Casting bullets

guzma393 · Mar 27, 2020

I'm looking in to getting started in bullet casting. I primarily want to make my own polymer coated bullets for 9mm and 38 spl plinking. Do i need to "harden" soft lead for these loads even with the PC coating applied on them?

Any local sellers of lead around? I prefer to deal local, than to hit up online vendors for hard/soft lead sources.

Any advice on the topic in doing it properly and safely would be welcomed. Thanks

Melnic · Mar 27, 2020

Brickman!!!!

guzma393 · Mar 27, 2020

ye

Melnic said:
Brickman!!!!

I heard of him while lurking around the forums. I suppose i'll go PM him sometime when I'm ready to buy

BigRick · Mar 27, 2020

Watching

C.Alls · Mar 27, 2020

I recently purchased 80 pounds of lead from Brickman and it's quality stuff. I'm also casting bullets for my 9mm PCC in Ruger and CZ and you'll want some Linotype to mix in with the pure lead in order to bring the hardness up. I tried pure lead and my groups were 5" at 50 yards. I of course slugged my barrel first and sized .001" over for the first trial and .002" over for the second and it didn't help. I'm powder coating them as well but the bullet just wouldn't fly true.

I then sourced some linotype and started mixing. I found once my lead hardness was just shy of Lymans #2 the groups shrank drastically and I was stacking them at 50 yards. Once I saw potential I loaded up a ladder ranging from 3.8-4.2 grains of Power Pistol and I'll give those a shot (pun intended) tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

Brickman301 · Mar 27, 2020

Melnic, and C.Alls, thanks for mentioning me!
Guzma393, send me a PM, I got plenty of soft sheet lead, and pure lead ingots.

Pinecone · Mar 28, 2020

Pure lead is pretty much for black powder only.

For most centerfire, you need to add some antimony and tin to make a harder alloy. You can buy Lyman #2, or mix lead and linotype to make about the same.

When I started casting, I was casting pure linotype, but at the time, I could get linotype at 35 cents per pound at most any scrap metal dealer.

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

Pinecone said:
Pure lead is pretty much for black powder only.
.

This is Not always the case. Lots of things come into play here. Barrel twist rates, bullet fit, velocity, etc.

Powder coating, has become a game changer, using pure lead. I’ve pushed Plain based pure lead bullets in 45-70 to over 1,700 FPS, with no leading, and still get good accuracy.
Pure lead bullets in 7.62x54 I’ve pushed to about that same velocity of 1,700 FPS. Once again no issues, and still have good accuracy. I do use a gas check on these though.

I reload and cast for 38 special and 45 colt, both of these calibers aren’t what you call fast. Powder coated pure plain based bullets, are working just fine for me, here as well.

GunBum · Mar 28, 2020

Not to mention pure lead under a paper patch. The old timey bullet jacket from before metal jackets were cool.

Biggfoot44 · Mar 28, 2020

Tip for the OP , if you have a local source of pure lead, jump on it . Then used the internet for hardening alloys if desired .

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

GunBum said:
Not to mention pure lead under a paper patch. The old timey bullet jacket from before metal jackets were cool.

Paper patching is time consuming, but many find that’s it well worth the effort. I have never done it, but know a few good friends that swear by it.

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

Biggfoot44 said:
Tip for the OP , if you have a local source of pure lead, jump on it . Then used the internet for hardening alloys if desired .

Agreed! One thing I’d like to add. Buy your lead and hardening alloys from a trusted source, and someone who has their lead/alloys Analyzed.
That way, you know your Exact Alloy so you can repeat it, every time you make up a batch.

Here’s a picture of my pure lead analysis

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

Here’s the reading, of the sheet lead I sell. As you can see, it contains, a small amount of tin. Tin is a great thing to add to your alloys. It helps fill out the molds, and adds a very small amount of hardness.
Some people want a small amount of tin in there alloys.

This picture proves the old myth that sheet lead is pure lead. I’ve never seen sheet lead that is pure.
Sheet lead is definitely soft, but not pure.

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

Pinecone said:
Pure lead is pretty much for black powder only.

For most centerfire, you need to add some antimony and tin to make a harder alloy. You can buy Lyman #2, or mix lead and linotype to make about the same.

When I started casting, I was casting pure linotype, but at the time, I could get linotype at 35 cents per pound at most any scrap metal dealer.

Pinecone, here’s a picture of my 100 yard target I shot today. 4 shot group, I pulled one, like always, and ruined my group.
Pure lead powder coated 341 grain 45-70 at a average of 1690 FPS. No leading, and very accurate.

GunBum · Mar 28, 2020

Brickman301 said:
Paper patching is time consuming, but many find that’s it well worth the effort. I have never done it, but know a few good friends that swear by it.

After a few hundred, you get pretty fast at it. The trick to speed is to set up a good board for rolling the patches on, and a good method of cutting the patches.

My .45-70 paper patch load throws 500 grains of lead as fast as I can push it with no leading. My barrel likes 3 layers of Simplicity dress pattern paper for the wrap. Old patterns work better. I always get strange looks buying dress patterns at garage sales. :lol2:

Brickman301 · Mar 28, 2020

GunBum said:
My .45-70 paper patch load throws 500 grains of lead as fast as I can push it with no leading. My barrel likes 3 layers of Simplicity dress pattern paper for the wrap. Old patterns work better. I always get strange looks buying dress patterns at garage sales.

, I know the feeling. I’ve gotten strange looks when I’ve gone to the fabric store, looking for just the right fabric for patching my round balls for my muzzleloaders. Even found some great material for making cleaning patches, one time as well

Pinecone · Mar 29, 2020

Brickman301 said:
Pinecone, here’s a picture of my 100 yard target I shot today. 4 shot group, I pulled one, like always, and ruined my group.
Pure lead powder coated 341 grain 45-70 at a average of 1690 FPS. No leading, and very accurate.

Cool.

Hmm, I am thinking a pure lead 220 grain bullet for .300 BO subs.

I wonder if anyone has tested this.

Yes, doesn't matter.

Casting bullets

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