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November 17, 2008
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I got in a conversation today about casting bullets and decided to check in with the smartest group of guys I know. I have casted a blue million bullets over the years with great success but all I have ever used is the aluminum molds. Are the steel ones (at 3 times the cost) that much better or what?
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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lbruce said:
I have casted a blue million bullets over the years with great success but all I have ever used is the aluminum molds.
LB
I have never cast a bullet in my life, but gotta ask- If it ain't broke, why fix it?
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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January 24, 2009
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Having never cast a bullet myself either, I can only guess on the possible differences. Aluminum has a much lower melting point than steel, so I would imagine that after a few hundred (maybe thousand?) injections of molten lead into the aluminum mold, the aluminum would stand a chance of losing it's original size integrity...whereas steel would most likely retain it's original shape & diameter.
Just my unsubstantiated opinion.
.. 
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November 17, 2008
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Steve CT said:
I have never cast a bullet in my life, but gotta ask- If it ain't broke, why fix it?
I don,t think it needs fixin just I have to wonder if folks are using the steel molds at 3 times the cost, there must be a reason, and maybe someone who had already used both could enlighten me to any advantages rather than my wondering or spending the money to find out. Then again I am just a little 
at times.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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My dad and I have used aluminum bullet and sinker moulds for many eons. Of course we're what you call 'frugal'...
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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May 2, 2009
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I use both with equal success. The aluminum ones don't hold a temp as even as the steel ones do, but I just keep my molds sitting on he edge of the pot to keep them a steady temp anyway.
SHOOT
October 1, 2009
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O.K., I have to answer this one..... with the help of superdan.
I (we) have used both aluminum and steel molds for years with great sucsess
with both. there is very little difference with bullet quality if used and cared for
properly, however, if you try to mass produce large quantitys of bullets the
aluminum mold will eventually wear out. Lee does not offer repair parts for molds
(partly because of cost).
All companys that make steel molds also offer repair parts for them, if you
ever need them. Superdan and I have casted tens of thousands of bullets
over the years, and mostly use steel molds, but we still use the Lee molds for
some of our bullets. Also the wide variety of bullet designs available in steel
molds make it necessary to look at them.
we have Lee, Saeco, Lyman, Rcbs, and Ideal.
Wish list: Magma, Lbt.
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