[Deadeye]

Heres about 250 I cast today. Going back out tonight & cast some more!

 

[Montanan]

I wish I had the patience right now to cast my bullets, but I just don't with my shoulder and capletunnel in my wrist.

But your bullets look real good.

 

[Bountyhunter]

They look like they have a lot of tin in them. Do you have a hardness tester? They look great, but you want them to shoot great.

 

[deputy125]

now that is saving some money.........what is your source for lead?

 

[Deadeye]

Here's a few more I did tonight:

I have no way to test the hardness. I did add some Tin solder to the WW lead using the very technical T.L.A.R. method (that looks about right). I also Quenched them in ice water. So I'm hoping they'll be hard enough to handle some med power loads. I'll keep them well under 1000fps. Hey, I gotta be flying by the seat of my pants or its not as fun! You can get desent hardness out of WW just by Quenching them alone so I think the Tin + quenching should be ok.

Yea Deputy Its like finding money! I troll the local tire shops for wheel-weights, get them for free some times or I think $10.00 was the most I paid for a 5gal. bucket full. The feeling of satisfaction that you get knowing that you'll be shooting your own bullets is great!

 

[gunman42782]

I have only tried casting my own bullets a couple times, and those where muzzle-loading round balls, pure lead. I did not have too great a success even without having to add anything but lead. At the time, you could buy lead bullets and round balls dirt cheap, so I gave up on it, but as high as everything is now it might be a good time to look back into it. Deadeye, yours looks good!

 

[Wizard]

They look really good, Deadeye....

 

[sheepdog]

They look sharp to me....enjoy shooting them.....

 

[Deadeye]

Well it's on to sizeing & lubing today.

MANNNN!!! This is like Christmas!!!!

 

[sheepdog]

How do you size them? I remember resizing brass...but never cast my own.....

 

[Terry_P]

What ratio of tin did you add to the melt? I'm guessing you'll be good to 1,200fps.

 

[Deadeye]

What ratio of tin did you add to the melt? I'm guessing you'll be good to 1,200fps.

Yea Terry, I think they'll take 1200. I compared them to some Lazer-Cast bullets I have they seem pretty hard. I added about 8' of Tin solder to a qt. sauce pan 3/4 full of lead. That's about the best I can remember.

 

[Deadeye]

How do you size them? I remember resizing brass...but never cast my own.....

Here it is in pictures:

That's both methods tumble & pan lube.

You kids stay tuned more of Deadeye's Big Casting Adventure comming soon!!!

 

[sheepdog]

You drive them with the ram up through the die and into the canister? New one on me...the lube is no surprise....

 

[XLCH]

Deadeye I have a Lee hardness tester, if you want to send me one bullet I would be happy to test it for you. PM me if interested.

 

[Deadeye]

I like my bullets, like I like my women. Lubed & ready to load!!

I also cast some 240gr RN .429dia bullets but don't have size die for .429 yet.

 

[Bountyhunter]

Good job, buddy. :ugeek:

 

[Deadeye]

Just got a PM from XLCH. My bullets tested at 29.9bhn (lot harder than I thought). So according to the Lee chart I should be good up to 38260psi.

I think I'll just aircool next batch, I don,t think they need to be quite that hard.

 

[XLCH]

Send me one of the air cooled ones if you want

 

[Bountyhunter]

Yeah I think the air cooled might work well. :lol: