So I finally got around to melting down some scoops in a larger pot instead of little handfulls in my Lee. I used one of those electric hot plates which actually got hot enough to melt about 10 lbs of range bullets.

 

Anybody think I will have any hardness issues with this stuff?

 

 

I originally had them in a bucket but decided to build a pyramid for effect.

I got a chunk of lead if you want it. It's only a few pounds and not really enough to bring to the scrap yard.

range lead works fine for pistols. If you cast for rifles, you should check the BHN (hardness) and alloy with tin as necessary.

 

don't smelt too hot and melt in the zinc stuff. (some .22 are zinc) Just a small amount of zinc will f*** up alot of lead. zinc melts at about 790 and lead melts at 620. Keep it in your safe zone and you are perfect. (as you are smelting and fluxing, you might notice some little bits that arent melting quite yet, thats the zinc)

You can have issues with the bullet coming apart with the higher velocity stuff right?

Wow! Your bench is deflecting...

if that was only gold or silver. =)

I got a chunk of lead if you want it. It's only a few pounds and not really enough to bring to the scrap yard.

 

I would but Bayonne is pretty far. Thanks for the offer.

 

I load with Trail Boss, HS-6 and Blue Dot and keep my velocity below 1000 fps so I guess I should be good.

 

I have been melting these in small batches for a while and coincidentally read about some squirting lead during melting. Just so happens that it happened today...not a good day to wear shorts.

How much do you save by melting down lead for your own bullets, vs just buying new lead bullets ready to go and dropping the reclaimed stuff off for scrap?

I got a chunk of lead if you want it. It's only a few pounds and not really enough to bring to the scrap yard.

 

I would but Bayonne is pretty far. Thanks for the offer.

 

I'll bring it when you make your appearence at the Bullet Hole!

I got a chunk of lead if you want it. It's only a few pounds and not really enough to bring to the scrap yard.

 

I would but Bayonne is pretty far. Thanks for the offer.

 

I'll bring it when you make your appearence at the Bullet Hole!

 

ok, deal! When is the next meet?

How much do you save by melting down lead for your own bullets, vs just buying new lead bullets ready to go and dropping the reclaimed stuff off for scrap?

 

Whomever is reading this, feel free to offer your 2 cents but from what I see, lead for casting is about $1-$2 per lb on E bay and GB. Not sure what rates the scrap yard offer but I also generally see an average of $.10 per cast bullet on the commercial market, Mind you it is probably already lubed.

 

Just a guess but say you are casting 45. I think you can probably get 25+ casts per ingot? So already you are saving.

 

Then there is the cost of the energy to either take the lead to the scrap yard or the energy cost to melt down 10 lbs of lead.

 

It is a hobby within a hobby for me and I enjoy the fact that I cast my own projectiles. Accomplishment and convienence are big for me.

 

So without doing math, you probably save 25-50% by casting your own. Keep in mind this is an educated guess and didn't use the quadratic formula!

The 17th, it'a a Tuesday, and it's at 7pm.

Bring some bugles too!

It is a hobby within a hobby for me and I enjoy the fact that I cast my own projectiles. Accomplishment and convienence are big for me.

 

There's also a zombie factor in there... You proved with this batch that you can melt lead with virtually any heat appliance. I'm waiting for you to melt it over a pallet fire.

How much do you save by melting down lead for your own bullets, vs just buying new lead bullets ready to go and dropping the reclaimed stuff off for scrap?

 

Whomever is reading this, feel free to offer your 2 cents but from what I see, lead for casting is about $1-$2 per lb on E bay and GB. Not sure what rates the scrap yard offer but I also generally see an average of $.10 per cast bullet on the commercial market, Mind you it is probably already lubed.

 

Just a guess but say you are casting 45. I think you can probably get 25+ casts per ingot? So already you are saving.

 

Then there is the cost of the energy to either take the lead to the scrap yard or the energy cost to melt down 10 lbs of lead.

 

It is a hobby within a hobby for me and I enjoy the fact that I cast my own projectiles. Accomplishment and convienence are big for me.

 

So without doing math, you probably save 25-50% by casting your own. Keep in mind this is an educated guess and didn't use the quadratic formula!

 

 

One thing to keep aware of is lead exposure. Be sure to wear mask and gloves. At my last physical I asked the doctor to test my lead levels in my blood because I reloaded with cast bullets. They ended up being 3X the acceptable OSHA limit. I have since done multiple chelation tratments to extract the lead from my body (it doesn't leave on its own). I now use total metal jacketed (i.e. no exposed lead) copper jacketed bullets for reloading pistol. It's a bit more expensive, but at least I am not handling lead any more or breathing it in when I shoot.

I thaught the title said..

 

Reclaimed lead- first bitches..

How much do you save by melting down lead for your own bullets, vs just buying new lead bullets ready to go and dropping the reclaimed stuff off for scrap?

 

Whomever is reading this, feel free to offer your 2 cents but from what I see, lead for casting is about $1-$2 per lb on E bay and GB. Not sure what rates the scrap yard offer but I also generally see an average of $.10 per cast bullet on the commercial market, Mind you it is probably already lubed.

 

Just a guess but say you are casting 45. I think you can probably get 25+ casts per ingot? So already you are saving.

 

Then there is the cost of the energy to either take the lead to the scrap yard or the energy cost to melt down 10 lbs of lead.

 

It is a hobby within a hobby for me and I enjoy the fact that I cast my own projectiles. Accomplishment and convienence are big for me.

 

So without doing math, you probably save 25-50% by casting your own. Keep in mind this is an educated guess and didn't use the quadratic formula!

