500 RB this summer... should I cast or buy for new year?

[dg98adams]

I have shot over #500 .490 RB this year. I am a BSA Shooting sports instructor, so a good portion of that was supplied to Scouts..

Should I buy stuff to cast my own RB, or buy RB for next year (Friendship)? I'll be a NMLRA instructor by then, so I'll probably use at least #500-750.

I have nothing in the way of casting materials....

If anybody wants to donate yer old casting supplies to BSA Camp Hugh Taylor Birch I can get you a Tax donation receipt.

 

[Bill Hall]

I don't know if you actually teach the scouts at regular meetings, but if you do, what would be funner than a bunch of boys casting their own ammo? It wouldn't take much in the form of equiptment, a cast iron pot, a long bean spoon, a mold or two, some old welding gloves, and a fire pit will get you going. Any more than that will be icing on the cake.

Oh yeah, and some lead, you would need some lead.

Something to think about. An opportunity for the scouts to learn more about shooting. If you decide to go that route, I'm sure I could supply some old gloves and a ladle or something. You're on your own for lead though. Bill

 

[cynthialee]

^^what he said

 

[jethro224]

With the price of store bought roundballs these days you could buy all the stuff needed to cast and the savings for 500 ball would just about pay it off. Except for your lead. 1000 would put you $ ahead even counting the lead.

A Lee lead dipper pot is @ $30, $10 for a Lee ladle, $20 for a Lee mould or $60 for a Lyman, and some lead...

 

[dg98adams]

The BSA Camp already has a Pioneer program where Scouts spend the week in period cloths, live in Canvas tarps, and throw Tomahawk/Shoot Black powder....

I guess all I need is a reason to pick up some stuff....

I got my son a .44 BP pistol for his 16th birthday last year, and I want another for me.

So, I would probably look for .490, .457 and .440 (co-worker has a .45 T/C) molds.

:stir:

 

[jdkerstetter]

Is there a question there? Are you looking for a gun to match the moulds you have or are you looking for a mould to match your son's gun?

J.D.

 

[jethro224]

Is there a question there? Are you looking for a gun to match the moulds you have or are you looking for a mould to match your son's gun?

J.D.

I merged the question to where I think it was meant to go. :thumbsup:

 

[MosinRob]

cast them. Its not only fun, but you know your making a consistent ball. I noticed a big difference using my own cast balls to store bought. I go a little further and weigh them to get close as i can from one to the other. Just my opinion.

 

[Matt85]

casting is a fun way to kill a couple hours. i cast my own .490 balls and find it very enjoyable and cheaper then buying them.

-Matt

 

[dg98adams]

I picked up an early mold (Civil War Style) for the Scouts to practice with... I think I have a small cast iron kettle... Now I need a spoon/dipper and moulds for the gun calibers I have:

All RB Black Powder
.44 - .45 Rifle
.490 - .50 Rifle
.457 - .44 Pistol

I'm watching Ebay and Craigslist

Thanks

 

[cynthialee]

be sure to get a good sized ladle
I found a small ladle or large spoon might hold enough to make a ball, but they don't hold suficient lead to stay hot long enough to get a good ball cast.

 

[Billnpatti]

Casting your own balls would be the cheapest way to go in the long run. If you decide to use it as a chance to teach the Scouts how to cast, just be sure to set up the equipment in such a way to be sure that no horseplay can take place where the casting is done and to minimize the number of kids around the pot at any given time. Scouts are great kids but they are kids and prone to the occasional bit of impromptu fun. Be sure everyone has the proper safety equipment. Safety first.

 

[cynthialee]

^^ what he said

In fact I would only allow the oldest kids to do any casting. They all of course should learn basics and principles of casting but the actual casting should be reserved for the kids most likely to maintain a level head and stay focused.

 

[JJCASTINGS]

In response to dg98adams

With the kids, welding gloves and sleeves, leather apron, hardhat with face shield is advisable.

You need to prevent a visit from the Tinsel Fairy. Casting slang for a steam lead explosion.

That is when sweat or other water enters the casting pot causing a steam explosion that throws hot lead everywhere. So keep a close eye on the kids. Even plunging a ladle into the molten lead too fast when fluxing or dipping lead can cause this is if any moisture is on the ladle. Old flux residue on the ladle can absorb enough water vapor to cause a boil if dipped into the pot too fast.

For volume casting at home, I use a Lee Pro 4 20 lb. production pot. http://leeprecision.com/pro-4-20lb.html It has a bottom valve and holds about 20 pounds. The lee RB molds do not put a sprue on the ball. Instead there is a small flat caused by the way the mold is designed for the spru plate to cut the spru. It has been my experience that this is a very accurate cast ball. With the flat spot up when loaded, the pressure and shape of the ball starter tends to round it out to match the ball. Using this mold for .490 and .311 and trying different patch thicknesses, I have loads for both guns that make one ragged hole 5 shot groups at 25 yards for the 32 caliber and 50 yards for the 50 caliber. The Pro Pot is very durable. I used to cast thousands of bullets of all types and sell them on eBay. Several customers wanted 5000 a month for competition. Still using the same pot since 2006. Only cast for my own use now. If you can collect used wheel-weights from a tire store the clip on ones are close to bullet alloy for modern firearms, and the stick on ones are pure lead, except for some of the modern lead substitute ones. The bad ones are easy to sort out because they are harder. Pure lead is need for BP round and minie ball use.

I'm one of many co-editors for the 2012 edition of Cast Bullets for Beginners and Experts. This is the third edition and is not in print yet. It is over 600 pages. If you need any detailed casting advice or have other questions anyone on the site can PM /Email me for info.

 

[JJCASTINGS]

Casting is really not that difficult or dangerous for those paying close attention to detail, but with kids, especially other peoples kids there is reason for close supervision. I would recommend one adult to monitor the actual caster and others to keep an eye on the group for safety.

 

[necchi]

Being a Life scout myself.
I wouldn't let random scouts at a camp cast.
If it was a resident at a summer camp, or a member from my troop that I had repeated contact with perhaps,
But a random scout stepping up from a group that's just observing a demonstration,?? Nope.

Casting is a simple task but it still requires a basic saftey protocol with physical cordination and timing that's learned with time and practice, there's a little more to it than a first timer putting on gloves.

 

[ohio ramrod]

So true. Safety is always a must. I have found as a shop teacher students don't realise the danger involved with power tools. Neither would many scouts realise the dangers of molten lead. Getting the scouts involved is neccessary for our future. But we must do it is a safe manner. Getting a scout burned with molten lead is not a good start! Proper supervision and training is a must! Demonstrate, train, and supervise! :hmm:

 

[rafterob]

You can buy bulk from Eddie May and come out around 8 bucks per hundred shipping included. In a $15 flat rate box I got right at 1000 .490 balls for $80.

 

[dg98adams]

The Scouts that would cast are part of the camp "Mad River Trace Program" (pioneer experience), and are at least 1st class.

I would reserve it for the older Scouts in our Unit when we Period Camp.

I just got the mould I picked up off eBay... looks to be a .36 caliber ball (or smaller), but fine to start casting.

I appreciate the safety advice, and do what I can to minimize risk.

 

[buzz]

i was looking at a modern style pot it has a lever on it and pours from the hot pot to the mould but im not sure how these work but should help in the safer movement of the lead
I thinking to try one
i probly being banned but on "gun broker auctions" theres a guy who cast balls i bought batch in .715 for my bess think i got them relay cheap they are mike at 712 to .718 i know he cast many sizes could be worth a look