Finding / obtaining lead for bullet casting

[MikeDVB]

Hello!

I’m going down the reloading rabbit hole and I would like to try my hand at casting my own lead bullets.

I have no issues melting and casting it - but honestly I’m not sure where to find it where it’s not expensive to the point to not be worth it.

Most wheel weights these days seem to be zinc / steel.

I’m sure there are sources I’ve not even considered.

 

[Expat]

Seems like there have been threads before about this. Some guy got some lead pipes from a renovation. Another guy got lead from some sort of X-ray room that was having work done. So maybe talk to local contractors. I think the linotype from printing presses is pretty hard to find these days.

 

[red_zr24x4]

We usually get it from tire shops and sort out the steel and zink. They get sold to the scrapyard when we sell the junk brass and spent primers

 

[radar8756]

There were a few ads in the Classifieds recently - 650# & 750# very cheap

Google shows several dealers selling Ingots at higher prices - even Amazon

 

[Hookeye]

Reminds me to count how many ingots I have left.
Just gave a bud one of my ingot moulds.

 

[MikeDVB]

There were a few ads in the Classifieds recently - 650# & 750# very cheap

Google shows several dealers selling Ingots at higher prices - even Amazon

View attachment 244869

I’ll have to keep an eye. Trying to get it as cheap as I can (not because I’m cheap in general but because the cheaper I can get it the more rounds I can reload).

 

[Bugzilla]

Lead acid car batteries. Real fun to tear down to get the lead I am told.

 

[MikeDVB]

I wonder if a lead/antimony alloy would work or if it would be too hard.

 

[boatswainsmate]

What type of bullets do you plan on making? How many FPS will they be going? Lead is out there if your willing to do the work. My main source is scrapyard's. I also frequent craigslist and auction sites. A couple of my latest auction finds.

 

[MikeDVB]

What type of bullets do you plan on making? How many FPS will they be going? Lead is out there if your willing to do the work. My main source is scrapyard's. I also frequent craigslist and auction sites. A couple of my latest auction finds. View attachment 245006 View attachment 245007

I’m wanting to load subsonic 9mm and 45 acp mostly.

 

[boatswainsmate]

I’m wanting to load subsonic 9mm and 45 acp mostly.

Regular Wheel Weight alloy or pure mixed with a touch of Linotype should work for those velocities.

 

[MikeDVB]

Regular Wheel Weight alloy or pure mixed with a touch of Linotype should work for those velocities.

I might have a line on ~900 pounds of lead/antimony if it’ll work. (Sailboat keel).

 

[bwframe]

I might have a line on ~900 pounds of lead/antimony if it’ll work. (Sailboat keel).

I believe I've read about someone who used just this for casting. Don't recall where, but likely https://castboolits.gunloads.com/ .

IIRC, the challenges were moving and hauling. After that, cutting into manageable sized pieces for smelting and fluxing.

How much per pound are they asking?

 

[boatswainsmate]

I might have a line on ~900 pounds of lead/antimony if it’ll work. (Sailboat keel).

I would have a sample tested with a XRF gun before I bought that much. I've heard they would put whatever kind of metal they could find in boat keels.

 

[MikeDVB]

I believe I've read about someone who used just this for casting. Don't recall where, but likely https://castboolits.gunloads.com/ .

IIRC, the challenges were moving and hauling. After that, cutting into manageable sized pieces for smelting and fluxing.

How much per pound are they asking?

Free. Tearing apart derelict boats.

 

[Leadeye]

The heavier the bullet the better the shooting economy, these days though I use more pure lead for old obsolete cartridges.

 

[Mgderf]

Free. Tearing apart derelict boats.

Price is right.
I have mined enough lead to sink a canoe from my local gun range.
I get called periodically to clear obstructions from their bullet traps.
Whatever I clear/clean out I get to keep.
A couple of 5 gallon buckets full in about 6 months.

Best part of this is, it's already bullet grade lead.
Just need to clean out the copper jacket fragments.
I give my hauls to a friend who gives me back bullets.
Works well for me.

 

[Leadeye]

Cutting up big pieces of lead I've found goes easiest with a welding torch. Just have a place to do it as it's messy and protective gear for yourself.

 

[MikeDVB]

Cutting up big pieces of lead I've found goes easiest with a welding torch. Just have a place to do it as it's messy and protective gear for yourself.

Yeah … that’s the one thing I gotta figure out. I don’t have a welding torch or any way to cut it beyond a circular saw or sawzall.

 

[Leadeye]

Yeah … that’s the one thing I gotta figure out. I don’t have a welding torch or any way to cut it beyond a circular saw or sawzall.

A freind of mine and fellow caster tried a chainsaw once, but it was messy as well.