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Have about 20kg of lead I’ve melted down as I’m contemplating getting into casting 9mm projectiles.
Question is is it really worth it? I feel just from melting down that 20kgs that my lead exposure just
from that it’s probably through the roof. I’m just melting it in a pot on a ring burner atm but if I do start
I would get a proper lead melting pot but even still...lead is lead.
Put on a surgical mask so you don't touch your face. Most lead ingestion is from ingestion of smudges off your fingers, not fumes, but do ventilate the room too.
On that note, bear in mind, carefully, that the black soot from a fired primer, which is also in the case and barrel is fine lead dust from the detonation of lead styphnate primer compound. If you never bothered about this, ask yourself why worry about lead exposure from casting? It's often the devil you can't see that's the most dangerous one, not the obvious molten lead in the pot and die right before your eyes.
@shooternz does a lot of lead casting, me may add some experience about lead exposure.
By the way, no, I'd not bother casting 9mm projectiles, factory ones are cheap as muck from e.g. Gunworks. Projectiles fully encased in pure copper to prevent any exposure of the reloader to lead (well, if you also use lead-free primers).
Just buy CMJ’s from Rusa Reloading Components.
Well priced and great service.
http://rusa.co.nz
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Currently do buy my projectiles from Rusa, I’m sure all pistol reloaders would be in the same boat?
My courier driver hates Rusa projectiles[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]
I heard a commotion outside a while ago and he was tipping up at my daughter about loading them into his van then having to unload them at home.
I like getting them so I didnt say anything about his health possibly affecting his enjoyment of handling them.[emoji16]
They must hate doing a pickup at Bill's place and fight over who's turn it is at smoko[emoji16]
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shootersnz in Tokoroa make wonderful projectiles......he sells them cheaply too......maybe contact him and see if he willing to do you a swapsie..your lead for X amount of projectiles...
He is noted for being a good bugger and very helpful. I may one day get some of his heavy 303 projectiles for a play.
If you enjoy being able to REALLY tinker away on reloading then yes, if you enjoy just spending a couple of hours pottering away casting some projectiles, then yes again, I was shown the basics and went off on my own merry learnings, made some really great friends who helped me, initially it was a means to get a 303 with a generous bore up and running, then I learnt how to make harder lead, then how to make my own gas checks, then went left field, reloaded for everything from 577 to 25/06 to 458 Socom to 00 buck, if you enjoy making things you’ll enjoy it, which is different from $$ benefits, if I just stuck to the basic lead pot, a mould etc, yeah sure it will eventually work out cost wise. But the neat thing, if there was ever a shortage of a specific projectile and I wanted to make some of that caliber, I can!Quote:
Originally Posted by G.I_Joel
Health wise , when cooking up a batch I wear a gas mask care of my Australian friends, gloves and am outside, otherwise gloves if I’m making up a large batch of something?
@shooternz
A good bugger he is too.
We’ve shot a fair few of Robert’s pills in subsonics at goats, they do the bizzo no probs. And the pigs! Some very angry and aggressive pigs with a dog hanging off their arse... Not a single pig has needed more than one of Robert’s cast lead pills, .44 Rem Mag or .308.
Attachment 137158
I don't know what you pay per projectile for 9mm?
For me it's cost effective for .45 and upwards.I simply could not have shot my Black powder stuff at all if I hadn't cast my own pills.
I once cast up 577/450 projectiles with far too much Tin in them.The were so hard they shot through a railway sleeper cross ways.
So things like that you can look forward to.
Vry cost effective & one of the great joys in life. Converting a pile of range scrap or wheel weights into 148gn hollow base wadcutters for .38 or 265gn hollow based Webley bullets sized to .454 or 200 grain round nose for the .38/200 which you cant really buy anywhere (apart from Robert in Tok who does some great bullets) . its a lot of work but like anything you build from scratch its very rewarding. Ive learnt over the years to buy good 5 or 6 cavity molds either from NOE out of the states or MP Molds (Slovenia). Although the molds are expensive you can casts many hundreds & even thousands of bullets in a day using a good pot. then you get to size & lube them to specifically fit your gunQuote:
Originally Posted by norsk
you can load them for basically the cost of a primer and a few grains of powder. Its very satisfying - have to watch out for mum though as she doesn't like the fumes through her washing!!
A very useful very short video in that regard. Girl has a neurological condition btw, it's not just her Southern drawl:Quote:
Originally Posted by omark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7htLBgWxkp8
Forty years ago casting was fun, the old Lee bullet casters lasted well. Recently I tried again and found the Lee stuff crap and the new Lee melting pot kept blocking. Tried all advice and never got it right, so it's been Frontier CMJ bullets for a few years now. I find them streets ahead of any gas checked hard cast in 44 mag.
Best thing you could do with that lead is send it to me to safely dispose of at sea 3oz at a time.:thumbsup:
roberts 151 cast hollow points are awesome
i use em in my 308 and 300blk
when does anything firearm related pass the economy test?
I suppose only when you gather meat. But yes...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill999
I cast for 9mm, 38 /357. 44mag, 45acp.32s&w,303brit,308,7.62x39. I have molds for many others I don't cast for with over 50molds in my collection and have been casting for 51 years. Havent bought a projectile in all that time. Casting is cost effective and a great hobby. Pure lead isn't much use unless casting for BP or low velocity target or hollow base projectiles and you will need to blend alloys to get good results. a very common mix is 50/50 lead to wheel weight or range lead then add by weight 2% tin. (best source of tin is from pewter bought at garage sales) . I have developed lubes for cast projectiles that can run up to 3000fps but for most applications these days will just powder coat. I import specific powders from the US. My shooting and casting is a hobby only and a typical cost for loading a 127grain 9mm is 10cents with the biggest cost being the primer. Lee products have really improved in recent years and are very good value. There are dedicated webb sites devoted to casting and much can be learned from them. There are a number of familiar names here that are common to these webb sites . My recommendation is to give it a go.
You could go broke saving all that money!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill999
I watched that video at least 10 times and I still don't have a clue what she is going on about ? . Do you think having the sound on will help:cave:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cordite
On a serious note , if you where to go on the premise of " What value does this have " you have already answered your question . No
You would save more money by buying meat at the supermarket but no you go hunting , you don't do it for the money you do it for the enjoyment . That is where the value is .
Save money, yes once you have garnered all the appropriate gear.
I shot IHMSA pistol, 45 rounds per match and some days shot 5 -6 matches. Around 250 -300 rounds per day. No way could I afford to shoot often if I had to pay top dollar for match 7mm & 30cal bullets.
I loaded for straight walled pistol calibers; 357 Mag, 357 Super Mag, 32 Mag, and for Rifle calibers; 22 Hornet, .223, 7BR, 30BR, 30 Herret, 7mm Super mag, 30-30 and others. You can find very accurate lead bullets in nearly every caliber.
The lead is cheap if you scrounge wheel weights from tyre shops and sort the zinc from the lead. Straight wheel-weights are almost perfect for most applications. You don't want hard bullets but, ie, 100% linotype but a soft mix about equivalent to the standard Lyman #2 mix.
I agree with some that maybe the shop bought lead bullets are OK for the straight walled cases but I never went down that track. My 357 & 357 Super Mag pistols with a RCBS 200gr cast bullet were very accurate out to 200 meters.
I gave it all away about twelve months ago when I got rid of all my pistols and bought a F-Class rifle to dabble with.
I used to spend half a day every three or four months and turn out maybe 300 - 400 bullets per hour, enough for many shoots.
Peter
