How to Cast Bullets

Casting Bullets has saved me the most money when it comes to reloading. I used these 102 grain bullets to develop my 5 cent 9mm and .380 rounds. I am very pleased with the results and the money I save. Casting bullets is very easy and this process should yield great results for all reloaders.

----- !!!Warning!!! -----

Casting bullets can be dangerous and all safety precautions should be followed. Molten lead can cause 3rd degree burns when it touches your skin. Exposure to lead fumes can be dangerous, always cast bullets in a well ventilated area. Listed below are the bare minimum safety precautions.

- Long sleeved shirt and pants

- Safety Glasses

- Leather gloves

- Have a fire extinguisher nearby

- Do not drop wet lead ingots or anything with water into the molten lead

Tools Required:

1. Bullet Mold / Casting Die (I’m using the Lee 102gr 2 cavity bullet mold for use in 9mm and .380) available here: http://amzn.to/20nsnWa

2. Lead Melting Pot (I’m using the Lee Production Pot 20 pound capacity) available here: http://amzn.to/20nrrkJ

3. Wooden or Rubber Mallet available here: http://amzn.to/25aDMfn

4. Safety Equipment

Materials:

Lead scrap from wheel weights available here: http://amzn.to/1OHKhge or,

Lead that has been mixed with 2 - 3% antimony and 3 - 5% tin to give it a brinell hardness of 10 – 15.

Lee Liquid Alox available here: http://amzn.to/1U6MuDo

Take the new bullet mold and clean it with soap and water, and thoroughly dry it. Smoke the bullet mold cavities with a match or candle so the soot / carbon deposits itself on the bullet mold cavities. This will fill any small grooves in the cavities and allow the cast bullets to fall freely from the bullet mold.

Heat the Lead alloy to 675 – 725 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a lead thermometer or you can just have place the dial on the Lee Melting pot in the middle of its temperature setting and work from this point.

Place the bullet mold on top of the melting pot and allow the bullet mold to get up to temperature. Takes 5 minutes.

With the spruce plate closed, place the bullet mold under the downspout of the melting pot. Release some lead onto the spurce plate in between the two mold cavities, allowing the molten lead alloy to flow into the cavities and form a small puddle on top of the spruce plate. Allow the lead to cool approx. 3 – 6 seconds. The lead surface texture should look slightly frosted when cooled to the right temp.

Gently tap the spruce plate lever arm with a wooden or rubber mallet to break off the excess lead. Turn the mold upside down over a bowl of water or on top of some cotton fabric to release the bullets from their cavities. A gentle tap may be required to get the bullets to release. Do not tap the aluminum mold, only tap the fulcrum point of the mold handles.

Take the cooled bullets and place them inside a small container. Lubricate the bullets with Lee Liquid Alox, and shake the bullets around giving them a nice thin coat. Use approximately 1 tablespoon of Lee Liquid Alox for every 100-200 bullets. Place the lubricated bullets on a cookie sheet to dry. Allow for approximately 1-3 days for the bullets to dry depending on temperature and humidity levels. Now they are ready to load!