Getting Setup to Cast my own bullets - Input Needed

[Hozzie]

So I have decided to start purchasing the things needed to start casting my own bullets (or at least have it when I am ready to).  Not so much to save money as the initial cost will be relatively high, but as more of an insurance policy against the future availability and accessibility of bullets.  With that said, I am looking for some advice on recommended equipment related to moulds and those items needed to do the job effectively.  Cheap is not the goal, quality and value are more what I am looking for.  If the least expensive has the best quality, no problem and even better, but I am of the buy once, cry once mentality, so good quality is more important that price (within reason).

 

I am not one who is going to go running around looking for wheel weights and such on a regular basis, so that isn't a big concern.  I have already purchased an initial order of 92-6-2 lead from MBC and I will solely be using it for doing this.  I really want to be able to just grab an ingot and put it in the pot and not worry too much about the chemistry part of it.  I think it will work fine for everything I want to do.

 

Right now, I plan to get an RCBS Pro-Melt.  It seems to have very good reviews and will appear to do what I need it to quite easily. 

 

What I am more interested in is recommendations of bullet moulds, and whatever else is needed to actually cast.  I see good reviews of the NOE bullets moulds and I also know that a lot of people use the Lee Bullet moulds.  I see where NOE has some brass moulds and some are aluminum.  I would think Brass would be better, but don't know if that really holds true.  It would seem to keep a more consistent temperature, but that may not be true in this case either or even have some negative affect I don't know about.

 

I will start with moulds for 300blk (220-245gr), 357 158 GR SWC, a 44Mag mould, and probably a 9mm mould.  I am sure there will be others, but those would be what I would probably start with.

 

Any recommendations on mould grips and any other equipment I may need would be greatly appreciated.  I do a lot of research on things and am usually comfortable about making a decision on things, but this is one thing I have no current real world knowledge about, just what I have read on a few different sites.

 

Thanks!

Edited February 15, 2014 by Hozzie

[runco]

I would advise reading this TGO post from a year ago:

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/60792-casting-bullets-a-cautionary-tale/?hl=%2Bcasting+%2Bventilation#entry910823

[Hozzie]

Thanks.  I have read that before and am pretty aware of the health hazards, but reinforcement is always good.  I am probably a little on the side of overcautious if anything. 

[RED333]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php

Read, read and read some more, more info here than you can read in a year.

[Hozzie]

Thanks Red.  I signed up for CastBoolits and have started reading as well.  I know a lot here do a lot of casting and I take your opinions highly, so that was my main reason for asking here. 

[Superman]

You need to decide how you want to lube the bullets. Lubrisizer, pan lube, or tumble lube. May be other methods out there, not sure. Or powdercoat the bullets, its real easy.  I tumble lubed but have switched to powdercoat, dont see myself going back to lube.

 

AFA molds go, I have a couple brass molds from Mihec group buys over on castboolits. Super nice, they are heavy, but can be a long wait. Also have a few Lee molds they work really well to and much lighter than the brass molds. I am on a group buy now from A.C.E., on castboolits, for an aluminum 75gr 223 mold. Mihec and Lee are the only molds I have used but I dont think you can really go wrong with any mold.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Superman

[Hozzie]

Thanks Superman.  I planned to powdercoat so I can shoot them through my suppressors if I want without as much worry about leading, although my 9mm suppressor is take apart so that helps.  I will probably end up lubing some too, but good info to think about.

 

Also, has anyone noticed an issue when powdercoating bullets with the lube groove in them.  I can see where not having them would make it easier for powdercoating, but would there be a peformance issue (greater leading concern mostly) by having the groove and not really needing it?  There are a couple of group buys as you mention, but I am not sure if I should wait and see if I can find moulds without the groove in them.  I am thinking about the MiHec 125gr group buy with the penta and blank pins in .357 so by the time I powdercoat they aren't too big.

 

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?229442-MiHec-9mm-125-gr-four-cavity-HP-or-four-cavity-solid-7th-rerun

Edited February 15, 2014 by Hozzie

[RED333]

Lyman molds are good as well, can be picked up from ebay some times for a good price.

I started with ladle pour, have gone to bottom pour now.

Lee makes a good lead pot for both.

Molds, LOL, I have a few, just picked up a .725, 740 gran 12ga slug mold.

Gone be a hoot to shoot.

[Wingshooter]

Caster posted up an awesome thread on the subject a while back. I still reference it every now and then http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/43785-the-lead-thread/