Cast bullet storage

[jdrslyr75]

I haven't started casting yet but I plan to within a year. I have read Glenn Fryxell's articles and his book at LASC.com as well as articles and tech notes from Beartooth Bullets, Veral Smith, etc. my question for you gents is this: is there a useful shelf life for cast bullets? Stated another way, do you only cast enough bullets to meet your immediate needs or do you cast a heap of bullets and use them as needed? I am itching to cast some pills (and could do so by only laying out enough cash for a Lee mold or two) but not sure if I should leave my smelted ingots as ingots or if cast bullets will be ok sitting on the shelf (waiting for me to save the money for lubing/sizing equipment, powder, etc.)for a while.

[Ranch Dog]

I'm shooting bullets that are 5 or 6 years old. There are bullets for some of my cartridges that take me that long to move through a casting session worth of them. I have notice no difference in the alloy, even when tested on the LBT BHN Scale. The Alox is still thick and gooey.

[Maximumbob54]

As long as they are made right in the first place they should be fine. I'm not sure how warm some lube would need to get before it might melt.

[62chevy]

Cast away. That's what I did, couldn't afford a press right away so bought the Lee Classic Loader till I had the money for a turret press. A little bit here and there and it adds up over time.

[jdrslyr75]

Thanks for the replies, fellas! I just wasn't sure if sitting on the shelf caused the grain structures to relax in the alloy resulting in softer (or harder) bullets. I sometimes do a little TOO much internet research which raises questions. I remember reading about "age softening" and just wanted to double check.

[daboone]

Heck this won't be a problem if your like me 'cause they'll be shot before storage becomes an issue. 8-)

[beekeeper]

I store my cast bullets in 30 cal ammo cans.
I only cast once each year and do enough of each caliber to keep all of the cans full.
A lot of weight on the shelves but never a shortage.
I have some I cast 10 years ago and seem to be still as good as the day I cast them.
Maybe a little harder but still good.


beekeeper

[Missionary]

Greetings
Every time we come north I cast up far more than I need. So the excess gets stored in zip lock bags with a label describing weight, size, lube and the lead mix. I do have some caliber.464 400 grain RN (NEI) for my Trapdoor that have been stored for 20 plus years and maybe 30 get shot every 5 years. No difference in diameter but they were cast with 40-1.
The WW mixes do get harder over the years but nothing that would affect punching a hole through a target.
Mike in Peru

[oscarflytyer]

lol - they are lead. I never even thought about a shelf life...

[larryw]

I just finished 100 44 mags 240gr swc that were cast & lubed at least
20 years ago, some of the hard lube was broken out of the groove's
when I used up all the chunks I found left I just replaced those little
bits with chap stick, could have also given them a shot of Alox, but
the chap stick was closer, & had been wanting to try it on some
bigger & hotter stuff than old 38 special from a "Whack-A-Mole.
They were all still proper size & weight, they loaded & shot just
fine, & I had no leading problem. So, IMHO, I would say that if they are
lubed sufficiently, proper size & not all beat up along the shank or
base, & you take at least a few precautions in storage, lead boolits are
good to go for many many years. As good as brand new cast?? Well, good
is subjective, yes there will be changes, to what degree & where????
Like I said, mine were over 20 years old & worked fine for parer..