Who Shoots Lead

[sqlbullet]

I found my huckleberry in lead supply in radio-pharmacies.  They use the lead for shielding of the nuclear isotope generators.  I have a friend that works for such a local pharmacy.

Last year I purchased just shy of eight tons of scrap lead from them.  This year I have already picked up over 3 tons.  Most of it I resell to a commercial bullet caster (Precision Cast).  I keep some for my own use obviously.

This lead is predominately 96% lead, 3% antimony, 1% tin.  There are a few containers that are higher in tin, and the iodine shielding is pure lead.

Works out really well for me.

[ebner glocken]

This mold works well, WQWW lubed with javelena.  Shot in a glock 20.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/569185/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-401-175-tc-40-s-and-w-401-diameter-175-grain-truncated-cone

Ebner

[sqlbullet]

I am a big fan of Lee 6 cavity molds.  All the ones I have tried have been solid.

The two cavity molds are hit and miss.  If you are willing to polish them with a casting and some toothpaste, they usually straighten up.

I wish they made a  200 grain .401 mold in 6 cavity.  I would prefer a truncated cone or a RFN design.

[475/480]

Been casting for about 20 years now. I have 2- 10MM moulds a 190gr LFNGC and a 215 gr WFGC . Get WW while you can they are getting tougher to find.

Sean

[sqlbullet]

Welcome to the forum Sean.  What brand are hose molds and how many cavities are they?

[The_Shadow]

Having the casting equipment insures you bullets should the SHTF or a less expensive way to shoot if you can obtain alloys at a reasonable price.  Getting good wheel weights for free made the effort worth while, however the ecologist and tree huggers have messed that up... :'(  Glad I obtained a small stash to last me for my needs.  Roto Metals has some quality alloy specific metals for purchase, I don't know how there prices are as compared to purchasing cast bullets outright.   

[DM1906]

......I wish they made a  200 grain .401 mold in 6 cavity.  I would prefer a truncated cone or a RFN design.

Not too difficult.  Get the Lee .41 SWC in 195 or 210 gr.  Run them through your .401 sizer (use a little sizing lube), and viola!  Resizing takes down the shoulder enough, you almost can't tell it's a SWC.  Works with plated bullets, too.  I have a bunch of Berry's 210 gr. FP's resized, loaded and ready for testing.  Waiting for a cloudy day so I don't have to use the hood on my chrono.  I don't like the .40 plated bullets for 10mm velocities (they come apart above about 1100 FPS).  All of them have too thin copper.  The Berry's plated mag bullets have 4x the copper, and resize very well.  Hornady TMJ's are also "mag vel" plated.  I may try some of those, too.

[sqlbullet]

Roto Metals has some quality alloy specific metals for purchase, I don't know how there prices are as compared to purchasing cast bullets outright.   

Last I checked you could buy cast bullets at gunshows for about $50-$75 per thousand.  This is about the same price as lead from rotometals, which makes casting your own strictly a benefit if you need something unusual, or are need a non-standard fit or hardness.

As a general rule I don't care for commercial cast bullets.  I think the alloys are on the hard side, I think the lube is way, way too hard, and I generally like my bullets .002" over sized compared to jacketed, while commercial are almost always only .001" over.

But, I get my lead very cheap.  My opinion may change if I was faced with the same price to cast my own as to buy them.

Not too difficult.  Get the Lee .41 SWC in 195 or 210 gr.  Run them through your .401 sizer (use a little sizing lube), and viola!  Resizing takes down the shoulder enough, you almost can't tell it's a SWC.  Works with plated bullets, too.

I have tried this with some borrowed bullets.  I wasn't happy enough with the result to make it a regular deal.  I have a 205 grain mold I love, but it is only a two cavity.  Every time I cast 45 acp for my pharmacy friend I am reminded of how fast you can make a stack of bullets with a six cavity mold.

[475/480]

Welcome to the forum Sean.  What brand are hose molds and how many cavities are they?

The 190gr LFNGC is a Accurate molds 3 cavity aluminum . The 215 gr WFNGC is a mountainmolds.com aluminum 2 cavity mold.The top bullet is the 190 gr LFNGC, bottom the 215 gr WFNGC.

[sqlbullet]

My 205 gr is a Mountain mold.  Great mold, casts great bullets.  Just a little slow.

[475/480]

Yes it would be nice to have 4-6 cavity moulds for all my casting.

Sean

[Southpaw45]

Same here. I shoot tons of cast bullets. Im just not the one who casted them. My bullet of choice is a 180grn Bear Creek moly coated bullet with a R.N.F.P profile...

[Any Cal.]

I shoot mostly lead.  Montana 200s, and a bunch I cast from a 3 banger Mountain Mold. I would really like one of the Lee 6 cavity, but they don't make them in a bullet I want.

I got the custom ones sorted out pretty well now, after 80 rounds or so, a few jacketed got the barrel mostly shiny. Hammering the 100 yd gong and not having to clean the barrel, priceless!

[sqlbullet]

I would really like one of the Lee 6 cavity, but they don't make them in a bullet I want.

Perhaps our first group buy if we can agree on a design.  Lee will waive the set-up fee for orders of 30 molds.  We may not get that high, but even if we have 10 of us, that spreads the set-up fee out to only $17.50 each.

[The_Shadow]

In this picture are my 3 styles of 10mm/40cal cast bulletsand their length.