How to cast bullets

[punkrockerwes]

47000 views even!

[Markitos203]

In case SHTF you could use the weights used to balance car wheels.

[screamingcockatoo]

@Markitos203

Absolutely.

[huckleberry803]

for the mold instead of beeswax do you think teflon spray would work?

[screamingcockatoo]

@huckleberry803

Teflon burns away at 500 degrees.

And is very toxic when it burns.

[iliya1997]

@screamingcockatoo but who cares lead melts at 367 dgrees

[screamingcockatoo]

@iliya1997

That's 500F.

Lead melts at 621F

"Teflon®, begins outgassing particles at 396°F (202.2°C). "

[supergoat343]

Some reloaders "swag" their bullets, pouring lead into a copper sleeve that is then shaped. Its really the only practical way to create jacketed bullets at home. Solid lead is far easier to make and can be used for almost all calibers and loads. Make sure that you use gas checks for high velocity rounds though.

[mharm734]

@supergoat343 the gas check issue you could just spend 20 bucks for a wad punch from a black powder supply in your caliber. Put a felt wad in under the lead bullet and its just as good for stopping leading as a gas check without the expense of buying or hassle of punching em out yourself with a freechex.

[xzqzq]

I tried a single burner electric, and gas stove, unsuccessfully, and just bought a small Lee lead pot... works just fine....although I noticed that only @ half of the wheel weights I add to the molten lead will melt.....so I buy lead ingots on I-Bay.....cast outside... I stay as far away from the pot as possible, and wear a dusk mask.... probably should switch to a respirator mask, like the auto body guys use....

[Vincerama]

@xzqzq If only half your weights melt, it might be that there are zinc weights mixed in with your lead weights. I think zinc melts at a bit hotter temps. So you'd have to really check your temps and skim out the unmolten weights.

[otunca]

You sound like a practical guy

I like your style

Thank you for quick replay :)

[otunca]

Can I use electric single stove for this ?

[screamingcockatoo]

@otunca

Outdoors right?

I dunno, as long as it gets up to 700F I guess it'll work.

[paraglidermx]

Watch ur eyes dude,one splash and ur blind,plus make sure u never put cold lead into a hot mix!!!Happy castin!

[jlasud]

@paraglidermx From my experience ,nothing happens when you put cold lead into molten lead..it will melt after a bit too..it dosen't splash or anything..The only dangerous thing i observed is to pour lead into a cold clay mold cause it splashes

[paraglidermx]

@jlasud Yeah but bettr safe...really watch out for water!!!!

[nes4ever69]

besides simple you for got one thing, fun.

[chuckeieio]

Neat. Always wanted to try making my own. Thanks for the video.

[CrackNinja]

how do you get the copper around the bullet.... sorry im really new to this

[screamingcockatoo]

@CrackNinja

Ah. Good question

You don't, these are straight lead. The jacketed bullets are a lead wire pressed into the jacket then cut at the base by a machine.

Another method is to plate them with copper.

The method us casters would use is a gas-check.

It's like a tiny pie pan at the back of the bullet.

[CrackNinja]

@screamingcockatoo so if i started reloading my 5.56 or 7.62 x 39, is it ok to shoot as just a lead bullet with no copper or anything, (still accurate, safe, and nice to my gun)?

[CapPicard]

@screamingcockatoo I wonder if it's possible to electroplate copper onto lead. If it's even possible, probably not a good way of doing a copper jacket.

[screamingcockatoo]

@CapPicard

Yes copper can be electroplated onto the lead.

There are companies that do this.

For the hobbiest, it's more trouble than it's worth.

[Glockcrazy19]

@CapPicard yep bonded bullets typically jhp are the best for self defence

[762full]

where can I get a mold for casings?

[762full]

It not boiling though, the temperature needs to be higher for it to boil, but you're more than right about safety precautions

[metalhead192]

if u have the money then u can get a set up to coppercoat your slugs but other than that all your can really do yourself is lead i cast my owh ammo when i target shoot but u buy bulk ammnuition usually cheaper my way buy the bullets powder and brass because u can get about 3-4 shots from one brass

[PBJist]

I wrote that comment for the people watching this video who may not know. Not for you.

[762full]

1. Can you make them with steel instead of lead? I know it needs to be hotter for steel but what do you need?

2. Do they sell casts that allow for hollow cavities in the bullets? Or it is simple enought to modify existing casts?

[screamingcockatoo]

Ok, you don't want a steel bullet, it would destroy the barrel.

There are molds for hollow point bullets but you really just want to cast for target rounds.

[762full]

What if you coat the steel with an anti-adhesive, and the same for the barrel?

[screamingcockatoo]

Well first you'd have to have a blast furnace to melt the steel.

And the molds would have to be of a material to withstand the temperature.

The steel cores of AP bullets are cut from a wire of steel and die formed then die pressed into a copper jacket.

It's just not economical to manufacture your own from steel.

[Vincerama]

@762full Not sure if you are joking or not. Why would you want an aluminum bullet? It's one of the lightest metals around. Good luck melting aluminum at 1220 F.

[bigtodd12159]

you can even add tin to harden your lead mix and also gas check your bullets to seal gasses and it also helps to not lead up your barrel

[Wireman134]

Are those boolits U casted Bunkin

[lolimnoteighteen]

so those bullets are ready to shoot? i thought they needed some sort of gunpowder to shot out of a gun.. or does the gun have the powder in it? sorry im no expert just wanted to ask

[wondledonkey]

What he's making are the actual slugs that leave the gun when you pull the trigger. If you've ever seen a cartridge for a gun it is made of brass with a lead/copper tip. The brass body of the cartridge is filled with the gun powder, and when the gun powder ignites inside the cartridge it creates enough pressure to force the tip out of the gun.

[lolimnoteighteen]

oh, and the bullets are in the cartridge?

[wondledonkey]

The bullet is sticking out the top of the cartridge, yeah. All the propellant is behind it inside the brass case.

[lolimnoteighteen]

cool so what your saying is he makes the bullets, but he still has to buy the cartridge right?

[DjinnJuggler]

this is just the part that flies through the air and kills something, it still needs a "shell", which is like a brass tube, and some "propellant", which is gunpowder. Most people do not make shells because they're a bit more complicated than bullets. If you have a "muzzle loader", then you skip the shell and stick the powder+bullet right down the end.

[HunterTom3006]

Nice set up & cool equipment.

U have to wear some kind of EYE PROTECTION.

[Taheelur123]

pshhh... why would anyone do something logical like that?

[HunterTom3006]

Yes, U really need to where eye glass protection or some glasses.

Nice setup u have there bud, pretty cool equipment. I like making bullets the day before a hunt, or if I go out in the f ield, or if I go to the gun range & practice shooting . Making these bullets is fun. EYE protection is a must!!

[redicety12]

Should be wearing eye protection, and gloves/other protection. Molten lead doesn't feel good melting through your skin down to the bone, and if you get a spatter in your eye you wont be shooting anytime soon.

[Jrhoney]

more like ever.

[elcongo2006]

y los lentes pendiente...!.amigo

[elcongo2006]

y los lente de segurida animal

[screamingcockatoo]

segurida?

No esta palabra.

[lovshooting]

el aprom de cuero,

el abanico

el extinguidor de fuego

patalones largos

botas de cuero

mascara de respiro para plomo

un metal a 600-750 grados Farenheit te va a dar una quemadura de tercer grado al contacto.

Una mosca, abispa o otro insecto que le caiga al pot va causar una pequena explosion. una gota de plomo en tus piernas te va a dejar un doloroso recuerdo...

Si hablo Espanol... Donde esta la biblioteca?

[drzoidberg223]

commenting on lethamburns comment, i have been stupid enough to melt lead ing the rain and it will explode... molten lead does not feel good on skin!

[BranscomeINC]

Fantastic, this video and a few others have convinced me to cast.

I pulled out an old single burner Coleman stove using 1 gallon of Coleman fluid and a 6 cast iron frying pan and in 3 weekends made 51 2lbs lead muffins from wheel weights. I have an auto painters mask and Lee furnace and 6 cavity mold on order. Thank you very much!

[screamingcockatoo]

I'll have a few new videos up soon.

Remember to have your molds up to temperature first.

A gas grill side burner or a hot plate will do this fine.

If it's too hot, the lead won't cool.

So just hold them until you see the lead harden, that wait 30 more seconds.

The you're ready!

[crazyredlion4500]

Great video it was very cut and dry and to the point. I think I will be starting to cast my own bullets soon. How about a video on bullet lubing. Any advice you can give would be good.

[screamingcockatoo]

I have a video on pan lubing bullets.

I'm using Lee tumble lube bullets on my 1911s.

It works fine with no leading.

[crazyredlion4500]

I hear that Lee tumble lube bullets need no sizing is that true? How well does the Lee Alox work? thanks

[screamingcockatoo]

I still size mine.

I lube the lightly, size them then lube them again.

The toss them in a small cardboard box.

[screamingcockatoo]

Oh, the Alox works GREAT!

[crazyredlion4500]

Thanks for all your advice. I just placed a large order with Midway to get started casting bullets. I am going to start with 38 special / 357 magnum 158 grain tumble lube semi wad cutters. After I get my feet wet I will start casting 9mm and 45 ACP and 44 MAG.

[lethamburns]

Nice video. I love the enthusiasm you put into your presentation - makes it even more interesting.

Once concern (other than the absence of safety gear previously mentioned) is the dropping of completed projectiles into water so close to the lead pot. I'm sure it's not news to you, but it only takes a water droplet to land in your molten lead to cause an explosion.

Once again, great video and keep 'em coming!

[Oheeeoh]

Dude. At least wear a pair of sunglasses. LOL

[screamingcockatoo]

I usually wear safety glasses.

Usually.

I did have an ingot explode once, sending a spray of lead everywhere!

[colonelporpoise]

I should learn how to do this if I ever want an Arisaka.

[screamingcockatoo]

Actually the Enfield 303 and 7.7 are the same bullet.

But some people do cast for them and use a gas check at the back.

[colonelporpoise]

So if I buy an Arisaka, I could shoot it with 303 Enfield rounds?

It will take it?

[screamingcockatoo]

The cartridge is different but it had the same projectile.

So the same bullet can be used to reload both cartridges.

[colonelporpoise]

I see.

[NamelessFTW]

can u use fishing weights? and what about copper jackets and stuff?

[screamingcockatoo]

Fishing weights are the same alloy as wheel weights, so they're fine.

And the copper jackets float to the top.

Just skim them off.

[lovshooting]

Also,

I wanted to point out. That the reason it seems to take him a bit longer for the lead to harden is that he is most likely overheating the lead. I would recommend a temperature gage like the "RCBS Lead Bullet Casting Thermometer". That way you keep the lead alloy at a optimum temperature. It will help you get the pot just hot enough to melt the lead. My 2 cents.

[lovshooting]

I would add a full face mask, much like the ones you would use if you were turning wood. I would also add a leather apron for you midsection and long leaves; nothing synthetic. I would keep that bucket of water away from the lead pot. drop of water + molten lead = Big steam bomb which will throw lead all over.

Otherwise this is a great video. It shows you don't need to spend $300 on a fancy lead furnace. Like the RCBS one.

Thanks for the video

[johncooner]

Thanks, I just started molding 50 and 45 cal lead bullets.

[stinar28]

If you want to see lead cast bullets of premium quality, check out SNS Casting!!  Great bullets made similar to this method.

[n1ket1c]

Where can I bye that mashine ?:)

[screamingcockatoo]

The burner is nothing more than a cheap turkey fryer with a cheap iron pot.(You can get it at Wal Mart)

The mould can be bought from MidwayUSA for about $14.

There are electric furnaces for about $40 also.

The electric ones have a pour spout on the bottom and are very easy to use.

[GrunnehBear]

lol i see robert XD

[lamarbrog]

That is cool... very high-energy video. Kept moving at a fast, energetic pace.