Bullet Casting

[MilesTeg]

I have started gathering range scrap for my lead supply. I made a thread last year on it if there's interest I grab my old and bring it over here.

The long story short is I'm getting the itch to cast again. So I'm seeing if anyone here casts here. I'm also thinking this thread just could be a talking thread about different questions tips or hints.

I do a lot of reading on castboolits but still haven't taken the dive and started casting.

[Meketrefe]

no casting here. I like the idea of anything about self reliance but I don't like lead. Make sure to do it outside or garage or a well ventilated area that takes the toxic fumes outside.

[MilesTeg]

Ya I kind of got freaked out at the beginning of the year and had my blood tested. I was actually on the low side so that's good. My doctor is a shooter too and was more than willing to talk about the subject and how to minimize exposure and also test for it.

I'm not too worried about melting the range scrap down. I do this outdoors on turkey with plenty of ventilation. When I actually do take the step to casting I will make sure I have enough air moving.

My biggest concern is how I collect the lead. I've been minning an indoor range for the scrap. This requires screening the sand and pounding chunks off the backstop. I wear a mask and make sure I don't eat or drink anything until I'm fully washed up. I also separated those close and only use them for this task.

[Meketrefe]

That's good. Safety first! ...lead poisoning normally happens over time and that is why people are kind of relaxed about it. I have seen guys shooting in the indoor range really hot lead loads
and one could tell they were going faster and disintegrating due to the amount of white smoke and residue all over. I don't even know how GCL allows this king of stuff.
They should not let cast indoors. Also some powders that are total garbage.

[MilesTeg]

All true, people are their own worst enemies. I've never understood pushing hot loads in an indoor range. Your just asking for trouble and not even the round disintegrating but a round coming back at them. I can see covered lead for indoors but I agree bare lead is a bad idea. I also think when shooting bare lead you vaporize some from the burning and the barrel friction. And when the bullet leaves the muzzle there trace amounts of lead in the smoke. So if you at an indoor range you have a better chance of inhaling that smoke.

[Meketrefe]

Lead poisoning is really bad and I dont want a 2nd pecker growing up on me. I have trouble maintaining one already. Lol

[MilesTeg]

I had some time today to melt down some more of the range scrap down to ingots. I now have a 30 cal ammo can of ready to go lead so I'm getting there.

[Meketrefe]

nice! thats a lot of lead.

[MilesTeg]

I think it was around 20LBS. I don't have a small scale to weigh the ingots. I still have a ton more to do. I think right around 8 5 gallon buckets. It's not very clean lead so I get a pile of sand and cases.

I'm hoping to buy the gear to actually start casting next month fingers crossed.