mold help

B

batman44

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My name is batman44 and I am new to casting and I cant find what molds to use to make my own bullets.
I need 1 for my super black hawks 44 mag, and my 357 mag and colt gold cup 45 acp.
I am thinking of lee 6 cav molds
For the 44 mag 240 gr, 357 mag 158 gr, and the 45 acp 230 gr
 
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When you say you can't find a mold to use do you mean you are asking for help in choosing the right kind of mold (vendor, make, design, etc) or can't physically find "the one" you are looking for?
 
My name is batman44 and I am new to casting and I cant find what molds to use to make my own bullets.
I need 1 for my super black hawks 44 mag, and my 375 mag
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Same question as trip, what do you mean? Also, is that a new caliber, or did you mean .357 mag?

Take a look here;
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseCategories.aspx?tabId=1&categoryId=9247&categoryString=9315***685***8657***

There's a bunch there, just pick a caliber, style, and weight.

If your question is more specific, you might have to ask it that way, like what weight do I need to do a particular job?
 
Castin

I started with 1 mold for the 44 , I did`nt know if I`d like it or not!!!

Start with summtin in the 240gr. weight , it`s the easiest to find data on& plain based ,no bevel or Gas check to start with & 6 bangers require alot of heat to keep the bullets rollin out !!!

I luv castin as well as reloadin& shootin!!!

I would read what I could get ahold of & go here http://castboolits.gunloads.com/ & glean info !!!

I`d start with a 2 holer from lee & a ladle & find out if I like it first & if ya do you can "upgrade" & not be out a bunch of $$

Just keep askin ????s

If ya go with it just use glasses & never add cold metel to a hot melt!!
no aluminum pots!!!

Gotta start collectin wheel weights & lookin for cheap sources of lead , sadly there few & far between these days!!!


Almost forgot: WELCOME TO THE FIRINGLINE FORUM!!!!!!
 
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thank you

thank you for the info. I am new to casting and already have 250 lb of lead to cast. I have a lot of time to kill and need to save as much money as I can, So casting seems to be another way to save money.
I was looking for a chart or something to tell me what to use.
But I want to thank you
 
lots of reading and even watch a video or two on youtube about casting lead bullets will answer a lot of your questions but the one you have on sizing will depend on what you gun slugs at. A .357 mag will usually slug at .358, .359 or .360 if it is worn a bit. You need to know your guns exact measurment before you can make an informed purchase.

This is a decent video on how to slug the barrel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR_WiL8Dkgw
 
Basic question

Your basic question seems to say you think you have to order a mold to produce a specific size. That's not how it is done. You get a mold to produce a nominal diameter, then size it down to what you barrel slugs at. That is done with a sizer that squeezes,)swages),the cast bullet to a pre-selected size.
 
ok

so if I GET A 358-357-RF for my super black hawk I might need a 358 of 359
depending on the bore size. I saw a video on utube on slugging the bore.
should I get a die for gas checks?
 
let's try this. Here are some questions that your answers to will help to decide what mold to buy.

1) What weight bullet do you currently shoot out of the .357 mag?
2) What bullet style do you currently shoot?
3) How much $$ do you want to spend on your new mold?
4) Honestly, how many bullets a year do you fire from that gun?
 
ok

I will be loading 158 gr swc in 357 mag.I am willing to spend what I need to and I shoot 3000 to 5000 ayearin 357, maybe 5000 in 45 acp 230 swc and 2000 to 4000 in 44 mag 240 swc.
 
I will be loading 158 gr swc in 357 mag.I am willing to spend what I need to and I shoot 3000 to 5000 ayearin 357, maybe 5000 in 45 acp 230 swc and 2000 to 4000 in 44 mag 240 swc.
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158 gr SWC for the .357 mag is a very popular round. All the mold manufactures make one. I shoot that bullet using this mold. It is Lee model 90321.

I have cast about 2000 rounds out of it so far in the last 5 months with no problems. Some people will tell you that for higher volumes like your 3-5000 a year, you will want to use a higher quality mold and I can't argue with that. I can say that this mold will make nice bullets, the Lee aluminum mold is easy to learn on and not very expensive at all. No sizing die is needed usually for the tumble lube style, you just cast it, tumble it in some Lee Liquid Alox, dry it and load it. Very simple process.
 
ok

Don't get me wrong but I love to play. I wont shot that much all the time but I have two boys and they are getting into shooting and guess who's ammo
they use.If they shoot to much they will have to buy the raw material,and learn how to cast themselves but I want to know as much as I can to teach them the right way.

thank you for your help ,it will come in handy
 
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Personally, I don't cast pistol bullets any more. I definitely CAN produce some very high quality bullets, but when you factor in the time to prep the lead, cast and then lube the bullets, the factory stuff is very inexpensive. As for the quality, the difference in accuracy is noticeable when shot off the bench, but only then.

- Ivan.
 
FWIW, I *just* started casting, and have only reloaded about 2000 rounds of 9mm so far.

I'll tell you this, casting is relaxing, addictive (more than reloading), and very time consuming. Don't start casting if you want to be quick about anything. It takes quite a while to get the wheelweights, sort out the zinc and steel, melt them down, spoon off the dross and junk, flux and pour into ingots. THEN you can either melt those down to ladle into a mold, or get one of those nifty Lee bottom pour furnaces.

After that, they need to be lubed somehow. Either use the Lee Alox stuff and set the bullets overnight, or get a press/sizer.

Once that's accomplished, it's time to get reloading...a whole other process.
 
reloading

I have been reloading for 27 years now because it is relaxing to me and I know the process . I have always had 2000 or more 44 mags on hand and 2 or 3000 223s on hand but because of the hog prices I ran out of 44, 45 and 357. when I went to buy cast bullets 44s were almost $50,that is why I am starting to cast my own. As far as time , I have a lot of time to do the casting. I have made muffin ingots[approx 200lb] and wasn't that bad.And when you cant find cast you will have to wait and the price will go up .So why not cast your self.
 
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