Clueless about bullet casting.

[stevekl]

This thread title is misleading because it implies that I am ONLY clueless about casting. In reality I don't know much in general about muzzleloading So, expect more threads from me in the future. For now, my question is about bullet casting.

Basically I am wondering, when do you need to size bullets, and when can you skip this step? Specifically, can you cast minie-style* bullets and shoot them without sizing them?

Also, can anyone reccomend a good website about casting?

Thanks!

*By minie-style bullets, I mean the kind they used in the civil war; the kind that didn't require a patch or wad. Is that the correct term?

 

[smokehouseman]

Here's a site I found very informative...........http://goatlipstips.cas-town.com/index.html. Good luck :hatsoff:

 

[Zonie]

Of course you don't have to resize a roundball casting :grin: and the" Minie' Ball" used in the .58 caliber Rifled Muskets are undersized to facilitate loading. The hollow base of these expands from gas pressure when they are fired so, no resizing is required there either.

The other lead slugs that are cast for use in muzzleloading rifles are also slightly undersized to ease loading and they expand due to obturation when they are fired. I haven't cast any of these but I don't believe they are usually sized before they are used.

 

[Coot]

To answer some of your questions:

To size a minie (yes, that is the correct for the elongated civil war bullets with a skirted base) you need the correct size die. The size is generally .002 less than the bore of your gun. The die is simply a thick piece of metal with a tapered hole thru it. The diameter of the small end of the hole is the die size. Before spending money on a die, measure your bore to determine the actual & not the claimed or designed size - then you can get the correct size die.

It is not always necessary to use a die. IF you can find a mold that produces a good fit without sizing, you can lube & shoot minies as cast. The sized minies will generally be more accurate but that assumes that you shoot well enough to tell the difference and that the difference is important to you. (are you plinking or shooting in competition). In my case, both of my minie molds produce rounds that are a bit too large for my gun. The sizing die fixes that.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

 

[paulvallandigham]

Lyman has a book on Cast Bullets that is worth having, and has all the answers to every question you might have about how to go about casting. How much equipment, and how much money you end up spending depends totally on what you cast and load in your guns. There are several sources of quality casting equipment. Lee Precision, Lyman, obviously, are two of the most commonly seen brands of casting pots, molds, and sizing dies. For bullets used in rifles and handguns, there are lubrisizers, that allow you to lubricate the grease grooves and also size the bullet in one stroke of the equipment. Dies for sizing generally come in one thousandths of an inch increments, and can be ordered from the companies for their equipment. If you receive a Cabela's catalog, take a look at the casting equipment shown in those pages. Or look at Midway's catalog. There are smaller companies that produce bullet and round ball molds, and you can find most of them in the " Links " section, shown at the top of the index page to this forum, under " MEMBER RESOURCES". Don't be afraid to ask questions. We can usually save you a ton of money, plus help you avoid making stupid mistakes that the rest of us already have experienced. Much wisdom here is the product of much error, and some pain, and its always nice to help someone new to the sport get it right without having quite all that experience we now have. :thumbsup:

 

[Rick Davis]

Try this too:
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

 

[Darkgael]

In addition to Rbs, I use Lee's target minie and their REAL bullet, both in .50 cal. The molds are very affordable and easy to use. Neither bullet requires sizing and both are accurate in my firearms.
Pete

 

[jdstrang]

Tenderfoot: Welcome to the sport!

Try this one for bullet casting:
http://www.nwtskirmisher.com/useful-casting.shtml

:thumbsup:

 

[stevekl]

So in everyone's opinion, does casting save money nowadays, what with the high price of lead?

 

[Allan Gray]

I did my first casting session a few weeks ago. I've always bought round balls prior.

To me it seems like it's an added satisfaction one gets from creating your own ammo. I thought it was alot of fun, and adds to the hobby. If you're a fisherman at all you can relate it to tieing your own flies or carving your own lures.

If you shoot alot and/or have a free source of lead, yes, you'll save some money :thumbsup: