casting RB`s

[burch]

We need a forum topic on casting round balls. I`ve always wanted to do that but have never casted any lead.

          Burch

[mario]

Here's a good start:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/runningball.html

Mario

[Sir Michael]

burch, what questions do you have about casting.  Many of us cast our own here.  What ever you want to know you'll get more than one answer from which you can pick and choose what you want to use.

[burch]

Here's a good start:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/runningball.html

Mario

I like it

[burch]

burch, what questions do you have about casting.  Many of us cast our own here.  What ever you want to know you'll get more than one answer from which you can pick and choose what you want to use.

 I just wanted to keep it simple. I really like the link Mario posted on casting in camp.

[burch]

I`ve checked Dixie`s catalog and they don`t offer much on traditional equipment. Where else can you find equipment ?

[burch]

I found some at TOW

[Sir Michael]

You might want to check out this place.

http://www.smilingfoxforgellc.com/guns4.asp

Is there something specific you are looking for?

For bag moulds, I would contact Rapine.  I don't have their address or phone number.  They don't have a WEB address.

[wwpete52]

We need a forum topic on casting round balls. I`ve always wanted to do that but have never casted any lead.

          Burch

Burch, it's a lot of fun and it's easy.  My son and I cast round balls Friday night.  You can get pure lead cheap on Ebay.  The shipping is cheap too since the post office introduced the flat rate shipping boxes.  You really don't need a lot of stuff.  I would suggest, being a beginner, that you purchase a Lee electric lead pot and a Lee round ball mold.  They work just fine and they are real bargins.  Of course you might want to buy a period bag mold but when you are in a hurry the Lee does the trick.  It is also low maintinence.  I've had great luck with them.  I've purchased $100 molds that didn't cast as well as the cheapo Lee molds.  They heat up quick and you don't have to keep them oiled when you don't use them.  They also come with wooden handles.  Lyman and RCBS don't.  Their handles ain't cheap either.
All you need is pure Lead (do not use wheel weights for round balls), an electric lead pot, a mold, an old spoon (to skim with), a box of wooden matches and a candle. That's it! You'll be good to go. You don't need a ladle (dipper) if you have the Lee electric pot when casting round balls.  Casting heavy bullets ( like for a Sharps Rifle) is a different story.
I'm sure that anyone on the forum will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.  I'm always available since I am retired.  Feel free to contact me any time.

[burch]

My buddy and I bought a few things this weekend and was accually casting some balls and hollow base bullets for his rifle. We just got a RB mold, bullet mold, casting ladel, one of those pots, and some lead. After some trial and error we finally came up some that turned out pretty decent. We used Bore Butter for flux. I`m not all that worried about casting 100 balls at a time I just wanted a bag mold and ladel for camping.

[wwpete52]

Hey that's great!

[burch]

Does anyone use different melting pots other than the ones you get from the casting companys. I`m just trying to be cheap here.  

[R.M.]

I don't think you'll find anything of better value than a Lee.

[BEAVERMAN]

Does anyone use different melting pots other than the ones you get from the casting companys. I`m just trying to be cheap here.  

 Burch, i use a small lodge cast iron pot, available at sportsmans wharehouse or any other camping type store, put it on an old coleman stove ans start to melting, the laddle I use has is a lee with the enclosed pour spot on one end, cant get much cheaper than that.

[Indiana]

I use an old pot I found in the garage and either put it on the propane grill or a coleman stove or something of the like.