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SSShooter
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Custom Bullet Casters
Jul 13th, 2011 at 7:55pm
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Am not set up for casting and likely won't be, living in a condominium with no way to get proper ventilation. Have been purchasing my bullets from a fellow in KC who did good work at a reasonable cost, but who recently suffered some health issues which have pretty much shut him down. I've done quite a bit of 'google' searching, but haven't found any other reasonable sources of 0.377" bullets from the standard Lyman, Saeco and RCBS molds. Can anyone suggest  sources for these flat-base bullets? Thanks.
  

Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
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40_Rod
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #1 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 8:08am
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First of all lead fumes in enclosed spaces is an over-hyped crock. I have been casting in my basement for years. My casting temps have ranged from 700 to 850 depending on the alloy. I have never done anything like fans or special ventilation. When I have been in the middle of week long casting sessions and had Dr. appointments somewhere during the session I have asked that they check the blood for lead levels. They have repeatedly come back "Normal". Get a small pot and learn to cast you will be money ahead.

40 Rod
  
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38_Cal
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #2 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 8:23am
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What 40_Rod said.  The only fumes that your neighbors might object to would be from your choices of flux, or if you smelt down scrap lead in your home.

David
  

David Kaiser
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frnkeore
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #3 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 1:40pm
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Same here, I first had a in line fan in a 8" flu pipe over my casting bench, it lasted a few years and then quit working. I couldn't fine a replacement and worried about the health thing for years. I then had a blood test for lead done and like 40Rod it came back normal, not even in the high normal range, I asked.

Frank
  

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tommyauger
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #4 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 1:53pm
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David
I thought it looked like you grew another arm at the Eau Claire Match. I thought that was from casting bullets with no ventilation.TommyAuger
  

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38_Cal
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #5 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 3:02pm
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Nope, the eye in the middle of my forehead is from bullet casting!   Grin  (my hat usually covers it)

David
  

David Kaiser
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SSShooter
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #6 - Jul 14th, 2011 at 10:11pm
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All right, all right. Another thing to spend money on and learn to do. Next thing I know you'll have me formulating my own black powder.
  

Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
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BP
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #7 - Jul 15th, 2011 at 3:29am
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Your lube, yes. But not your black powder.
     Grin
  

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LynnF
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #8 - Jul 15th, 2011 at 1:07pm
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I must say there is one concern. When I was a teenager I used to cast round balls in a coffee can on my mother's gas stove (no ventahood) only when she was gone. If I spilled lead on the stove I was in BIG trouble. I now cast outside because I like the outdoors. So far as lead in my blood, they'ld never get past the sawdust to find it.
Lynn
  
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Fred Boulton
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #9 - Jul 15th, 2011 at 3:12pm
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In the 1980s, I visited a car radiator factory. After assembling the radiator, it was soldered together by dipping the end tanks into baths of molten solder: these were about 5' x 2' and 18" deep.
I asked about health and safety issues and got an immediate reaction---endless problems. "With blood lead levels?" I asked. The reply was:
"Lead? No, we never have lead problems---its the flux that gives us problems." 
Fred
  
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38_Cal
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Re: Custom Bullet Casters
Reply #10 - Jul 15th, 2011 at 3:14pm
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Like a lot of us, I cast to feed several different rifles & handguns.  Our local club has an indoor rimfire/pistol range, and the ventilation's not the greatest.  Because of my work for the past 35 plus years as a gunsmith, as well as the casting and shooting concerns, I get my lead level checked every year with my physical exam.  Since I take care with what I do, my lead level is at the low end of normal for someone who grew up in buildings with lead in the paint and leaded gasoline in the cars, to where my doc is not concerned about it.   

SSShooter, get a copy of either the Lyman or the RCBS Cast Bullet Handbook when you get started in setting up, and read the chapter on safety.  It'll be hard to go wrong if you follow the recommendations.

David
  

David Kaiser
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