Castageddon is about to commence.
- Thread starter Starkherz199
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FlatFender
Well-Known Member
When you said Monster ingots, I was just expecting big ingots, not actual Monster ingots. Well played.
When you cast bullets from the range scrap will you be using the traditional lube, or will you powder/hi-tec coating them?
Ive collected a couple hundred pounds of bullet splatter and plan to try smelting and casting hopefully in the near future. I plan to cast 9mm first and if it works well move to .40 and .45. I will be powder coating at first and if all goes well probably move to the hi-tec stuff. Biggest problem is finding the time.
Ive collected a couple hundred pounds of bullet splatter and plan to try smelting and casting hopefully in the near future. I plan to cast 9mm first and if it works well move to .40 and .45. I will be powder coating at first and if all goes well probably move to the hi-tec stuff. Biggest problem is finding the time.
OP
I powder coat everything. I have the Hi Tek powder...but don't use it. I have so much regular powder coating powder...I'm going to use it up before I switch to the Hi Tek stuff.dave33 said:
Starkherz199;n23596 said:
What does a bucket weigh?
I have a couple hundred pounds of dental bottles I'm still working through. Scared for the day I have to buy lead again... I'm casting 230gr for about a penny right now...
OP
Yeah...well. I have 4 sets of tires...about 5 high in front of the berm...with dirt filled in. They easily collect the bullets. Then I dig out one stack, and set the dirt to the side. The I put my strainer on top of the empty tire, and strain out of the next stack to fill the new tire. With my kids helping it takes some time...maybe a whole day or so of labor. I usually do a few hours worth of work spread over a week or so. Its a pain to do every year or 2. But I'll always have lead.bigfelipe said:
Baby bullets.
No 500 grain 45/70?
Mike, how picky are you about the base edge of your boolits? For example do you recast slightly rounded bottom edges or ones with divots from the sprue plate? Looking at your pics, some are crisp, flat bottoms and some are rounded or have bigger chunks in the base. Have you found a difference in accuracy?
OP
Makes no difference for coated pistol bullets, unless your shooting real long distance. For Rifle bullets, it must be clean flat bottom or it goes back in the pot.bigfelipe said:
OP
I will say that what I only load pristine bullets for competition. Sprue plate divots have never affected accuracy at the minimal distances I shoot in practice. As a rule I tend not to use a bullet that has a rounded base if it is truly a flat base mould. Both of these bullets have a very slight bevel. But I have been known to save up blemishes and load them just for bill drillsbigfelipe said:
Z
Zedhound
Guest
this is really cool. i want to start casting i like your low cost setup
RedneckFur
Smith & Wesson is a religion of peace.
Really neat to see old bullets dug out of berms and recast! Always thought it would be a good idea to recycle lead that way.
It also gets me to thinking.. I wonder how many tons of lead are in the berms at DPRC?
It also gets me to thinking.. I wonder how many tons of lead are in the berms at DPRC?
OP
RedneckFur;n63410 said:
Its a cross between self sufficiency and saving money for a hobby. But...its a dirty job. I don't mind...gets me outside in the winter. I hate sitting indoors.
OP
FYI...those Monster can ingots weight 18lbs on average. That picture is about a 1/3rd of what I cleaned up.in the last 2 weeks. I fill a dedicated old Dutch oven up to the brim with spent bullets, cook it on a turkey burner. I pour either wax or bacon grease on top. Then I go cast bullets while it's getting hot. At some point the lead melts, and the grease/wax catches fire. When it burns off I skim the solid pieces out, and stir the carbon black in the melt with a big stick to Flux it.
OP
RockRiver;n64943 said:
Geerubn is right...as the lead melts it settles at the bottom because it is such a heavy metal. It all conveniently floats at the top. The trick.is skimming it off without removing the tin in the melt.
Starkherz199;n64897 said:
I do the same thing, but I use chunks of wax rings for setting toilets as flux. They're cheap as can be and work great. I'm uppity though... my smelting pot is Le Creuset...
OP
bigfelipe;n74220 said:
It's a Noe 225gr 4 cavity brass mould. A friend that I cast for had it special made...I think it run him 150$. Beautiful mold. But insanely heavy.