 

 

One thing to keep aware of is lead exposure. Be sure to wear mask and gloves. At my last physical I asked the doctor to test my lead levels in my blood because I reloaded with cast bullets. They ended up being 3X the acceptable OSHA limit. I have since done multiple chelation tratments to extract the lead from my body (it doesn't leave on its own). I now use total metal jacketed (i.e. no exposed lead) copper jacketed bullets for reloading pistol. It's a bit more expensive, but at least I am not handling lead any more or breathing it in when I shoot.

 

Wow, that's something to think about. How long were you casting before you got checked?

One thing to keep aware of is lead exposure. Be sure to wear mask and gloves. At my last physical I asked the doctor to test my lead levels in my blood because I reloaded with cast bullets. They ended up being 3X the acceptable OSHA limit. I have since done multiple chelation tratments to extract the lead from my body (it doesn't leave on its own). I now use total metal jacketed (i.e. no exposed lead) copper jacketed bullets for reloading pistol. It's a bit more expensive, but at least I am not handling lead any more or breathing it in when I shoot.

 

This is worries me. Did you wear gloves when reloading lead? Did you shoot indoors in a poorly vented range?

One thing to keep aware of is lead exposure. Be sure to wear mask and gloves. At my last physical I asked the doctor to test my lead levels in my blood because I reloaded with cast bullets. They ended up being 3X the acceptable OSHA limit. I have since done multiple chelation tratments to extract the lead from my body (it doesn't leave on its own). I now use total metal jacketed (i.e. no exposed lead) copper jacketed bullets for reloading pistol. It's a bit more expensive, but at least I am not handling lead any more or breathing it in when I shoot.

 

This is worries me. Did you wear gloves when reloading lead? Did you shoot indoors in a poorly vented range?

 

Me too! I don't wear gloves when reloading or casting but do cast in a large shop so I am not too worried about ventilation. I thought you can handle lead safely if you wash you hands with cold water and don't eat, drink or smoke during the handling.

How much do you save by melting down lead for your own bullets, vs just buying new lead bullets ready to go and dropping the reclaimed stuff off for scrap?

 

Whomever is reading this, feel free to offer your 2 cents but from what I see, lead for casting is about $1-$2 per lb on E bay and GB. Not sure what rates the scrap yard offer but I also generally see an average of $.10 per cast bullet on the commercial market, Mind you it is probably already lubed.

 

Just a guess but say you are casting 45. I think you can probably get 25+ casts per ingot? So already you are saving.

 

Then there is the cost of the energy to either take the lead to the scrap yard or the energy cost to melt down 10 lbs of lead.

 

It is a hobby within a hobby for me and I enjoy the fact that I cast my own projectiles. Accomplishment and convienence are big for me.

 

So without doing math, you probably save 25-50% by casting your own. Keep in mind this is an educated guess and didn't use the quadratic formula!

 

at 230 grains per bullet, you would make 30 per pound. If you could get bullets at .10 a piece, and could sell your scrap at $1.00 a lb on ebay.

At that point, saving your range lead and casting your own would be 1/3 the cost of buying bullets.

Having said that, I don't put a value on time because casting and reloading is a hobby in itself.

I do put an intrinsic value on being "self sufficient". You cant buy that kinda feeling.

 

And with the world, economy, and anti-gunners in the condition they are in .......

I thaught the title said..

 

Reclaimed lead- first bitches..

 

Wow, I read this and thought I saw the same thing. lol

I mainly shoot indoors, and mostly at Shore Shot. They have what I consider to be a pretty good ventilation system, and it has gotten better since I've been going there. I did not wear gloves when reloading, and had been doing it for about a year before I got checked. I used to shoot cast 44magnums made of soft lead at higher speeds than I should've. It looked like a revolutionary war era musket when I shot the thing. That is a big reason I stopped reloading in it (I really should've just switched to jacketed. I miss it).

My fiance knows whenever I have been shooting. She says I smell and taste (keep your mind out of the gutter) like "shooting". I am guessing that is part powder and part lead. I think that shooting indoors is going to account for some lead no matter what kind of bullets I use.

My fiance knows whenever I have been shooting. She says I smell and taste (keep your mind out of the gutter) like "shooting". I am guessing that is part powder and part lead. I think that shooting indoors is going to account for some lead no matter what kind of bullets I use.

 

Or that you dont shower enough

My fiance knows whenever I have been shooting. She says I smell and taste (keep your mind out of the gutter) like "shooting". I am guessing that is part powder and part lead. I think that shooting indoors is going to account for some lead no matter what kind of bullets I use.

 

Or that you dont shower enough

 

 

I guess I should've thrown in the qualifier "I smell like shooting when I first get home."

I mentioned this to my friend at work who reloads. His observation was that the priming compound contains lead and can be the biggest source of lead. The lesson here is: Follow lead safety precautions when handling used brass.

I thaught the title said..

 

Reclaimed lead- first bitches..

 

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

more lead hazard in opening a case tumbler than in shooting or casting -

been casting for a while. Have my lead levels check regularly. I'm fine. Wash hands regularly. Don't eat or drink or smoke when reloading. wash hands again.

 

I cast and smelt alot. In an area that could use better ventilation.

+1 - casting over 40 years - normal lead levels - fired primer dust worse than casting -

more lead hazard in opening a case tumbler than in shooting or casting -

 

Good point. I plan on running the tumbler outside and I will use a mask when separating the brass and media. Any other safety suggestions?

more lead hazard in opening a case tumbler than in shooting or casting -

 

Good point. I plan on running the tumbler outside and I will use a mask when separating the brass and media. Any other safety suggestions?

 

Some people I know switch to wet tumbling to eliminate the dust factor.