Range lead. - The Firearms Forum

carver · 09-04-2012, 05:52 PM

Stopped in at the local scrap yard today to buy some wheel weights. Told Tim that I wanted 50lbs worth, at $1 per pound. He asked if I was making bullets, and I said yes. Tim told me that all the lead from the Shreveport, LA Police/Sherrif's range was sold to him. He wanted $1 a pound for it. There is a lot of brass mixed in with the lead, but it is seperate. Pick out all the brass, melt the lead, and cast bullets. I can bring the brass back and he will buy it from me at $1.68 per pound. I think this is a better deal than wheel weights. What do you guys think?

Alpo · 09-04-2012, 06:04 PM

Lead from cast bullets has tin and antimony mixed in with it, which makes it harder.

Lead from swaged bullets and from jacketed bullets is pure lead. Softer.

If it was me (and I use range pick-up lead), I'd mix it half and half with wheel-weights.

carver · 09-04-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpo

Lead from cast bullets has tin and antimony mixed in with it, which makes it harder.

Lead from swaged bullets and from jacketed bullets is pure lead. Softer.

If it was me (and I use range pick-up lead), I'd mix it half and half with wheel-weights.

Do you think that the police, and deputies use swaged bullets? I know they use FMJ type bullets. I can mix wheel weights in with the range lead. Just thought it would be harder than wheel weights.

Alpo · 09-04-2012, 06:44 PM

Depends on whether they used factory or reloads, and if reloads, whether they cast their own or buy 'em.

All factory lead bullets are swaged. All of 'em. No factory casts bullets. Takes too long. So if they are buying factory ammo, it all pure lead.

The big bullet makers also do swaged. Speer, Sierra, Hornady, like that. They don't cast. Like with the ammo companies, it takes too long. And swaging requires soft lead. The softer the better. So pure lead.

If they reload using Laser-cast or D&B or somebody like that, then yes it's cast bullets. But even if the "lead" bullets are cast, and have tin in them, the jacketed bullets are pure lead.

So range lead will be softer than wheelweights.

carver · 09-04-2012, 06:48 PM

Got it! Will have to make another trip to get the wheel weights!

243winxb · 09-04-2012, 07:01 PM

Bullets can have different alloys, depending on the type. Sierra uses 4 alloys , its on there website. If the range lead contains 2% antimony, it good for target loads. Only way to know is cast a few, check hardness & diameter as they drop from the mold.

JLA · 09-04-2012, 08:17 PM

sweeten it with plumbers solder Myles. 20 bucks will buy you a pound roll of oatey 1/8" solder. Its almost pure tin and only takes about 20" piece to sweeten a whole 10# pot ot about 14 BHN.

09-04-2012, 05:52 PM	#1
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,283	Range lead. Stopped in at the local scrap yard today to buy some wheel weights. Told Tim that I wanted 50lbs worth, at $1 per pound. He asked if I was making bullets, and I said yes. Tim told me that all the lead from the Shreveport, LA Police/Sherrif's range was sold to him. He wanted $1 a pound for it. There is a lot of brass mixed in with the lead, but it is seperate. Pick out all the brass, melt the lead, and cast bullets. I can bring the brass back and he will buy it from me at $1.68 per pound. I think this is a better deal than wheel weights. What do you guys think? __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. -->

09-04-2012, 06:04 PM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Range lead. Lead from cast bullets has tin and antimony mixed in with it, which makes it harder. Lead from swaged bullets and from jacketed bullets is pure lead. Softer. If it was me (and I use range pick-up lead), I'd mix it half and half with wheel-weights. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

09-04-2012, 06:44 PM	#4
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Range lead. Depends on whether they used factory or reloads, and if reloads, whether they cast their own or buy 'em. All factory lead bullets are swaged. All of 'em. No factory casts bullets. Takes too long. So if they are buying factory ammo, it all pure lead. The big bullet makers also do swaged. Speer, Sierra, Hornady, like that. They don't cast. Like with the ammo companies, it takes too long. And swaging requires soft lead. The softer the better. So pure lead. If they reload using Laser-cast or D&B or somebody like that, then yes it's cast bullets. But even if the "lead" bullets are cast, and have tin in them, the jacketed bullets are pure lead. So range lead will be softer than wheelweights. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

09-04-2012, 06:48 PM	#5
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,283	Re: Range lead. Got it! Will have to make another trip to get the wheel weights! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-04-2012, 07:01 PM	#6
243winxb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 106	Re: Range lead. Bullets can have different alloys, depending on the type. Sierra uses 4 alloys , its on there website. If the range lead contains 2% antimony, it good for target loads. Only way to know is cast a few, check hardness & diameter as they drop from the mold.

09-04-2012, 08:17 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Range lead. sweeten it with plumbers solder Myles. 20 bucks will buy you a pound roll of oatey 1/8" solder. Its almost pure tin and only takes about 20" piece to sweeten a whole 10# pot ot about 14 BHN. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!