps or so, you'll need to start considering gas checks, at which point the sizers become essential, but for handguns, a TL bullet that drops a sufficiently large diameter (.001" to .002" over groove diameter) will suffice in the autos. For revolvers, the same concept works, but it's USUALLY better to match the bullet to what will slip-fit through the cylinder throats.

I'm using White Label Lube's 45/45/10 to swirl them in.

I'm experimenting with powder coating right now, but I do want to try the 45/45/10 lube. I found a recipe for it that I would like to try and make. Thanks for the advice.