Bullet caster

[tank]

 I know I know WTF 

 But heard there might me some bullet casters here. I use to but the kids were small and had to be in the house when the wife was at work now that I'm getting the time I would like to get started again. I like my 44spl then the 38spl
 
 I know I'm special lanshrk I seen it on the side of the bus.
tank

[Slenk]

 
I cast for .357 , 30 cal. , also My muzzleloaders.
Slenk

[tank]

Sorry about getting back to you so late, I didn't see the post

 Slenk do you use the same mix for both? I have used a lot of wheel weights for the 38 and 44 spl. That was almost 10 years ago what are casters using now to keep the leading down?
tank
 

[sisu]

ON the topic of casting, do any of you cast fancy weight for decoys? I cast some Fred Flintstone ones with conduit, lead and some wire turned into a loop for the cording. After this I took an 8 inch piece of copper 12 and /or 14 ga. wire to use as a keeper when the cord is wrapped up so it does not undo.

[Idabooner]

I used to cast for .30 cal., .357-.38, 9MM, .41, .44, .45, & .54. Various bullet styles in these calibers.  I did a lot of experimenting with lead alloy mixtures. I used plumbers bar solder, (it has a lot of tin), pure lead, wheel weights (some tin), car battery's (not much lead here).   I settled for as near as I could get to #2 alloy for a all around mix. For the hotter loads more tin (more penetration, less leading).  If I recall leading will start around 1300 fps., from that and under, after several rounds run a few factory jacketed bullets, helps wipe the lead out.  Over 1300 fps. use a gas check, and more tin you can get into the low 2000 fps. with proper lube and sizing, and still get some mushroom on the bullets.

This is a lot of fun and lowers the shooting cost way way down. It's been a lot of years since I've done much, I have well over a 100 lbs. in 1 lbs. bars of various mixes.  Just give it the old scratch test, pour a 1 lbs. bar and scratch it with a knife point to see how hard it is.  Pour a bullet, shoot it into a rotten stump, dig it out and see the results.

I used the LYMAN RELOADING HANDBOOK for a reference.