Cal-ApeR wrote:Thanks all. Exactly what I was after. To throw a spanner in the mix.... Anyone casting for either and able to recommend a quality mold?
bladeracer wrote:Cal-ApeR wrote:Thanks all. Exactly what I was after. To throw a spanner in the mix.... Anyone casting for either and able to recommend a quality mold?
Cast Bullet Engineering.
Lots and lots of variations you can choose from, especially in getting the bullet diameter your rifle prefers.
I use their 432" in my Marlin .44.
boingk wrote:Hi mate, CBE might make some bloody good mould but I'd be tempted to start cheap if you're getting into it. This will get you started in a mould cheaply and with decent quality:
Link to ebay click here
They do a TL358 for the 357 Mag, too. Handles included, ready to roll, just take out of the pack and give a quick lube with grease or vasoline as specified and you're away.
Now get a $12 cast iron pan from Kmart, a 1000W hotplate from ebay (exposed coil element type, not solid surface) and a small ladle of come sort. Lee do a very affordable cast one, or a big stainless serving spoon with a lip in one edge made with pliers will suffice - they're $5 at kmart by the way and work just fine for skimming dross and casting bullets.
So whats that - $55 for a mould and roughly $50 in your casting setup? Laughing. That probably only buys about 400x 44 Mag projectiles and you can probably make that in an hour without too much effort.
I've been cranking out a heap of projectiles using this method. All I use is wheel weights from local tyre shops. Most here give them away for a round of morning coffees. I melt it down, skim the crap off then cast the lead alloy from the weights into a muffin tin to make ingots. Its cheap and works just fine, and each ingot weighs about 1.5 pounds. Use the ingots as necessary to melt down and cast your bullets.
bladeracer wrote:You do make an excellent point Boingk, Lee is the place to start, and you'll likely need their handles anyway if you buy moulds from elsewhere.
Lee moulds, like all their gear, do let you make good stuff.
boingk wrote:Hi mate, CBE might make some bloody good mould but I'd be tempted to start cheap if you're getting into it. This will get you started in a mould cheaply and with decent quality:
Link to ebay click here
They do a TL358 for the 357 Mag, too. Handles included, ready to roll, just take out of the pack and give a quick lube with grease or vasoline as specified and you're away.
Now get a $12 cast iron pan from Kmart, a 1000W hotplate from ebay (exposed coil element type, not solid surface) and a small ladle of come sort. Lee do a very affordable cast one, or a big stainless serving spoon with a lip in one edge made with pliers will suffice - they're $5 at kmart by the way and work just fine for skimming dross and casting bullets.
So whats that - $55 for a mould and roughly $50 in your casting setup? Laughing. That probably only buys about 400x 44 Mag projectiles and you can probably make that in an hour without too much effort.
I've been cranking out a heap of projectiles using this method. All I use is wheel weights from local tyre shops. Most here give them away for a round of morning coffees. I melt it down, skim the crap off then cast the lead alloy from the weights into a muffin tin to make ingots. Its cheap and works just fine, and each ingot weighs about 1.5 pounds. Use the ingots as necessary to melt down and cast your bullets.