beem casting for a 2 weeks

[Lloyd Smale]

havent casted in a while years  ive been trying to shoot up my lube sized bullets and go all pc. casting 9s, 40s and 45acps. 220lbs so far. have about a 100lbs more to go. used to easily do 40 lbs in a sitting but 20lbs is about it in one sitting now. especially running a 2 cav mold to do hps. works just starting though. i still have to pc and size them and theres a pile! should be good again for a couple years when im done

[Graybeard]

I used to run thru one pot, about 25 pounds in a session, rarely ever did more. Now I honestly don't think I could cast bullets. My left arm is pretty much useless to me. I need a full shoulder replacement but have decided to live with the pain and not have the surgery.

Even an empty coffee cup is more weight than I can handle with left hand. I can't imagine I could hold the molds full of lead.

No more than I shoot I have about 3 life times of loaded ammo now and all the components needed to load another life time or two worth should I ever run out.

[Lloyd Smale]

ya i do too but its a excessive compulsion thing. now all my brass is loaded so i need more!!

[ironglowz]

ya i do too but its a excessive compulsion thing. now all my brass is loaded so i need more!!

  Does plain lead work on the newer rounds such as 9mm and the 40s, or do you need gas checks?

[Graybeard]

If by plain lead you mean  pure lead then no it's not good for anything used in semiautos. You need a hard lead alloy for them. Gas checks mostly needed for higher velocity and fit only bullets made for them. If bullet is designed to have one you must use it for best results.

I use plain base bullets for most bullets unless shot at magnum velocity. Same bullets work in both .38 and .357 but at full velocity the bullets for the magnum I prefer to have gas checks. Same for .44 special and magnum. In my guns in .44 special I mostly use the Keith design 250 grain SWC 429421 I think it is. My old memory might be wrong on that number.

[ironglowz]

If by plain lead you mean  pure lead then no it's not good for anything used in semiautos. You need a hard lead alloy for them. Gas checks mostly needed for higher velocity and fit only bullets made for them. If bullet is designed to have one you must use it for best results.

I use plain base bullets for most bullets unless shot at magnum velocity. Same bullets work in both .38 and .357 but at full velocity the bullets for the magnum I prefer to have gas checks. Same for .44 special and magnum. In my guns in .44 special I mostly use the Keith design 250 grain SWC 429421 I think it is. My old memory might be wrong on that number.

  Is that why antimony is added?

[ulav8r]

Antimony adds hardness, tin makes the melt more fluid to give better fill out in the mold.

[Drilling Man]

If by plain lead you mean  pure lead then no it's not good for anything used in semiautos. You need a hard lead alloy for them. Gas checks mostly needed for higher velocity and fit only bullets made for them. If bullet is designed to have one you must use it for best results.

I use plain base bullets for most bullets unless shot at magnum velocity. Same bullets work in both .38 and .357 but at full velocity the bullets for the magnum I prefer to have gas checks. Same for .44 special and magnum. In my guns in .44 special I mostly use the Keith design 250 grain SWC 429421 I think it is. My old memory might be wrong on that number.

  I used to use the 429421 mold, but I like the RCBS 44-250KT bullet/mold MUCH better, and that's all I use now.

  I use wheel weight lead and add pure tin in with it, I have lots of it around.

  I've won a LOT of long-range Silhouette matches using that RCBS bullet.

  DM