Sidearms & Scatterguns Any Boolit Casters?

[Tpb10505]

I just cast my first bullets for my Glock 22 (Bar-sto barrel) with a custom .402 mold from Accurate Molds!

.640" and coming in at 195gr using an alloy that should be close to Lyman #2. Now time for some load development using 4.3-4.4gr N340 for USPSA Limited.

 

[deadly_punk]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

They look nice! No lube? I reload and shoot thousands of cast bullets from a local guy every year and love the price and performance.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Beautiful job. Get a lube that works with the velocity you are looking for. Happy shooting.

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Im going to use 51% Beeswax, 45% Alox 350, and 4% Carnauba wax flakes for the lube, just need to get these sized first.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Look great! I will probably be setting up my own casting operation next year or so, after I move.

 

[i-give-up]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I have been casting for about a year now. I lucked into a complete set-up, including 1000lbs of wheel weights, lead & linotype from an older gentleman that could no longer cast due to his age. I bought it all in hopes of casting to make a little money on the side at the local USPSA matches. But I found the process to be way too time consuming for anything but my own needs. I do enjoy it for myself.

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I completely agree. There's no way I'd do this for other than myself. Too much trouble. Casting is the easy part. Its lubing the dang things that's getting me frustrated. My first try at pan lubing sucked. Thinking about a lube-sizer right about now haha

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I have a theory. What If I cast a bullet with no lube grove and coat in HBN. Seems much more efficient to me. Works for the rifle guys and cuts out the mess of all that wax lube.

 

[i-give-up]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Just get a lube-sizer. It makes the bullets perfectly round, eliminates any casting seams & lubes at the same time. Anything else is a pain & somewhat of a mess. Unless you are only doing a handfull for maybe a slow shooting muzzle loader. In my opinion, with any amount of volume you need a lube-sizer.

Plus with different size dies, you can size the bullet to exactly what you want. You are not stuck with the factory mold size.

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Thats my plan if the HBN doesn't work. But I cant find anything about anyone trying it, and I know people use Moly on cast bullets. I just dont think the lube groove is that efficient. Why not coat the entire bearing surface with HBN than a groove with antiquated lube/wax?

 

[former naval person]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

If you do get a lube-sizer get a Star. You can run them through as fast as your pumping arm can move. The lube does more than lubricate. It also acts as an anti-flux to help keep the lead from accumulating in the bore. It will be interesting to hear your results. I've only been casting for 58 years so I really don't understand everything yet. Join the Cast Bullet Association. They have lots of good data and ideas with some good matches they sponsor. Good luck.

 

[wingnut49b]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I cast for my 1911, and will second the Star for sizing and lubing. It's easy to setup, and will last forever. Figure on about $200, but you'll always be able to sell it for what you have in it or more.

I ahve had great luck finding people to help me on the Cast Boolits forum as well. That is one of the few forums I've been to that is as helpful as this one!

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Didn't know about the Star Lube/Sizer, I'll definitely look into it. Pan lubing is for the birds as much as I reload

 

[i-give-up]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Any lube/sizer is better than pan lubing. That being said...get the Star.

Like has been stated, the Cast Boolits forum is great source of knowledge.

 

[steve123]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I've been thinking about trying bullet casting this winter. Where do you guys get lead at? Years ago I was going to get into casting and started to go to the local gas stations to find wheel weights and all of them were already selling the wheel weights to other casters so I gave up on the idea.

 

[normbal]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I got into it about fifteen years ago when a clinic I worked at did some refurbishing and stacked 1/8" lead sheeting outside on the sidewalk from the old X-Ray room. I took several hundred pounds of it home, melted it into ingots over a coleman camp stove and every couple of years I'll case a few thousand 230 grain .45 ACP, 240 grain Keith semi-wadcutter .44 Magnum, .38 Cal DEWCs and 9mm 115grain RN bullets. Still have several hundred pounds of ingots, and some tin and Antimony for alloying. I've pushed some alloyed .44 magnum slugs in excess of 1300 fps out of a six inch barreled .44 magnum from 1957 without leading.

I use a SAECO lubisizer and RCBS dies, have used Lee reloading dies but they "jam up," requiring careful maintenance to ensure they fit flush and don't produce a lot of flash. I wouldn't buy Lee dies again if I were doing this over. I'd spend more for higher quality steel dies.

This, like many of my hobbies, keeps me off the streets at night.

 

[Tpb10505]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

The Cast Boolits forum is a great place to find lead. I also found a local guy who was selling ingots he'd cast from wheel weights. Also try your local scrap yard if they'll sell it to ya

 

[rg1911]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

I started lubing and sizing using the Lyman machine (450?). Many moons ago I bought a used Star that refuses to give up the ghost. Unless you can afford a fully automated machine, the Star is the way to go. It's currently available from Magma Engineering (http://www.magmaengineering.com).

Cheers,
Richard

 

[wingnut49b]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Yeah, getting a new Star isn't a bad idea. The used ones go for a LOT on ebay or the cast forum. Buying used typically just gets you the die for free.

And check out the dies that 'Lathesmith' makes at CastBoolits. I'm going to need a couple myself when I start casting for rifles or a 9mm.

 

[billt]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

Very nice looking bullets! You've cast them at the perfect temperature.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Any Boolit Casters?

good job on those cast, personnaly life is too short to mess with all that lead melting and stuff.