casting - got a source of lead, need advice!

[davinci]

I've found someone who is willing to sell me 40 lbs of lead for 75 cents a pound, is this a good deal? he describes it as "soft, pure lead." so I'm assuming that it's just 100% pure lead and must be alloyed with tin/antimony to make bullets.

any advice appreciated. I've never cast a bullet before, i just like to shoot as cheaply as possible.

 

[jmorris]

Pure lead is ok for muzzle loaders, you’ll need to add tin, antimony to make it ok for other use. I get my lead from a few different small tire shops (the big ones have folks that recycle already). I got into casting for the same reason, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of time casting either. http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=158478&highlight=magma+engineering is a link to the set up I put together.

FWIW 40# = 1217 230gr bullets for $30, yeah that's a good deal

 

[davinci]

UPDATE:
he's claiming it's leftover range lead that he smelts himself. that makes sense.

He wants to charge $11 for shipping. So, it's more like $41 for 40 lbs of lead, or 1217 230gr 45acp bullets. That's kinda higher than I would have hoped, considering that the time involved along with all the equipment, I'm not too sure that it's really a good deal.

The same 40 lbs cast into 125 gr 9mm makes 2240 bullets. so, about $20 per 1100 bullets, which is pretty good.

 

[armoredman]

Do you have all the equipment? May I seriously reccomend castboolits.com? Great resource, they helped me get started just recently. They will be able to tell you what/how/why to do everything.
Range lead that is smelted down, copper jackets removed, etc, should be harder than pure lead. I have only used wheelweight ingots so far, but am moving into recovering range lead from a buddy who works an indoor range.
You should also look at some of the lead deals on castboolits.com, as you can find guys selling ingots of wheelweight and other alloys usually a bit cheaper than that.

 

[Bula]

Try any local scrap yards. 7 or 8 months ago I was able to buy as much as I wanted at $.45 per lb here in Phoenix. I regret only buying 2- 5 gal buckets full as that was all I could handle at the time. I just tried calling that same yard and they informed me they are not selling to the public. The next day I called and asked the same yard what they were paying for Scrap Wheel Weights---$110 PER TON!!! that's less than .06 per lb.

 

[Ala Dan]

Scrap plumbers lead makes for an excellent source for handloader's. Of
course, it would need to be cleansed by melting it down, and cutting a
piece of parffin for the pot, then when all the impurities float to the top
scrape it off with a spoon. Most of the time, plumbers will give you this
stuff, as they don't want too haul it off.

 

[trickyasafox]

your probably talking about mike in co over on cast boolits. i've worked with him before and he's a stand up person to work with. I'd definately deal with him again.

thats soooooft lead. i like straight wheel weights for 9mm and 45, but thats not to say this won't work, i've just never tried it.

 

[jvik]

I would think the problem with range lead would be that you don't know what the composition is. I think you'd be better off with a source where you knew what was in it, and maybe didn't have to pay shipping.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Left over range lead is better than pure lead...

Most of that stuff is pretty hard already and won't need antimony.

Personally, if you're going to go to the trouble, then wheel weights are cheaper most places and are plenty hard enough for target shooting.

And... I can't seem to get to Castboolits.com anymore. Looks like the site is gone.

-Steve

 

[BruceB]

Gone? Cast Boolits is gone??

I don't think so! We are now heading for 4000 registered members, and it is a VERY active website.

Try this address:

www.cb.gunloads.com

and all will be well....and welcome!

 

[scrat]

that price is too high. i just paid for 30lbs of lead on ebay shipped to me for 28.00 thats with shipping. when you get near a dollar a pound shipped to you its too high. same time. i had to get my right front tire replaced today. hehehehehehe. came back with about 20lbs of wheel weights.


on another site we were talking about lead and prices and how its a pain to get them from tire shops all the time. well another member went to a metal scrap yard and paid $350.00 for a 50 gallon drum full of scrap lead. SOOOOOO i dont know if i need a 50 gallon drum full of lead. but it sounds like a good idea to check where your local scrap yard is.

 

[Jeff F]

For my side arms, .44 .45 and .357 I let somebody else cast the bullets. I just buy them 500 or 1000 at a time, some I gas check and some I don't. For my
.303 I cast two bullets for it. I would not cast those if I buy them. For me casting bullets takes a lot of time that could be better spent doing other things. I think all shooters should learn how to cast bullets and reload just in case ammunition becomes hard to get.

 

[joneb]

I think all shooters should learn how to cast bullets and reload just in case ammunition becomes hard to get.

Amen brother