Bullet storage: As cast or sized?

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Elpatoloco

Active Member
For traditional lube, I only use Javalina. I have it stacked deep as I understand you cant get it anymore. I dont size those until ready to use.

Powdercoated? I have a Bench with prolly 300lbs of cast and sized bullets. I refuse to cast in the summer time.
 
hc18flyer

hc18flyer

New Member
I like to size them right away. Most are powder coated pistol bullets. Haven't cast any harder rifle bullets recently, but I thought they were more difficult to size if I waited? I usually store in peanut butter jars. I do a much better job of labeling, then when I started casting, always thought I would remember the details? NOT! hc18flyer
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I made a pretty big change when I started powder coating. Because storage was much easier. I don't like to let them sit too long after casting so when I greased my bullets, I would cast less amount and I would size a Luben and put them in bullet boxes, or plastic boxes or Sucrets tins Pretty much any small container I could find used or utilized. But the keyword is small because I wouldn't ever have more than 100 or so.

Now with powder coating, all cast up hundreds hundreds then size them. And I store them in peanut butter or mayonnaise jars empty and clean of course. ::) and throw them on the shelf. They're good forever they don't stick together they don't make a big lump or a clump and I can pull them out and use them just like a commercial jacket and bullet. If I got a buddy who wants to try something or I'll have it on the shelf I can box it up bag it up give it to him or ship it out. Just handling them is so much nicer when they're not all sticky with grease.
 
Rally

Rally

NC Minnesota
I tend to cast in large lots, size and lube ASAP, and store in gallon size Tupperware containers. I don’t pc and have no intentions of starting. I try to keep all my pistol brass loaded. Rifle case prep is done by cartridge type, to a uniform standard, and takes a bunch of time, so seems I always have some rifle brass to work on, so I tend to shoot more pistol or rifles chambered in pistol calibers. My goal is to have at least 500 ready to load bullets ahead of empty brass.
 
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Newt44

New Member
A newbie question. Tomme boy and Winelover both sort of addressed it. 1) Do cast, lubed and sized bullets "grow" in diameter when stored for a length of time? Is there an elasticity to lead? Is there an age after casting when such elasticity diminishes? 2) Can bullets be sized after being power coated? Does "age" affect the powder coated bullets like the traditional coated ones?
Thanks.
 
Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Newt44 said:
A newbie question. Tomme boy and Winelover both sort of addressed it. 1) Do cast, lubed and sized bullets "grow" in diameter when stored for a length of time? Is there an elasticity to lead? Is there an age after casting when such elasticity diminishes? 2) Can bullets be sized after being power coated? Does "age" affect the powder coated bullets like the traditional coated ones?
Thanks.
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I don't do PC! So I'm no help in that regard. Air-cooled bullets will age soften and grow in diameter but it takes years and not by very much! I'm still using 30+ year old conventionally lubed bullets, that grew by about .010" in diameter.
 
Tomme boy

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
I does no take years for some bullets to grow. It can happen in as little as 6 months or less. Some alloys re way worse than others. I just don't know which composition does it. But I have not had it happen much in the last couple years. One reason i don't keep loaded cast bullets around anymore.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
some of the stuff in the alloy causes the bullet to grow a bit.
copper and antimony are pretty good at making it happen.

don't matter if it's wrapped in powder or not it isn't a reaction to oxygen.
 
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
I store bullets as-cast, but always tumble a light coating of 45-45-10 or Lee Liquid Alox diluted 50-50, with Stoddard Solvent to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. I have opened steel ammo cans 20 years later and they look like they were put away yesterday. I can then size as needed when I want them.
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I powder coat then size with Lee push throughs with no issues. Most of my Lee dies have been opened a bit and had the lead taper polished as well. I rarely size more than .001-.002". Those I don't powder coat are usually shot as cast and tumble lubed with BLL. ( I find that most of the Lee push through dies size a bit smaller than advertised with my alloys. I open them until they size to spec. There are sizes I can't purchase and I will open a smaller one to fit what I need as well. While I am in there I smooth and polish the taper. It makes things easier all around.)
 
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dale2242

Well-Known Member
I typically store my bullets sized/lubed.
If I cast a really large amount of a particular bullet I inspect/weigh some and inspect/weigh and size/lube what I think that I will need right away.
 
TXTad

TXTad

Active Member
Outpost75 said:
I store bullets as-cast, but always tumble a light coating of 45-45-10 or Lee Liquid Alox diluted 50-50, with Stoddard Solvent to prevent oxidation in long-term storage. I have opened steel ammo cans 20 years later and they look like they were put away yesterday. I can then size as needed when I want them.
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What do you dilute the alox with?
 
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
TXTad said:
Is that superior to simple mineral spirits or turpentine?
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A more highly refined aliphatic mineral spirit safety solvent. No flammable vapors and fewer VOCs. I get mine from Safety Clean or at W.W. Grainger.
 
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