Wow! THRers To The Rescue!!!
Until I decide if I really want to get into this hobby, I bought some Lee casting equipment to keep costs down. Then I went around to the tire and auto shops looking for the lead and I can’t tell you how bad I felt when I came up empty!
I’m bowled over with all the responses, especially from CANNONMAN who offered to send me 30 pounds of lead for the cost of shipping - what a great thing to do to get someone started! A newbee bullet caster like me really appreciates a thing like that. I was on the other side of the coin yesterday by giving a H&R single-shot, 20 ga. shotgun to a 15 year-old neighborhood kid, so I also know what joy you can bring to others when you give as well as take.
Okay, let me get to it:
@1KPerDay - I’ve gotten some very good deals from eBay, but the sellers reputation is everything. This will be the starting place… thanks!
@Ohen Cepel - I’ll check out the scrap yards on Tuesday. Going to boat yards for sailing boat keel-lead is a terrific idea! I’m headed to the east coast of South Florida soon and I’ll be snooping around the boat yards for sure… thanks!
@Scooter22 - My wife’s cousin is a handyman who does plumbing work. He’ll be coming over for some BBQ on Monday and I’ll hit him up when he’s laying into the ribs! Thanks for the wake-up call!
I had a friend who was a telephone cable repairman who offered to give me 300 pounds of lead in the late 70s, but I wasn’t interested in casting bullets at that time. I hunted down several of these guys locally and they said they rarely even see the lead sheet shielding anymore. About a week ago one of them showed up and gave me 10 pounds of it, so you are right about asking, but I can’t expect too much after what the local repairman said.
@jmorris - I belong to a private range that’s almost unattended during the week, so I’m going to try that. I was thinking about building an open top box with a rabbit-wire screen on the bottom to sift the dirt and pebbles out. Thanks for the idea.
@reddog81 - I would never have thought of Craig’s List. I check it out as well as castboolitts.com… thank you
@Handloader109 - I haven’t cast yet, but I am going to castboolits.com to see what’s on the menu… appreciate it.
@USSR - The local scrap yard had nothing in stock, but he did say to check back every couple of weeks… maybe there’s hope.
@WiTom - I’d love to help you move it… into the bed of my pick-em-up truck. Just kidding… no, no I’m not!
@CLP - They are a little pricey, but I will check for specials, especially around holidays… thanks.
@rondog - you do have a point about professionally made bullet casting lead… I’ll keep it in mind… thanks.
@Swampman - I didn’t know that roofers had much to do with lead. There’s always some building going around here, so I’ll be on the look-out for them.
If I sell my office building or lease it to non-medical buyer/lessee, I will remove the operator/technician x-ray shield and bring home the 8’x10’ lead sheet that’s under the covering. The x-ray room was in such a position that the shield was the only thing leaded. Still, it would be a great source of lead if I can get lucky at another x-ray facility …thanks.
@rjbmjb - Thanks for the advice on purchasing wheel weights. Staying away from ingots sounds logical.
@Walkalong - As soon as I’m through helping WiTom, I’ll be ready to pay you a visit! Nice stash compadre! I'm envious.
@TRX - Junkyards are now on my list… thanks. I can see where melting down wheel weights can be tedious. Two of my friends were doing it and I got tired just watching them!
@Reefinmike - I got it all but the dental reference. What’s the scoop on that?
Again, special thanks to all..... Doc
