Looking at getting into casting own bullets

[Ivan]

I'm looking at getting into casting my own lead projectiles and then coating with either pc or hi tek. Mainly 9mm and .45acp. I've got the smelting pot and furnace along with ingot moulds. Basically my questions are on the lead. What lead besides wheel weights would I need? How to make the lead good for auto style pistols. I've been told that pure wheel weights are too soft and need tin or antimony to make the lead harder. How do I know what amount of this or that to mix in? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Sneakybuffalo]

If you are coating your bullets, then hardness doesn't matter as much. And water dropped wheel weights are fine for rifles let alone pistols. Dunno who told you that. And tin doesn't add hardness.

Fortunecookie45LC is a great YouTube channel for casting.

There was someone selling a ton of lead on here last week. I think it was range scrap already cast into bars.

 

[highstandard40]

Not all wheel weight metal is the same composition. Most of the stick-on weights are pure lead or nearly pure with a Brinell hardness of about 6. Clip-on weights have some antimony, arsenic, and a very small amount of tin. BH on these is about 12 which is plenty hard for the 45 acp for sure. Adding Tin will do little to harden your alloy but will help the metal "flow" and will fill the mold better. I would think that if you powder coat that wheel weight lead will do all you need it to do. Many uninformed people will tell you that you need "hard cast" for handguns to prevent lead buildup in the barrel. The truth is that the bullet must fit the chamber and barrel correctly to prevent lead buildup. Also you need to know that not all wheel weights are made of lead. An increasing amount of weights are made of iron and zinc and even some that are polymer. You do not want to get zinc weights melted into your mix. Also, water dropping your bullets won't help if you then bake on the powder coat.

 

[Sneakybuffalo]

You can water drop after PCng but shouldn't be necessary.

Like you said, proper sizing to fit the barrel + pc should be all that's necessary.

Do you have your own range you'll be shooting at OP, or using a public range?

If private, I'd highly suggest creating a bullet trap. That way you can find some good quality lead and just reuse it over and over again.

 

[Ivan]

Good info, thank you. Been watching a few videos from fortune cookie. I have my own range, and have been collecting and saving the bullets. We've melted a lot of them into ingots, just do not have a lot of lead to reproduce anything of quantity yet. Reason asking about wheel weights.

 

[CATS]

Cast Boolits
This is what you seek.
CATS

 

[falshooter]

Cast Boolits
This is what you seek.
CATS

The link; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php

 

[Ivan]

Lol, I figured out what cats meant. Found the site and joined in. Wow, a ton of info on that site. Thanks yall

 

[Gator 45/70]

I cast a few for myself and the wife. 38/357

 

[Sneakybuffalo]

I cast a few for myself and the wife. 38/357

Different molds, or the same mold with different pins?

 

[Gator 45/70]

Different molds 158hp, 170rn and 170fn

 

[Ivan]

Those look pretty good. Multi colored pc?

 

[Barry J]

I haven't cast bullets in 25 years. As long as GAT Bullets sells 200 grain 40 cal bullets for $70 a thousand, I won't start back.

 

[Gator 45/70]

Lol, Yes, I'm an oilfield guy and having fun with anything and anyone is never off-limits, In this case I'm simply coloring bullets in a Zombie patina, Next perhaps will be a Mardi Gras round, Have fun with what you do.. Or don't do it.

Those look pretty good. Multi colored pc?

 

[RockingORanch]

Problem is finding wheel weights harder and harder to find