Reloading kit from the 1920's

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by Schutzenbob

sheepherder, I've been casting bullets since I was 8 years old (a long time ago), if you're really interested, I can take some pics and try to describe my technique. There are basically two schools of thought in bullet casting, one is dipping and the other is bottom pouring. I dip - cast my bullets with an old Lyman ladle. The old Ideal molds are generally excellent and will cast perfect consistent bullets, if you know how.

Since 93 gr .30 Luger bullets are generally not available, casting seems like the way to go if I want to reload my saved brass. Although Rich might want to avoid your fine details about casting techniques, I would be interested in your treatment of the subject! Perhaps a new thread about it would be appropriate, and subsequent comments in it would bring out even more info, it would put it all into one thread, which would be handy as well as informative.

At this point, I've never cast bullets, but I cast dozens of lead counterweights for a mechanical sculpture I made years ago. I can attest that my experience pouring them led to somewhat inconsistent results--tiny voids and rounded corners--your mention of "dipping" sounds interesting as it seems it might avoid this problem and result in a more integral structure to the casting.

[Schutzenbob]

ithacaartist, casting bullets is more an art than a science, and I've always enjoyed it. I'll put together a thread with some pictures, but now.....I need to find a photographer who will stand next to me and take pics while I cast bullets.

Rich; to answer your question.....with a rifle bullet mold I probably set it down for 30 to 40 seconds before I pull the sprue plate open, with a pistol mold, not quite as long. You need to pull the sprue plate open slowly so you don't deform the base of the bullet.