Author Topic: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits  (Read 11791 times)

Magoo541

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Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« on: March 22, 2014, 08:04:10 PM »
So I bit the bullet, pun intended, and bought a bottom pour 20lb pot, a 6-shot 45 230g Tumble Lube Lee die, a pair of handles and some tumble lube.  I know a few of you on here have some experience, ...ehem... Les, and I'm just looking for some pointers. 

I've been to the site that specializes in casting Boolits but this is my home on the web so I'll be posting here.  Should be here in a week or so, bought it on Midway's St Patty's day coupon for $15 off the total=free shipping (well almost free).  I'll post pics and what I think I need to do to break it all in-basically cleaning and casting a bunch to "break-in" the mold.

Thanks in advance,
Bryan
He who dares wins.  SAS

ellis4538

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2014, 09:33:52 AM »
Check out the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and others out there.  Don't know much About tumble lube but you may need to size for best accuracy.  In that case you can size and lube at the same time.

FWIW


Richard
Used to be "The only thing to FEAR was FEAR ITSELF", nowadays "The only thing to FEAR is GETTING CAUGHT!"

alfsauve

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2014, 03:14:28 PM »
Always thought about doing that.   Very cool.

It's always a great EOTWAWKI skill and tools to have.

Will work for ammo
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PegLeg45

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2014, 12:58:20 PM »
Cool.

Interested in where this thread goes as well because I'm looking into this too.


*My older son is working with a new local tire business and has an inside line on lead wheel weights by the five gallon bucket.
"I expect perdition, I always have. I keep this building at my back, and several guns handy, in case perdition arrives in a form that's susceptible to bullets. I expect it will come in the disease form, though. I'm susceptible to diseases, and you can't shoot a damned disease." ~ Judge Roy Bean, Streets of Laredo

For the Patriots of this country, the Constitution is second only to the Bible for most. For those who love this country, but do not share my personal beliefs, it is their Bible. To them nothing comes before the Constitution of these United States of America. For this we are all labeled potential terrorists. ~ Dean Garrison

"When it comes to the enemy, just because they ain't pullin' a trigger, doesn't mean they ain't totin' ammo for those that are."~PegLeg

Solus

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2014, 04:15:22 PM »
Always thought about doing that.   Very cool.

It's always a great EOTWAWKI skill and tools to have.

If you want to have a Deluxe EOTWAWKI, check out bullet swagging. 

Here is a link to Corbin's intro page on bullet swagging....from round nose lead to rebated boattails...

http://www.corbins.com/starting.htm


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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #5 on: Today at 05:49:29 AM »

ellis4538

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2014, 05:50:45 PM »
Peg, ww's may not be lead!  Heard tell they had started using something else or an alloy with a lot less lead because of the cost of lead.  Forget where I read it.  Can't even think of what would be a suitable substitute.  I guess melting and fluxing will tell the tale.

FWIW


Richard

PS:  Cast tons of bullets in my day and time is way too valuable unless I'm casting something I can't get somewhere else.
Used to be "The only thing to FEAR was FEAR ITSELF", nowadays "The only thing to FEAR is GETTING CAUGHT!"

Magoo541

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2014, 06:37:34 PM »
If you want to have a Deluxe EOTWAWKI, check out bullet swagging. 

Here is a link to Corbin's intro page on bullet swagging....from round nose lead to rebated boattails...

http://www.corbins.com/starting.htm

I've looked at that already.  Too much $$$$ for me at the moment... unless I build my own dies  ;D

Peg, ww's may not be lead!  Heard tell they had started using something else or an alloy with a lot less lead because of the cost of lead.  Forget where I read it.  Can't even think of what would be a suitable substitute.  I guess melting and fluxing will tell the tale.
From what I have heard zinc is the new lead.  But when melting down your WW the zinc will float to the top and can be skimmed of with the rest of the dross.

Even if Wheel Weights dry up I can always reclaim some from the berms out at my club.  My time is valuable too but this gets me out of the house, 4 teen-aged girls and a wife, and it makes it less expensive to shoot (VERY important to the wife at the moment-see how many teen-aged girls above).

I think it will be something I will enjoy as well and the way I look at it my investment is the same as buying 1500 230g 45 bullets.  Once I reach that point I've broke even and its all bonus after that  ;D
He who dares wins.  SAS

PegLeg45

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2014, 01:51:55 PM »
Peg, ww's may not be lead!  Heard tell they had started using something else or an alloy with a lot less lead because of the cost of lead.  Forget where I read it.  Can't even think of what would be a suitable substitute.  I guess melting and fluxing will tell the tale.

FWIW


Richard

PS:  Cast tons of bullets in my day and time is way too valuable unless I'm casting something I can't get somewhere else.

You are correct.....you have to look at the style. From what my son says, the newer ones are made differently, but you can tell the difference. He said they try to put them in different buckets.
Current price is $75 for a five gallon bucket (nearly takes two people to pick up into a truck bed).


Bidah also has posted in another thread about casting with pure wheel weights.
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=22855.10



"I expect perdition, I always have. I keep this building at my back, and several guns handy, in case perdition arrives in a form that's susceptible to bullets. I expect it will come in the disease form, though. I'm susceptible to diseases, and you can't shoot a damned disease." ~ Judge Roy Bean, Streets of Laredo

For the Patriots of this country, the Constitution is second only to the Bible for most. For those who love this country, but do not share my personal beliefs, it is their Bible. To them nothing comes before the Constitution of these United States of America. For this we are all labeled potential terrorists. ~ Dean Garrison

"When it comes to the enemy, just because they ain't pullin' a trigger, doesn't mean they ain't totin' ammo for those that are."~PegLeg

TAB

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2014, 02:36:55 PM »
They are basicly a zinc pot metal.  If you have even on in the pot you are screwed.  As mentioned above, my time is wroth so much more, not to mention the limiting of lead intake.
I always break all the clay pigeons,  some times its even with lead.

Magoo541

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Re: Casting [s]Bullets[/s] BOOlits
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2014, 01:26:45 PM »
My stuff was suppose to be here on a Friday, which would have given me the weekend to play around with it but there was an issue with the UPS truck and it didn't show until Monday  >:(

So I unpacked the box and everything looked good:


Assembly the mold and handles:


Then the problem began as I attempted to lube the mold:


Sent Midway an email but I needed to get some bullets cast for the following week (my brother and his family were down from Montana and we were going to do some shooting) so rather than wait I took matters into my own hands (LOVE being a machinist) and made a replacement out of 303SS:


Finally able to cast some boolits:


And a few more:


And a few more (with some already tumble lubed ready for loading in the front):


All things considered I have broken even, I've made over 1500 bullets ($150 from the gun club).  Now I can spend a couple of hours away from the three teenaged girls in my house and make boolits when ever I'd like or more accurately need to  ;).   It's not as enjoyable as reloading but the ability to make my own is going to allow me to shoot a LOT more (I've shot around 800 rounds over the last 2 weeks which would normally be about 200).

I have my minions scrounging lead (wheel weights) for me and I have feelers out everywhere.  ;D
He who dares wins.  SAS

 

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