Cast your own. Who and how?

**Bullet-Caster** · 04-12-2012, 12:39 AM

Sorry WBROZ!

Yes there can be a percentage diff. of antimony from small to big clip on WW. Not a real big deal. Not to step on someone else's toes but I dont know where he's getting his info but the BHN of pure lead is 5 not 2. Pure lead WW (stick on) no mater if you water quench them they will not be harder than pure lead. In order to harden a wheel weight alloy (clip on) there has to antimony in the alloy and water quenched. The other method is heat treating. The bullets in my avatar are 165gr gas checked Ranch Dogs I load for my 30-30win. They are Clip On WW with a bit of tin added and water quenched. I load them to shot a bit over 1900fps and have no leading in the barrel. Fresh bullets right out of the mold will not be up to the BHN spec. right away. Some people cast low velocity pistol rounds and shoot'em right away. Thats ok if you keep the speed down. I cast and water quench all my rifle and magnum pistol rounds and let them age harden for a couple weeks before I load and shoot them. Adding tin to pure lead only makes the alloy a tiny bit harder it mostly use for cowboy action shooting in older type black powder cartridge firearms. Tin in the alloy does promote better mold fill out. If your going to mold a Hollow point bullet alot of fellas add some pure lead to the clip on WW alloy and some tin and let air cool. This produces a bit softer alloy for the Hollow Point to properly expand. I cast numerous cals. for pistol and rifle and Sabot Slugs out of WW's and Buck Shot out of what ever scrap lead I have laying around. I have a couple pics on my page if you want to look. Also if you have alot of casting questions look up CastBoolits.com I'm a member there also the guys are very very helpfull. Also I;m including some alloy info from Lyman

**lalakai** · 04-12-2012, 03:05 PM

good info Bullet Caster. I knew about the "Formula A" but the info on quenching wheel waits without an effect, is different from what i've seen and heard. Gonna have to dig up those old manuals now. Lol and if they were my toes you were worried about stepping on, no prob; the only way to never make a mistake is by never getting into the game to start with. 'Sides, my skin is thick enough lol

**Bullet-Caster** · 04-12-2012, 11:51 PM

I can take an arm twisten to

Thats how we learn from our mistakes and others. I've been casting sinkers and bullets for me and my family since I was a kid. For the last 12 years I presently work for Deka Battery. I'm surrounded by 18 16,000lb lead pots with various alloys in them. I cringe when I see a dumptruck back up to our smelter and unload scrap lead and wheel weights.

Originally Posted by lalakai

good info Bullet Caster. I knew about the "Formula A" but the info on quenching wheel waits without an effect, is different from what i've seen and heard. Gonna have to dig up those old manuals now. Lol and if they were my toes you were worried about stepping on, no prob; the only way to never make a mistake is by never getting into the game to start with. 'Sides, my skin is thick enough lol

**lalakai** · 04-13-2012, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bullet-Caster

I can take an arm twisten to

Thats how we learn from our mistakes and others. I've been casting sinkers and bullets for me and my family since I was a kid. For the last 12 years I presently work for Deka Battery. I'm surrounded by 18 16,000lb lead pots with various alloys in them. I cringe when I see a dumptruck back up to our smelter and unload scrap lead and wheel weights.

wwwaaayyyy too much of a temptation for me. My back would already be messed up from trying to squirrel away all the available lead lol.

**Bullet-Caster** · 04-13-2012, 11:46 PM

Not worth my job! Besides about 80% of it calcium lead.

**wbroz** · 04-14-2012, 05:45 PM

Just bought my 30-30 marlin Ive been looking at for a while. Planning to cast and load for it. I know of it's micro-grove rifling but don't think I will have any problems if it's done right. Have any tips?

**Bullet-Caster** · 04-16-2012, 01:50 PM

My 30-30 is a marlin micro rifling also. I have no problems with it. I use Lee Alox with a bit of mineral spirits to cut it. Also use the dip method intstead of the tumble method. Check this out http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/Tips/Alox/ Instead of using wax paper I made a square wooden frame and stretched old type metal door screen over it and place the dipped bullets on it.