is casting worth it for milsurp?

[bluebayou]

I know that a couple of you guys are using the 13 gr Red Dot load and all....what do I need to cast my own?  I have a .310 Mosin and a Ishapore 2A that I haven't slugged. 

With or without being able to score some wheel weights....what kind of expense am I looking at?  What would I need to get started?

I have dies, electronic RCBS powder measure, all regular reloading equipment.  But, what about the casting part?

Is it safe to melt lead with kids in the house?  I would cast out in the carport, not indoors proper.

[Mikey]

Ah, let's see:  you need a burner, a melting pot, a ladle, some flux, some lead and tin - and the molds, with handles. 

You should be able to purchase bulk lead and bulk tin from a local salvage yard (junk yard to many).  Or you can purchase from a shooters supply catalog and also from some of the Graybeard sponsors - MidSouth may carrylead and tin bars. 

You may also need a reloading manual specific to cast bullets, one that also provides some instruction for casting.

If you have all the other stuff for reloading you are probably halfway there.  You may need larger expander plugs for the Moison and the 303 if the reloading dies come with 308 diameter plugs.

It is NOT safe to cast or melt lead in the house with or without kids present.  The fumes can become toxic and please do not forget that lead itself is toxic to children and adults.  However, outdoor casting may present problems with rapid cooling of the dies and bullets. 

If you can score some wheelweights from a local garage or even a local salvage yard you could be considered 'golden'.  If you want to add a harder mixture to the casting pot see if you can find a local print shop or two that still uses Linotype for print blocks.  If you add some Lino to a standard #2 alloy you end up with a nice hard slug that does not come apart on tough targets.  Good luck, have fun and this is one situation where you want to keep your fingers out of the pot..................Mikey.

[John Traveler]

May I suggest getting started with the affordable Lee series of lead melters and bullet molds.  They also have a very convenient Alox Tumble lube, and simple sizing dies, lube pan, and ladle. 

Everything you need to start casting you own at about 1/3 the price of competitive brands.  That way, not much to loose or have to trade/sell off if it turns out bullet casting is not for you. 

For most of the rest of us, cheap lead in the form of wheelweights and bullet casting is what allows us to shoot as much as we want.

Try online sources, including EBay for used equipment bargains.

[Badnews Bob]

+1 on the Lee Stuff I use a bunch of it, I also use mostly straight wheel wieghts for lead, I think its well worth the effort.

[WILDCATT]

as stated get the lee bottom pour 20 lb.use ww as plain lead is to soft.
as to  lead being toxic,no its not but it is best not to have it around kids as their systems are more susceptable.dont smoke/drink/or eat when casting and wash hands and change clothes.lead melting does not give of lead fumes.it has to reach temp.far greater than pots will go. I would get lees 312-155-2R or ctl312-160-2R.cast bullets work better over size.I use ctl .312-160 in my 1903 and it will shoot in 1" at 100 yrds.and at my age thats good.I also use 13 gr red dot.

[torpedoman]

using cast bullets is were reloading really pays.

[Mikey]

Torpedoman is right, especially when ammo starts drying up. 

[db22]

I cast two batches on New Year's Day out on the screened porch, ambient temperature 28 degrees Fahrenheit, one batch with an aluminum Lee mold, one with an iron Lyman, and the cold air temp didn't bother me or the molds. I'm sure the "rhythm" of casting in cold winter air is a bit different than on a hot summer day, but I didn't intentionally do anything different, and I got fewer rejects in January than I did last July.

It's very satisfying to shoot a good group with bullets you made yourself, with scrap metal. My Israeli Mauser chambered for 7.62mm NATO shoots the Lee 180-grainer as well as any jacketed bullet.

[Old Fart]

What you will run into in casting is two types of people. Maybe a few others that don't amount to a large percentage.
The ones who do it for pleasure and then the ones who do it for staus.
I do it for pleasure. It allows me to shoot more because my dollar strecthes farther. I enjoy making my own bullets. It's a nice hobby. Some times you may be able to produce a bullet that peforms better than the ready made in your giving gun. For the most part I use Lee products to cast with. I spend my $'s the way that best suits me. I've never been dissapointed with them. They cast good bullets.

Then there are those who only use expensive products. There is nothing wrong with the more expensive molds. Some calibers require you purcasing one of them. I know guys who spend big bucks for cutom made molds. I own a couple pricey molds.

What bothers me is they will continue bash the Lee products as inferior. You know what? Unless you are going to cast hunders of thousands of bullets the Lee will work just fine. Aluminum molds work well for me. I'm careful with them. I'm careful with my expensive steel molds. There are expensive aluminum molds. I still have the first mold I bought when starting. It's a .357 SWC Lee mold. After nearly thirty years now it still produces two nice bullets every time I use it. That works for me.

I cast outside on days that the weather is toleratant. Not to hot, not to cold. I'm an old fart and both extremes bother me. I come indoors in the Man Cave and reload on those days.

The whole point of this idle rambling is that casting your own bullets will save you money you can spend on other things like powder and primers. I never saved a dime. I just shoot more. You won't need to cast to many bullets now a days to offset the cost. Unless of course you're one of those guys who can only buy the expensive stuff.

Just my two cents worth, yours may vary.

OF

[Cottage Hill Bill]

You've gotten good advice from everybody here so far, I would add just one additional bit.

Some milsurps like cast bullets, some don't. If one of your rifles doesn't like your first cast bullet load don't give up on cast bullets. Play around with the load, the bullet and the alloy and try to find a diet your gun likes. If none of that works try your other gun. You might try to buy 15-20 bullets each from some different molds from some of the guys who cast here. That would let you get an idea of which bullets your rifles like before you by molds.

The Lyman 311199 mold is an old standard for .30 and .303. Molds made toward the end of the production life of the cherry (the tool used to make the mold cavity) will tend to cast oversize, ones made early cast more to spec. A 311199 that throws .313 or .314 is coveted by Enfield shooters. Try it as cast for your Moisin and sized for the 2A.