I'm ready to get started casting and could use some opinions. Like most folks in this day and age money is tight right now so I'm trying to get started as cheaply as possible. If things work out I can always upgrade later but here is what I've got on my Midway wish list so far:
- Lee Production Pot Four
- Lee 2 Cavity 365-95-1R for 9mm Mak
- Lee 2 Cavity 358-148-WC for 38 Sp/357 Mag
- Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook
I've got some wheel weights lined up but I'm thinking about ordering 7 lbs of the Ney hardball lead just so I've got clean lead of a known composition to practice with. I'm planning on tumble lubing with Lee Liquid Alox that I've already got on the shelf.
Now to the noobie questions:
Do I have to size the bullets? For 38/357 I've been shooting cast bullets from Tennessee Valley Bullets sized to .358 with good results. I've looked at the Lee Lube and Size kit in .358 diameter but I'm not sure I need it. For the 9mm Mak I'm shooting Meister cast bullets sized to .364. I can't find a Lee Lube and size for that diameter. For that matter I can't seem to find any sizing dies in .364 diameter.
I've read some very informative posts on this forum about pan lubing and will probably give that a try. Do you buy the hollow sticks from Midway and just melt them down or is there a more economical way (or a better place) to purchase lube? Is there a preferred type of lube for this method, and how much will I need to purchase, to pan lube?
Is there a better place to buy lead already formulated for casting? Or a better type of lead to purchase? The Ney hardball is listed around 16 bhn and thats a little harder than the Tennessee Valley bullets (around 12 bhn) that I've been using, I'm not sure of the bhn on the Meister 9x18 bullets.
It's been said that the only dumb question is the one that goes unasked. I'm sure I'll be putting that statement to the test in the coming months as I get started casting. So thanks in advance for your patience and your advice.
Andy