I've been reloading for about 5 years. I really enjoy it, and although I'm at the point I could probably make good use out of a progressive press, I still dig my Rockchucker. I've got all the extra little doo dads that one acquires as they get into the hobby, so I'm pretty well set up for pistol and rifle. I reload 38/357, 44, 45ACP, 8x57, 35Rem, 35 Whelen, and 45-70.

I rarely shoot factory ammo, and now I am finding that I rarely shoot jacketed bullets. I've got about 2000 various lead bullets, from swaged lead 158gr bullet for plinking all the way to 405gr hardcast for the 45-70. And with the region that I hunt in, there isn't much that's going to stand up to a 205gr hardcast .358", 265gr .430", or 405gr .458". Basically, my plinking, target, and hunting needs are being covered more and more by lead bullets.

So, I am ready to start casting! But, like when I was ready to start reloading, I don't know where to start! Are there kits like there are for beginning reloaders? What are the essentials, what is my expected start-up cost (want to cast for .431" and .459" to start), and approximately how many bullets will I need to cast to recover my cost?

Mucho appreciato!

TxPitDog... This is the same Ranch Dog from MarlinTalk. I have just started myself and got all the stuff, tons of reading done, and working on the lapping of my 444P. Heck, I've even got a custom bullet mold being designed for me!

I just bought my equipment through Boses and Mid-South... I think I'm into it about $125. I had to buy my wheel weights at 50 cents/lb so that is 2 cents a 300-grain bullet. You can figure out the rest.

Lee Products:
Pro 4-20
Ingot mold
Ladle
C430-310-RF Bullet Mold
Already had Lee's Modern Reloading II
I've got a Lee Custom Bullet Mold (http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2743&get=last#21680) on order and a special order on a sizing die (.432)

Lyman Products:
Cast Bullet Manual
Themometer

There's several threads on getting started here. Be sure to set the Show threads box at the bottom of the forum screen to the beginning instead of the default 100 days.

Bye
Jack

TXPD...
I also bought the Lee Lead Hardness Tester as I wanted to get a good idea of what I'm shooting. I had to do a bit of searching to find one as nobody had them in stock.

txpitdog, did someone say 35 Whelen? I've got a Shilen 14 twist on mine that gets nothing (NEVER had a condom bullet in it!) but 358009 Imp (custom mould) over 40 gr 4895 in necked up LCNM '06 brass. Shoots MOA at 200 yards with a MV of 1900. That's 280 grains of rompin' stompin' cast boolit!

In my 35 Rem I shoot the RCBS 35-200-FN. Dandy boolit! Feeds, functions and shoots accurately with full house loads in a micro groove barrel to boot. I use FWFL on ALL my boolits (save an experiment here of there with Orange Magic). No leading, superb accuracy. sundog