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Offline Idaho Ron

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Help me get started
« on: March 07, 2007, 01:25:56 PM »
I have a Lee production pot "I think" it is pretty dirty and needs cleaned.  I shoot a lot of Muzzleloader bullets. I like the Hornady great plains 50 cal 410 gr.
What do I need to start? I would like to make bullets to match what I am using is that possable? I also have a lot of lead. I would say about 500 or 600 pounds. So s there any moulds out there to match this? The Hornady bullets are tapered and at the largest measure .510
Do I need to size? how do I add bullet lube?   Ron
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Offline Duckdog

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Re: Help me get started
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2007, 01:46:58 PM »
I would go to Midway and look at the Lee REAL bullet molds for 50 caliber, along with a ladle.If I am remebering right, they even make one that has 1 REAL bullet cavity and a .490 round bal cavity for black powder shooting. I am assuming the the production pot is not a bottom pour, as I have one.  he aluminum molds heat up quick, and work good if you folow the directions that come with them.

For lube, I use wonder lube, which I apply with my fingers.  Keep in mind that for black powder you want pretty soft lead, especially with a bullet.  You may get by with wheel weights on a round ball.

Once you get going, it'll fall into place pretty quick.  Good Luck and welcome to the club.
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Offline masek77

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Re: Help me get started
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2007, 02:51:36 AM »
I would be sure to clean you melter very well or plan on a lot of scrap at first. If you have a lot of slag in your melter it always seems to get on the bullets or weights youre pouring especially at first. I know of some melters who use two melters. One for melting dirty lead and the other for actual pouring for bullets.

You can find a source of clean pure lead on ebay. All in all its pretty cheap and you can get enough to last quite a while for 40 dollars or less.

If you go with wheel weight lead be prepared for a lot of dirty lead. In my experience I had to flux this kind of lead repeatedly to get it truly clean and it does make a mess with my melter...

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Offline Idaho Ron

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Re: Help me get started
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2007, 12:48:28 PM »
The lead I have is all in ingots, I don't know what hardness it is. How do I clean the pot?
I am thinking about ordering a Lyman great plains, and  Lee REAL. I wished I could find a 410 gr mould.  Ron
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Offline Nobade

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Re: Help me get started
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2007, 02:21:39 PM »
Clean the pot by boiling water in it and scrubbing (while wet) with a bronze brush. Pour it out and do it again. Works great!
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Offline masek77

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Re: Help me get started
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2007, 02:24:30 PM »
I ended up having to buy a hardness tester. Its a good investment if you plan on doing a lot of casting.

The one I found is mainly for testing bullets so I have to cast a few bullets to test the hardness of my lead but its not much of a problem to have.

The first LEE melter I had was used and it was risty inside as well as coated in a lot of slag. I scraped the inside of it to remove a lot of the rust and slag but it was very difficult. I ended up buying a new melter. From there I graduated to a larger melter and eventually got into melting 33 pound ingots....
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