Bullet Casting & Coating MegaThread

Assuming a mix of .30. .40, and .458 cal and ~3 coats each, any idea how many rounds I'd get out of a 7 oz container of Hi-Tek?
One butt load. Approximately.
I think the rough math was like 7 oz is 200 grams.
which would mix with about 1200 ML of acetone (I go thinner and coat 3 times instead of 2)
1 ML per pound of bullets. So that’s 400 pounds with 3 coats.
So 22,400 each 125 grain bullets
 
Assuming a mix of .30. .40, and .458 cal and ~3 coats each, any idea how many rounds I'd get out of a 7 oz container of Hi-Tek?
7oz is about 200 grams - at 20grams per 100mL that should yield ~1L of mix
3 coats at 1mL per pound per coat should give you around 300 lbs of coated bullets

So now we know that "One Butt Load" is approximately 300 lbs ;)
 
Cheap casting and coating rig

Toaster Oven - $19.88
Hot Plate - $12.88
Casting Pot - $29.99
Thermometer - $25.99

Ladle - $5.49
Mold - $18.39 (pretty much all Lee 2 cavity molds are the same price)
Sizing kit - $19.29

50 lbs Lead - $66.80
Hi-Tek 3.5 oz - $10.95
50/50 Solder for added Tin - $15.45

Add some shipping and tax - leaves you at around $250 with the ability to cast about 2600 bullets (about $200 worth)

Edit: You will need to modify the hot plate thermostat to allow the temp to get up to casting temperature - will add instructions here after the next casting seminar (will be bringing a hot plate to demonstrate the mods then adding it to the door prize pile)
 
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Cheap casting and coating rig

Toaster Oven - $19.88
Hot Plate - $12.88
Casting Pot - $29.99
Thermometer - $25.99

Ladle - $5.49
Mold - $18.39 (pretty much all Lee 2 cavity molds are the same price)
Sizing kit - $19.29

50 lbs Lead - $66.80
Hi-Tek 3.5 oz - $10.95
50/50 Solder for added Tin - $15.45

Add some shipping and tax - leaves you at around $250 with the ability to cast about 2600 bullets (about $200 worth)

Edit: You will need to modify the hot plate thermostat to allow the temp to get up to casting temperature - will add instructions here after the next casting seminar (will be bringing a hot plate to demonstrate the mods then adding it to the door prize pile)
Why not PID that hot plate!
 
How much to pid an oven?
unless others have better sources about $70!
 
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Correct. It’s a two cavity and I might have to upgrade down the road. But this mold drops really nice but it might struggle to keep up with the kids. He shot all of the last batch the other night. But I really can’t complain about 6-7 cent 38 SPL rounds. And the test rounds shot really well. Anyone on the fence about casting should see how well these perform. In fact I think he’s shooting these much better than the FML’s I’ve been loading. These were loaded over 2.9 grains of Clays. I was going to try other powders but I had some in the hopper and I wanted to crank off a quick 100 for the range the other night.
 
Correct. It’s a two cavity and I might have to upgrade down the road. But this mold drops really nice but it might struggle to keep up with the kids. He shot all of the last batch the other night. But I really can’t complain about 6-7 cent 38 SPL rounds. And the test rounds shot really well. Anyone on the fence about casting should see how well these perform. In fact I think he’s shooting these much better than the FML’s I’ve been loading. These were loaded over 2.9 grains of Clays. I was going to try other powders but I had some in the hopper and I wanted to crank off a quick 100 for the range the other night.
Nice. I really liked that mould but the nose was a little wide for my 1873 so I went with this one from MP. The dual crimp groove harkens back to my first 38 mould the 358156 designed by Ray Thompson.
Though I think the Lyman 358665 would have been a close second choice to the MP.

I’ve been using clays more lately myself and I really like how clean it is and how bulky it is.
69840110-BD59-44C4-BB06-E503C7803108.jpeg
 
1st time reloading cast for my Savage 99 in 308. Barrel was slugged to .3085. Mold is a Lee C309-170-FN. Alloy of about 9-10 BHN (pencil hardness test), dropped at .309", 173gr. Three coats of candy apple red Hi Tek. Gas checked and sized to .309. Brass trimmed to 2.007 and expanded the neck just enough not to shave the bullet. Bullets seated to crimp groove. I was going to seat GC to neck base but GCs are on tight and figured I would start there. Light crimp (Lee collet). Started at 10gr of Unique and worked up to 12gr. Plan on testing on Monday.
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