Who Shoots Lead

[sqlbullet]

Any casters in the mix yet or am I the only one with Pb poisoning?

[Intercooler]

   I figured the next great thing will be those new Nylon bullets 

[sqlbullet]

Funny story, speaking of synthec materials.

Some of the guys at cast boolits shoot "gloolits", bullets cast of hot melt glue.  They are great for back yard plinking, only need a primer, no powder in the case, etc.

So, one Sunday morning I am repairing a shoe and have the glue gun out and hot, and think "hey, lets give those a try".  Not being one to read directions much, I preheat my favorite mold a bit on the stove and squirt the cavities full of glue.

Well, the directions clearly state to coat the mold with vegetable oil as a release agent.  I glued my mold shut.  Finally heated it and got it open and the gloolits out.  Tried them out in the basement, and they do shoot pretty zippy with just a primer.

Ahhh, the fun we have as a do-it-yourselfer!

[The_Shadow]

I cast a few different bullets for mine...Lyman 175gr TCBB and 156gr Devastator HP (same profile as the TCBB but with the hollow point) BTW the mold is obsolete (thanks Lyman)


I also cast some RCBS 175gr TC which have a very tiny small SWC edge.

I have considered other molds like a 200gr but haven't jumped on that one yet.

[sqlbullet]

A big pile of those devastators always makes me grin.

[alwaysshootin]

A big pile of those devastators always makes me grin.

Wow, made me grin also! I shoot lead almost exclusively, just don't cast yet. Letting the lead gather in my shooting bunker. Will retrieve it some day to mold my own!

[sqlbullet]

Casting is very rewarding, and I have found boolits I cast are usually superior to anything I can buy.  Plus, if you can recycle your own range scrap, the cost becomes very low.  Just a bit of electricity and time.

[michael e]

Shoot lead 99% of time,   haven't got into casting yet.   Been reading up on it alot lately , and relocating all the old wheel weights we have at work already.

[The_Shadow]

Those wishing to learn more about casting A to Z and all aspects may find this site interesting and very useful!
http://www.lasc.us/

[sqlbullet]

LASC and cast boolits taught me about 90% of what I know.  The Lyman Cast Boolit Handbook is also highly recommended.

[DM1906]

Casting is very rewarding, and I have found boolits I cast are usually superior to anything I can buy.  Plus, if you can recycle your own range scrap, the cost becomes very low.  Just a bit of electricity and time.

My contribution to the green movement:  Recycling lead.  I get a lot from a large club bullet trap.  Lately though, I'm finding a lot of undesirable heavy metals in the mix.  Not sure yet where it's coming from, but I got a batch with a bunch of cadmium and zinc in it.  I suspect another caster is recycling batteries, and not too well.  He'll probably turn up dead at some time, seeing how sloppy his alloys are.  Lead in itself is bad enough.  Cadmium will kill you, quick.

[sqlbullet]

There are guys that are playing with Zinc boolits, but not very many.  Both are a real pain and it is bad news to hear they are coming in range scrap.  For many that is the last bastion of free lead since lead WW are starting become scarce.

[Shooter25]

I cast my own. Plated and FMJ cost more than I am willing to pay.

[DM1906]

There are guys that are playing with Zinc boolits, but not very many.  Both are a real pain and it is bad news to hear they are coming in range scrap.  For many that is the last bastion of free lead since lead WW are starting become scarce.

Yeah.  WW's are getting scarce.  Last year, my tire shop harvest was about 75% lead.  Down to 50% this year.  A real bummer, for sure.  I don't like the zinc idea.  Nice metal, but has side effects.  I did some testing on pure tin, for muzzleloading.  Looking for an alternative to lead-free hunting bullets.  They shoot nice, fast and hit hard at the range, but too hard for anything else.  Bismuth is the stuff, but more expensive than Barnes, in the end.

[enidpd804]

Shoot: yes.  Cast: no. I've had good luck with Missouri Bullet Co.  I'd really like to get into casting, I just never have.