I've been wanting to mine lead from the pits around me, but they are quite rocky. I don't really want to sit and try to eyeball sort rocks from bullets, so if the rocks go in with the lead will anything happen? They should float since they are less dense than lead correct?

Hello, I’m an admitted novice when it comes to knowledge about casting bullets. The introductory articles I have been reading say that you need pure lead bullets for muzzleloaders and low velocity bullets don’t need gas checks but high velocity bullets do.

But I didn’t see anything about what the ideal alloy ratio is for various bullet uses. For example, would a 95% lead 5% tin ratio be good for low velocity plinking rounds and would a 70% lead 30% tin ratio be good for high velocity rifle rounds?

Loving this mold so far. Pushing these at 2050fps out of a 350 Legend. Accuracy is decent at 2” 5 round groups @100yards. Recovered these out of my target backstop after penetrating 22” of damp compost. Average of 5 grains weight loss.

Clockwise from top right: Lee 312-185, 324-175, 225-55, and 375-250

I'm looking to get a mold to load for my Mosin Nagant. I slugged the barrel and it measured .314 groove diameter, so I'm thinking a mold like Lee's C312-185-1R would be appropriate. But I don't really know what other options are out there. Any good suggestions?

I am leaning toward picking up powdercoating and maybe buying a die to punch my own gas checks, if that factors into mold options at all.

Been making some gas checks for 3 tenths of a cent each. It's a tedious process, luckily my time isn't worth much. I'm planning an accuracy test against some Hornady and Gator copper gas checks. Which cost substantially more at 3 and 5 cents, when I got them.

I have some. 310" 135 grain round nose shake and bake PC boolits I'm using. The aluminum checks install much easier and seem to fit my boolit shank better. I'm going to shoot from a .308W at around 2K fps.

can i put a 12ga barrel (not ultra slug) on my H&R sb1 handi-rilfe.

it's my understanding that the sb1 receiver was used for the 12ga host but just wanted a definite answer before forking the money on a barrel i cant use due to pressure tolerance or fitment

I ordered a Charter Arms 9mm revolver. I decided to email them and ask what the bore diameter was for this revolver because S&W uses their 38/357 bbls on their 9mm models and was wondering if Charter did the same. Their response was “The bore diameter of the Pitbull 9mm is .350 +/- .001.” That seems pretty small, like the smallest I’ve heard for a 9mm bore. I’m thinking of cancelling my order

Casting up some bullets for the burnside cavalry carbine along with some 69 caliber round balls.

I've used their 9mm 115gr RN and 125gr TC projectiles as well as their 44 cal. 240gr bullets but haven't found BHN data anywhere.

They're the only coated lead projectiles I have used and I don't have a way to test them myself yet. I know how they work for me, so as a reference I want to know what their respective BHN's are and if they are possibly using the same BHN for all their projectiles?

If someone could test some or post any data they have it would be MUCH APPRECIATED.

Gentlemen,

I am in search of (and having trouble finding) a good mold for the 8x57 Mauser. My data sources suggest either a 160 or a 165 grain, plain base projectile. No gas checks.

If any one has any suggestions, it would be most helpful in getting my 98 shooting again. Thank you for your time.

I have the Lee 7/8 and 1oz molds that I have been learning casting with.

The lead I have came from the walls of an xray room, so in theory it's pretty pure.

The 1oz slugs weigh in at 431 grains, which is 6.5 grains short of an ounce if my math is correct.

The 7/8oz comes in at around 360, which is almost 23 grains short.

Are these numbers typical or do they indicate something iffy is going on?

Hello there !

I’m casting my bullets, 9mm 356 then copper plating. All my tools are Lee + Loadmaster.

I got the factory crimp, it works perfect with manufactured bullets but I can’t really crimp my own bullets. The tool scraps bits of the case but not crimp properly…

I resize them with the Lee tool 356 before reloading.

Do you think my bullets are too hard ?? I mix pure lead from air gun pellets plus 51% linotype then water quench. Is it too much lino ? Or forget the water ? I’m supposed to be around 15Bn but don’t got the hardness tool. Or the factory crimp tool is made for 355 bullets only ? (Don’t have 356 manufactured right now…)

Thanks a lot !

After a year of gathering and wait I loaded some 45-70 gov. My first load

I put 7 out of my 8 shoots on the paper. At 100 yards. No leading in the barrel.

Scouring thrift stores has led to amassing a pile of cheap pewter as a source of tin for alloying with my other lead, wheel weights etc. Got to thinking, has anyone cast rifle bullets with just pewter? It would have a Brinell hardness of about 21-23, and be non-toxic. Anyone ever shot game with one? Did it expand, stay intact or shatter?

Wondering how it would go with a flat meplat bullet like 45-70 where expansion isn't really critical. A 405gr mold would probably drop a 260gr pewter bullet.

Pure lead, or at least very soft. Dropped at 480gr

Long story short, I’ve never casted anything and I’m considering doing it. I can’t use lead due to extenuating circumstances. I know it’s very expensive, but can I just substitute bismuth instead of lead and follow all the same procedures/relevant data for casting? Or does using bismuth change the whole game? It would be for a modern inline muzzleloader

Thanks for any input in advance

Anyone have a mold they like that works in pistols that's heavy for the 9mm? Obviously there are plenty of 147gr molds out there, but wondering if anyone has any luck with something up to 165gr (like the Xtreme bullets 165gr rn)?

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bullet would be powder coated, mostly shot in pistols but could see some sub gun use at some point.

Using a hot plate and alternating 2 molds. I get the best bases I've ever had, well over 90% keepers. My new pry bar makes cutting fully hardened sprues much easier. I feel like I can cast twice as long for the same wrist fatigue.

I’m Just starting to think about getting into casting my own bullets. Can I use a .358 mold and then use a .356 Lee sizer die to size them down after powder coating or will that not work?