Casting bullets for muzzleloader

Only at start, if you get it to hot, the mold will tell you.

 

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

 

Just picked up a large stainless spoon from a thrift store. After a little cutting and shaping, it will be my skimmer.

 

Bobbed the bowl and flattened the edge, cut back and folded the edge, then contoured to match the plumber's pot shape. Removed burrs, and wire wheeled. Skimmer is ready.

 

A Kellory Kustom skimmer.

 

I fired up the burner, tonight, and filled it with lead WW discs @10lbs. Covered it with the frying pan, and kicked up the heat, and had molten lead in about 20 minutes i added pine wood shaving and dust from my electric planer, and let it char. then stirred it in thoroughly, and then skimmed it off. I then added the smaller ladle, and was a bit surprised when the lead started boiling. (Makes sense, but had not occoured to me). I then broke out the oxy/acet torch and blackened the mold. followed by the first pour.roughly two scoops per filling.
I watched the lead solidify, then waited a bit more. Then inverted the mold and started tapping. The lead slid out without much trouble. I continued filling. Waiting, tapping, until the lead was gone.and as I got 10 lead ingots, I suppose they each wiegh roughly one pound. this is roughly half of the WW lead I have. The WW lead will be stored until needed.
Skimmer worked well.

 

Friend dropped off a Lee 58 cal. mold and about 70# of lead sheeting and asked if I would cast a few projectiles for his smokepole.
Here's a few, I believe they weigh in at .575 grains, Is this something Kellory that your casting for? These are hollow based.

 

Those look nice! But my Muzzle loader is the CVA Steghorn inline in .50cal. 1:28 twist.

 

Thanks', Judging by your pictures I would say you pretty much have it almost game on!

 

Thankd, but keep in mind, this is all WW lead, and of no real use to me at this time. (Just practice)
I do have 10lbs of soft lead, but do not yet have the mold for the bullet, so that part will have to wait a while.

 

My Pad-Naah bought 4 molds off an ''old widow woman'' for cheap, He may of picked up a .50 cal mold, I have them and I must say, Some are in bad shape, I'll check them out on a good day, May have something to get you started?

 

That would be interesting. even if I change to something else later on, I would get some practice at how to do it.

 

Perhaps by tomorrow I'll have more info for you, There's one set I have not been able to separate, Appears to be a flat based projectile, We may get lucky?

 

Here's the last of the lead sheets that I've melted down into 3 rather large ingots for a total estimated weight of about 70#

 

Lead roof sheeting, and lead roof vent boots, are what I can get from my local recycler. (Soft lead) I will pick up a bit more as I can.

 

That's a good idea Kell. I never thought of that.

 

Keep you eyes peeled for lead piping and older homes used lead to seal the ceramic sewer lines.

 

Ingot mold has a few new siblings....