Pennsylvania Game News - October 2022 - 57

lead. Moisture can make it react violently
and burst off the pot onto the caster.
Just in case, always wear long-sleeved
shirts, pants and hats of cotton - synthetics
can melt onto skin. Wear heat-resistant
gloves, glasses and a face shield, and
protective shoes, too.
To keep from breathing lead fumes,
place a fan behind you to push lead vapors
away. Wear a P100 or N100 facemask,
too. They're inexpensive yet provide
adequate protection. Lower-rated N95
masks recommended for Covid protection
don't block lead vapors.
Be careful not to overheat lead either.
It won't vaporize until it reaches 1,100
degrees F. Electric lead melting pots don't
get that hot, but propane or acetylene
burners can, so if you use one of them,
get a high-temperature thermometer to
monitor things.
Lead heated to that extreme temperature
doesn't cast well anyway.
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
Getting started casting your own lead
bullets requires an initial investment. But
it's not necessarily a huge one.
A cast iron lead melting pot, like that
used by a plumber, costs about $26. You'll
need a propane heat source to use it, as
well as a dipper like the Lyman Lead
Dipper with a pouring spout. It costs
about $33.
Just be aware that such a setup doesn't
allow you to control the temperature of
the lead from the beginning of a pour to
the end.
That's why an electric lead melting pot
is often a better idea. Best of all, they are
inexpensive and last a lifetime.
According to Dixie Gun Works, an
entry-level electric " Hot Pot " with a
cast iron body capable of holding up to
OCTOBER 2022
4 pounds of molten lead is about $54. A
starter kit that includes a 10-pound capacity
furnace, Lyman dipper, ingot mold,
super moly bullet lube and the Lyman
Reloading and Cast Bullet Guide costs
about $125.
Of course, prices get saltier from
there. A 22-pound capacity production
pot pouring from the bottom and offering
consistent temperature pours goes about
$545. That might be too much for most
amateur casters looking only to create a
can full of round balls or slugs.
THE FUN OF IT ALL
There's money to be saved in casting
your own bullets. There's the profound
connection to American history the process
brings on, too. But the best part of
creating your own ammunition is just the
fun of it all.
It's very satisfying to watch molten
lead solidify into a roundball or pointed
bullet like the T/C Maxi-Ball. This food
for the eyes becomes even more appealing
when you picture yourself harvesting
that big buck or bear with a bullet made
by your own hand.
It's all so adaptable, too. You can
experiment with bullet molds ranging
from the historically accurate roundball to
the most high-tech REAL (rifle engraved
at loading) ribbed slugs. The world of
bullet casters is filled with choices.
All the while, by casting your own
bullets, you'll free yourself from the vagaries
of a questionable supply chain and
box-store anti-hunters. " Running lead "
will keep you stocked with bullets of all
kinds, for not only primitive flintlocks but
the most technologically advanced inline
muzzleloaders. Trust me, as my mentor
said long ago, the satisfaction gained is
immeasurable.
57
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