The Mallet

    The yellow plastic mallet is the ideal tool for knocking open the sprue plate and beating on the handle hinge to get the bullets to fall out.

     Note that some shooters, Jim Borton for example, tell's us to open the sprue plate with the gloved hand and not to whack the mold with the mallet. I attempted this approach, particularly with the Borton-Darr mold, but find that I must whack the mold handle hinge from time to time to dislodge the stubborn bullet or sprue. I've never damaged a mold or sprue plate with the mallet.

Bullet Molds

     There are four big-time bullet mold manufacturers. Lyman, RCBS and Saeco make iron molds; Lee makes aluminum molds. I've used all of them, I don't like aluminum molds and have only one now. Many experienced bullet casters like and use aluminum molds.

     There are some custom mold makers, but unfortunately they come and go fairly quickly. Dave Farmer at Colorado Shooters Supply has been making molds for years. I hope that he will be in business for many more. 

Lead Pots

     There are electric lead pots, and cast iron pots that are used with some kind of heat source such as a kitchen stove or Coleman stove. I use electric lead pots.

     There are bottom pour pots and ladle pots. Some people use bottom pour pots where the lead comes out a nozzle in the bottom of the pot, into the mold. Others use a ladle to dip the lead out of the pot and pour it into the mold. I'm a ladle man, many good shooters bottom pour. Lee makes inexpensive lead pots of both types, they work well and mine last a long time. Lyman makes an inexpensive ladle pot holding 10 pounds. From there the prices go up like crazy- $230 in 2003 for some of them. The Lee pots will do the job as well as any of them, for lots less money.

Ladles

     There are many ladles or dippers on the market. The Lee dipper is horrible. I'm still using the Lyman dipper I bought in 1960.

     The mallet, mold, pot, and ladle are the four pieces of equipment that the beginning caster must have.

Lubricator/Sizers

     Lyman, RCBS and Saeco make lubricator/sizers that install gas checks, lubricate the bullet and size the bullet to a smaller diameter. Before these machines can be used, the owner must buy a sizing die and a top punch. Sizing dies vary by diameter; top punches are particular to the bullet nose style. The lubricator/sizer, sizing die and top punch cost about $150 in 2003. Lee makes a gas check installer/sizer (Lee Lube and Size Kit) for about $12 (in 2003) that fits in a reloading press. Lubrication is not done with this kit. The beginner does not need a lubricator sizer.

Thermometers and Hardness Testers

     These are available and are used by some shooters. I have neither and have no plans to buy either. These do place an aura of science and precision around cast bullet experimentation. (I bought a lead thermometer under protest in 2006; it has not changed my life.)