Casting Bullets (cold lead in pot)

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  • Moorvogi

    Firearm Advocate
    Dec 28, 2014
    855
    I've been reloading for a couple years but looking to get into casting bullets for a couple rounds. Before my uncle passed, he apparently left led in the pot and let it cool. It's harder than (insert bad joke here).

    Can i just turn on the pot... bring it to temp and free it up for use? It's a Lee pot (not sure about much more than that).
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I always leave my pot full after casting. It saves time heating up. To make it heat faster, make a cover of several sheets of aluminum foil and cover the pot with it. It will help bring the temp up faster.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    Same here, always left my pot full.

    Just turn it on, and go have a cup of coffee or two.
     

    ted76

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 20, 2013
    3,151
    Frederick
    I do the same, as in leaving the pot full. I will have to try the aluminum foil trick.
    I think I remember being told when I started casting, that it helps keep the pot from rusting, as air and moisture are sealed out.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I do the same, as in leaving the pot full. I will have to try the aluminum foil trick.
    I think I remember being told when I started casting, that it helps keep the pot from rusting, as air and moisture are sealed out.

    You heard right. It also helps, after the pot cools down, spray some WD40 on the steel parts above the lead level. These areas pick up oxides and will absorb moisture from the air causing corrosion. The WD40 will dry to a varnish and keep this from happening. It smells very little when starting the pot up again.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,156
    Heat the pot and it will melt you will be just fine. If you are new to casting visit Cast Boolits Forum it is a lot like here but has more information on bullet casting than you will ever know.
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

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    Last edited:

    Moorvogi

    Firearm Advocate
    Dec 28, 2014
    855
    all great feedback! Thanks guys! I found several ingots of lead, the pot (mentioned above) and some various molds. No idea what the molds are.. figure i'll measure them and see if i can figure it out. i think i'm looking at starting w/ 38sp/357 bullets.. 158gr.

    If all goes well, 530gr 458 socom.
     

    j8064

    Garrett Co Hooligan #1
    Feb 23, 2008
    11,635
    Deep Creek
    I agree with the above advice, OP.

    More often than not there's some amount of lead left in my casting pot when I'm done with a session. After I heated my pot yesterday and added more lead to it. I had a couple hundred Minie balls and 45-70 soft lead boolits in about two hours...

    Learn to cast: Use the right alloy for the boolits you're making. Keep the melt at the right temp. Know your molds well. Be very careful with really hot stuff. And have fun...

    ;)
     

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