Are there many bullet casters here?

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  • Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,064
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    45 comes in several flavors.

    for 9mm many are using the Lee TL356-124-TC and I got one. The wife said she wants to step up up to 145 grain and now lying in wait for the Lyman 356637. IMO, I wouldn't settle for molds, I wold pick what you truely want and signup for alerts to get e-mailed when its is in stock.

    John recommended the Lyman Cast Bullets Handbook and it has a wealth of Knowledge on molds and loads in it. Plus the front is a great primer.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,161
    I'd like to start casting. Probably not the best time to start but still might give it a go. I think I'll start with .45 cal first. What does everyone recommend to use, single cavity, double cavity, other? What else would I need other than something to melt the lead and a ladle?

    Pay a visit to Cast Boolits Forum, there is a wealth of information on all things casting over there.
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,161
    that's for sure, got to stay away from the group buys & MiHec's site.
    waiting for some group buys to process, no hurry. Have a bunch of
    his molds Penta point option. Anyway they know, just ask..

    -Rock

    Yes MiHec makes beautiful molds I've got several with Penta points and the other options.

    And the group buys are always coming up with a new design you just have to try.

    Gets expensive!

    For those who don't know MiHek is a machinist in Slovenija who started making brass bullet molds for some group buys at Cast Boolits and has become a major producer of bullet molds.
    Link to his web site:
    https://www.mp-molds.com/

    Gallery of molds (mold porn)
    https://www.mp-molds.com/mp-molds-gallery/
     

    Rockzilla

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 6, 2010
    4,516
    55.751244 / 37.618423
    Yes MiHec makes beautiful molds I've got several with Penta points and the other options.

    And the group buys are always coming up with a new design you just have to try.

    Gets expensive!


    For those who don't know MiHek is a machinist in Slovenija who started making brass bullet molds for some group buys at Cast Boolits and has become a major producer of bullet molds.
    Link to his web site:
    https://www.mp-molds.com/

    Gallery of molds (mold porn)
    https://www.mp-molds.com/mp-molds-gallery/

    Oh yeah, always check out the group buys waiting on one to close
    MP Mold -.453 225gr WNFP with HP option

    Got in a a buy for mold handles a while ago.

    and correct it does get expensive and adds up, waiting for the buys to
    close gives me time to set aside more money :D:D

    MiHec even has ads in some of the gun magazines

    -Rock
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo

    Neutron

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 20, 2014
    1,532
    severna park
    Sold out now. Do most use the 2 cavity or 6 cavity mold? 2 cavity doesn't seem very efficient or am I better off learning on a 2 cavity?
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Sold out now. Do most use the 2 cavity or 6 cavity mold? 2 cavity doesn't seem very efficient or am I better off learning on a 2 cavity?

    I made the post shortly after getting the Midwayusa back in stock email. then I started to contemplate a 38 mold and after 30 minutes, it was gone. If you see a mold, go ahead and set a notification. I'm betting they will get some more in a month or so.

    I generally had been doing 2 unit molds. I really like the sprue plates on the 6 unit molds but only got the ones I shoot alot (9mm, 45, 30 cal)
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Sold out now. Do most use the 2 cavity or 6 cavity mold? 2 cavity doesn't seem very efficient or am I better off learning on a 2 cavity?

    If you are sure of what bullet you want to load, then buy the six cavity. The biggest problem with using Lee molds is keeping them hot. The six cavity holds more heat than the two cavity so you get better bullets.
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,064
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    The six cavity molds have a better sprue plate than the two molds. It cuts the sprue with a lever instead of hammering it open. Even if I didn't shoot as much I would get the 6 after using one for my 452 bullets, unless you are unsure of the mold/bullet and want to try many. You just have to buy a set of lee handles but one works many molds and lee handles work for NOE and MP. Not for RCBS or Lyman unless you reduce them though it looks like from what I have seen.

    I got tired of waiting months for Lyman to make molds again and just bought the clone from NOE yesterday. I went around to check my notifications for molds were all still active and Midway deleted mine, then I noticed the 311041 and other Lyman molds were not even on their site any more. I said that is it and I am going to the smaller makers like NOE oe MP molds. SO I bought the NOE 311-184-FN-J5 5 Cavity GC and plan to use it for 30-30 and maybe 30.06
     

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    Cowboy T

    Active Member
    Sold out now. Do most use the 2 cavity or 6 cavity mold? 2 cavity doesn't seem very efficient or am I better off learning on a 2 cavity?

