The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - thinking about casting my own .45 bullets, where to start? feasible?

David Bachelder · December 13, 2012, 09:41 AM

For lead, call a few plumbing supply houses in your area. They sell pure and clean lead at a reasonable cost, If I remember correctly they quoted me about $1.20 per pound. It comes in 5 lb ingots, usually five ingot to a bunch totaling 25 lbs.

You most likely will need tin and atinomy. I get tin and antimony alloy (70:30 lead, antimony) from Rotometals. Don't let the price of tin and antimony scare you off. you don't need alot of it.

I use 95:2.5:2.5 Alloy. Lead, Antimony and tin. I guessing BHN runs around 12 give or take. It does not lead my barrels and the bullets shoot great.

Tin can also be found at Ebay, mostly in the form of solder. Sometimes 50:50and sometimes 95:5 (tin/lead).

A pound of alloy will make about 35 - 200 grain bullets. I mix my alloy at 20 lbs a batch. I'd guess your cost between 3 to 4 cents a bullet, after equipment cost.

If you can scrounge some lead, and most of us do at one point or another, the cost drops dramatically. I have scrounged about 600 lbs of lead by just asking friends if they knew where any was. Seems like everyone knows someone that knows where some lead is. My Dad had about 400 lbs stacked away in his garage.

I use LEE sizing dies and liquid alox for lube. I tried "pan lubing" and really didn't care for it. The Alox works great for me.

December 13, 2012, 09:41 AM	#26
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	For lead, call a few plumbing supply houses in your area. They sell pure and clean lead at a reasonable cost, If I remember correctly they quoted me about $1.20 per pound. It comes in 5 lb ingots, usually five ingot to a bunch totaling 25 lbs. You most likely will need tin and atinomy. I get tin and antimony alloy (70:30 lead, antimony) from Rotometals. Don't let the price of tin and antimony scare you off. you don't need alot of it. I use 95:2.5:2.5 Alloy. Lead, Antimony and tin. I guessing BHN runs around 12 give or take. It does not lead my barrels and the bullets shoot great. Tin can also be found at Ebay, mostly in the form of solder. Sometimes 50:50and sometimes 95:5 (tin/lead). A pound of alloy will make about 35 - 200 grain bullets. I mix my alloy at 20 lbs a batch. I'd guess your cost between 3 to 4 cents a bullet, after equipment cost. If you can scrounge some lead, and most of us do at one point or another, the cost drops dramatically. I have scrounged about 600 lbs of lead by just asking friends if they knew where any was. Seems like everyone knows someone that knows where some lead is. My Dad had about 400 lbs stacked away in his garage. I use LEE sizing dies and liquid alox for lube. I tried "pan lubing" and really didn't care for it. The Alox works great for me. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06 Last edited by David Bachelder; December 13, 2012 at 09:47 AM.