I just bought a lyman #410459 220gr swc Keith 4- cavity mold off of ebay (hope I didn't step on anyone's ebay-bidding toes!) and realize that I have no idea what to do with it.

I need some information on how to obtain metals for alloys and what recipes to use. These are mostly for practice shooting, but maybe deer hunting too. 1150-1250 fps range. The only receipe I have is for the Lyman #2 alloy. I can hang well in a conversation of guns, reloading, and ballistics, but I have ZERO knowledge of bullet casting...help! I have some Lee sizers for .41 and .45 cal. and am going to purchase a small starter furnace and mold handles to try casting and see how it goes, then maybe upgrade. Do all handles fit all molds or do you have to buy brand specific stuff. Also, whats the interchangeabliity of sizing dies in various presses.

Where do you go for supplies like wheelweights, bar solder, and such. I have no idea where to start.

Any info no matter how trivial and small would be GREATLY appreciated.

It's getting late, but I'll pass on a few hints. A 4 holer needs 4 cavity handles, and I'm not sure if any but Lyman's fit. Older Lymans (4 holer handles)were nutcracker style with the hinge out in front. New ones are hinged in the middle. Marshall's got a write-up on them on the Beartooth site. The nut on the hinge screw is just a locknut for the hex (Allan) hinge pivot screw.

Lee sizer dies work in your reloading press. Lyman, RCBS, Saeco and Star dies fit their luber-sizers. Lyman & RCBS dies and top punches are interchangeable.

Find some used wheelweights at your tire shop. Melt down the biggest batch you can at one time so you have a uniform alloy, instead of several small batches that don't cast the same.

There's lots of advice in the older posts here.

Bye
Jack

Lyman's Pistol and Revolver Handbook has a bullet casting section in it that will take you through the fundamentals. In addition, there's a wealth of information on bullet loads for handguns. You can find bullet alloy in the form of wheel weights at your local tire shops or metal salvage yards. If you are born under a lucky star, someone will be glad to give it to you just to get rid of it. Otherwise, be prepared to pay. You will also need a little tin in your alloy to make it fill the mould better. ebay is a good place to start looking but you can also find some at your local hardware store in the form of 50/50 solder. Good luck with your new mould and write back with any questions. The guys here will be happy to give you the straight answers.

Here's a link to Marshall's article on the Lyman 4 holer handles.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/8

Bye
Jack

Not to step on MK's toes, but, if you are going to buy solder for the tin content, buy 95/5. It is 95 percent tin and 5 percent antimony, a hardening additive. 50/50 is 50 percent lead and 50 percent tin.

No offense taken, snowtigger. I mentioned 50/50 only because it is easily found AND a recipe for Lyman #2 calls for 1 lb 50/50 to 9 lbs wheel weights for 10 lbs of alloy. If you can do it another way, by all means do so. Thanks for your post.