    If you are sure of what bullet you want to load, then buy the six cavity. The biggest problem with using Lee molds is keeping them hot. The six cavity holds more heat than the two cavity so you get better bullets.

    The six cavity molds have a better sprue plate than the two molds. It cuts the sprue with a lever instead of hammering it open. Even if I didn't shoot as much I would get the 6 after using one for my 452 bullets, unless you are unsure of the mold/bullet and want to try many. You just have to buy a set of lee handles but one works many molds and lee handles work for NOE and MP. Not for RCBS or Lyman unless you reduce them though it looks like from what I have seen.

    I use almost exclusively the 6-cavity moulds. The above posters are correct; the sprue plate is considerably better designed for speedier production. I've tried the 2-cavity, and it's good...and the 6-cavity is the even better design. My Lee 358-105-SWC mould has over 100,000 boolits on its clock and it's still goin' strong. That's pretty good. I did have to replace the little "spring washer" that sits between the sprue plate and the mould blocks, but that was maybe a 1-minute job, and the little washer was dirt-cheap, as I recall (I bought several for this reason). The non-Lee 6-cavity moulds that I use are MiHec's, which--yeah--are also good stuff. Haven't tried NOE's yet, since the moulds that I have do the job for me. But I hear that they're also very good.

    Here's an example of what one can do with a 6-cavity mould. We make 120 "boolits" in 8 minutes, 30 seconds. I have maintained this pace all day. One weekend, I cast 6,000 boolits with one of these moulds; it was with the 358-105-SWC mould.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blk6dKNinlo

    The 452-255-RF mould, due to its greater size, lets you do about 1/2 to 2/3 that speed, primarily because of time waiting for the lead ingots to melt in the pot due to the size of the bullets (you just go through lead faster, that's all). I use the 452-255-RF in my heavier (Ruger/TC-only) .45 Colt load.
     

    MG in MD

    Active Member
    Feb 11, 2016
    359
    Linthicum
    Powder Buy The Pound is at it again.

    Mystery box with 3-1lb bags of different powders, for $25 plus shipping (total was $36.56)

    You can't beat this deal! I did it last year, but it was two powders, Green and Pink. The green covers fairly well, the pink not so great. Mixed it made a mottled grey that was kinda cool.

    If you're an adventurous soul, it's worth a try!

    https://www.powderbuythepound.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SK04011601
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Powder Buy The Pound is at it again.

    Mystery box with 3-1lb bags of different powders, for $25 plus shipping (total was $36.56)

    You can't beat this deal! I did it last year, but it was two powders, Green and Pink. The green covers fairly well, the pink not so great. Mixed it made a mottled grey that was kinda cool.

    If you're an adventurous soul, it's worth a try!

    https://www.powderbuythepound.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SK04011601


    Can you add the color numbers you reference above into this thread?
    I want this info to be collected here so when people are deciding on colors, they can reference the thread to decide ya or nay. If the green is whats in there already, add the Pink with your comments

    https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=255422
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Old thread that I'm resurrecting. Winter time and time to cast and coat.
    Planning to do some casting this weekend myself. I need some subsonic 300 blackout lead
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,064
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    I ran 30.06 last year in a ladder with 173 grain gas check, powder coated and IMR 4198 between 2000 - 2600. Never got leading at all. Over 2400 fps the groups opened up, so I settled on 2400 as my load. I have since built a barrel cooler as darn that barrel would heat up fast and stay hot trying to shoot a ladder set. It is zeroed at 100 yards and I can ring the 10" gong on the farm at 200 yards and 220 yards is the longest shot without sitting at the barn, which they don't like us shooting that close to the house.

    I cast a bunch of 6.8 SPC bullets and waiting to ladder that this spring. BUT, Starline has me in queue for back ordered cased for two months now and they aren't shipping yet. I went with this verses 300 as thought it would perform long range better
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,598
    Glen Burnie
    I thought about trying to get into casting about 15 years ago, but I kind of gave up because I couldn't seem to figure out a source of lead. Dad used to cast a lot because back when he was doing it, lead wasn't regulated like it is now - he could go down to the Farmer's Co-op and get a 5 gallon bucket of used wheel weights, usually for the price of putting together some reloads for one of the guys at the tire shop. That made shooting heavy handguns about the same cost as shooting 22 LR, and back then you could get a carton of 500 for about $5.

    Nowadays it's just not that easy. Fundamentally I know how, and it wouldn't take long to get geared up for it, but sourcing the lead like Dad used to is a whole other issue altogether.
     

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