Bullet casting setup recommendations

[SeldomSeenSlim]

I've handloaded for many years now. I load a lot of hard cast lead for wheelguns and pistols, so I'm well versed in the application of cast lead, but I've never actually made any myself. I've seen the tools in various catalogs and instructions in manuals, but I was wondering if any of you could recommend some specific tools or some tips and tricks that would help a rookie.

The only tooling decision I'm set on is to use a non-electric melting pot. Other than that I'm open to any suggestions. I'd like to start with .357-.358 155-158gr RNFP and a .430 255-260gr RNFP

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I've cast alot till around the time i started carrying the glock. Glocks dont like lead, build up to much pressure withn the barrel.
The process is simple but like alot of stuff is trial and error. The cast wont produce good bullets until they are heated properly, the bullets will have flaws in them till this happens, after a few times the casts will be hot enough to make good looking bullets. The bullets that are ugly can be remelted or drilled and made into catfish weights. If you get some soft lead it can be mixed with solder that has tin and antinomy to hardned it. I dont remember my mixes, they were trial and error and my slower shooting 38s and 45s were pretty forgiving. I have a lee melting pit that is super old and wayyyy back when i first started and had nothing I used a spoon and a propane torch to make 45 bullets. I preheated my mold with the tirch then would quickly melt the lead and poor it. Drop the bullet in a old milk jug of water to cool it.
DO NOT get that water anywhere or anyhow so it can fall into the lead pot. Hot lead and water make for a bad deal. I keep the lead pot above my water always for safety.
get a dedicated plastic or wood mallet to knock the mold top sheer with and to occasionally tap the bullet out. the reason i say dedicated is because the mold will scar the mallet over time.
I dunno, cant think of nothing else right now but feel free to ask. i got most of my stuff from tire weights, which are going outta style now. I used some lead aprons from medical sources too which may be questionable as to health but yound men dont think bout such things ya know. I also go to ranges and sift burms when allowed.
I just use an old spoon to clean the debris from the top of the lead pot when you melt it cause all other dirt, jackets, junk will be lighter than the lead and will rise if you stir it once while hot. Dont use the spoon to eat with no more LOL unless ya wanna be like WO hahahaha

[eeyore]

Do it with good ventilation. Use good gloves. Be Careful with the stove, make sure it has a good base and is setting solidly on it. The pot weighs a lot when it has lead in it. It is much harder to cast from a non electric pot, using a ladle. It will be a lot of trail and error don't get frustrated. Use a ladle and pot from a plumbing supply house, it was made for what you are doing. Buy a ladle from like this one will make it easier.

[old guy]

I've been casting for close to forty years now and some of my favorite loads are still cast bullets. Check out this site, there is years of very useful info by some of the best in the business here. Be sure to check out the hollow point info.

http://www.lasc.us/articlesfryxell.htm

Enjoy
old guy

[PJaster]

well, its Oh Dark Thirty, and PAIN woke me up, so here I am reading this thread....
Brings me back to my first casting days, '79-80.

I shot my Ruger Security Six with cast as I could not afford jacketed bullits.

I had a favorite Lee mold, it was a SWC @ 110 grain weight, in the regular lead formula (wheel weights), but I had worked for an old Newspaper & happened to own Linotype lead as well.

Now I am not suggesting Buying that stuff, very expensive, but I did cast Linotype in that 110 grain mold, and it came out weighing 96 grains.... and I pushed that with a very small charge of bullseye, the result was a very light recoil (almost none) which my Dear Wife (RIP) loved to shoot with.

My use was for small game, head shots, no meat loss.

You may enjoy that later on....

BTW, you said 38-357.... unless you own BOTH calibers, its best to down load your 357 cartridge, and not mix shooting 38's in it. Two good results:

1. longer cartridge life
2. no burn ring in your cylinder, after shooting the shorter 38's.

Hope that helps,

philip

[SeldomSeenSlim]

Thanks folks. I've gone through some links and watched some youtube videos. It looks pretty straightforward, but I'm sure it's something one has to try a few times to get it down pat.