can plated bullets be used for casting?

[bocefus78]

Just as the title states, can I recover my copper plated bullets and use them as casting material?

Looking to get into casting for my 44mag but I don't have a source of lead besides this.

Thanks thr

 

[03fatboy]

Yes, when you recover your "range scrap" you can smelt that down for the lead core and skim the copper jackets off and make ingots out of your remaining lead.

 

[bocefus78]

Cool...I didn't know how hot you had to get them to melt off copper.

Thanks.

Looks like my entertainment today will be building a bullet trap.

 

[03fatboy]

Lead melts at around and don't quote me 500 degree's
So the copper jackets and all the other stuff floats to the top so you can skim that off.

You still have to flux and then flux some more.

If you can watch some YouTube videos on it FortuneCookie 45 is a good one.

 

[bocefus78]

Thanks! I've watched some vids,read castboolits some, but everyone was using ww,plumbing lead etc. I'm no scientist obviously haha.

I'll check that guy out.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I too Have been saving all my scrap on my home range for casting use in the future. 95% of the scrap is plated bullet material.

Not sure when I will make the equipment purchase. Until than I am saving it all.

Is it easy to get lead from non-range sources, like tire stores, etc? I would imagine since I live in a non-rural area, sources are pretty picked over by other bullet casters.


Fortune Cookie 45LC coming to you from the hot lead zone.... Good stuff.

Swanee

 

[03fatboy]

If I can do it anyone can,

Just be careful and safe,good gloves and no shorts and sandals,

The good thing about casting is you have "do overs" just put it back in the pot and start again.

 

[jwrowland77]

Lead melts at around and don't quote me 500 degree's

So the copper jackets and all the other stuff floats to the top so you can skim that off.



You still have to flux and then flux some more.



If you can watch some YouTube videos on it FortuneCookie 45 is a good one.

Lead melts around 620. Around 500, some lead will melt but you'll have an oatmeal type consistency, and the lead will harden way too quick to pour. Then you get a ladle full of lead. Ask me how I know. Lol

Definitely flux. I use paraffin wax to flux, and it doesn't take but about a pea size to do it.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Sounds like you need to wear Proper PPE.

Maybe better to do out in the garage, not in the basement reloading room. Keep the garage door open to get some air flow.

 

[243winxb]

Melting plated bullets

Plated bullets - cut or break open any plated or completely jacketed bullet to expose lead before heating. They will take some extra heat for the lead to flow out.

 

[hdbiker]

range lead

I collected range lead for quite awhile.I could pick a ice cream pail in about an hour during no shooting hours.I smelted it down on a old Coleman camp stove,skimmed off the jackets and sludge,fluxed it real good and poured into my Lyman ingot mold.When casting pistol bullets I add a bit of tin for better mold fill out and hardness.After tumble lubing,and kept at reasonable velocities they work great.I cast them for .38,.357,and .44 Mag,.45ACP.Be very careful with plated bullets,if the plating isn't cracked on impact, they can pop and spew hot lead on you .Have fun hdbiker

 

[bocefus78]

Sounds like you need to wear Proper PPE.

Maybe better to do out in the garage, not in the basement reloading room. Keep the garage door open to get some air flow.

NEVER, let me repeat....never smelt lead indoors. Period. It's not a ppe thing, well ok...that applies also but more importantly, the fumes are toxic. Only cast,smelt,etc outside.

That much I DO know.

 

[Reefinmike]

Be sure to smash or cut any bullets that do not show any exposed lead. You don't want to cook a completely sealed off bullet. Im pretty careful but have missed a couple. The first one popped under the surface of molten lead splashing some out. The next one squirt out a thin stream of lead nearly 6'.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

If you don't know the hardness of the lead then you may need a tester especially since plated rounds are usually made with soft lead. That will run you a few bucks. Hate to see you lead up your barrel with the first shots.

Since your trying to save money, i would suggest at least and powder coating. It is simple and cheap and you can forgo the BHN tester.

 

[homatok]

As stated, smash any plated or full metal jacket bullets to let the lead flow out. Also keep in mind that the copper jackets that float out are resalable for scrap.

 

[mdi]

Any time you mention melting lead for bullet casting the "Safety Patrol" comes out with "guns-a-blazing" . Some will have you dressed in a full hazmat suit with full respirator and welder's gauntlets. Just use common sense and you'll be OK. I started with a stainless steel pot (2 qt.) a Coleman stove and a whole bunch of wheel weights. I use a slotted spoon I stole from Ma's kitchen and fluxed with paraffin. I used this set-up with a Lee mold, and a Lee ladle to cast bullets for my .44 Magnum for over a year before I bought a bottom pour pot.

Don't do deep breathing exercises standing over your pot (it's the smoke that's bad as lead won't vaporize at normal casting temperatures; 600-700 degrees. The only "toxic fumes" are from junk burning or the smoke from fluxing). Don't drop any wet ingots/scrap into your melt or you'll be visited by the "Tinsel Fairy" (steam explosion spewing molten lead outta the pot). And when you cast a "perfect" bullet, let it cool be fore you pick it up ("Wow, look at that, ouch!. BTDT).
When melting range scrap the jackets and plating won't melt, just the lead cores and copper floats on molten lead to be skimmed off.

Use your head and you'll be OK. Wanna know about casting bullets? Go here; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php and get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition (if you can't find a 3rd Edition a 4th will do).

 

[SwaneeSR]

Thanks for the tips. I would have found out the hard way a bullet will burst if the jacket is intact.
Sounds like fun. Use common sense.

 

[trigga]

i went to the range a couple of weeks ago after it rained and man was it lead heaven. too bad i wasn't prepared to collect any and just picked a handfull. i still have about 20+ lbs of wheel weights and 10 lbs of recovered lead. i have not started casting myself but perhaps for another day...

 

[ku4hx]

Yep, just smash the unbroken ones with a hammer. Or place a bunch between two 1/2" steel plates and run over the plates with the heavy vehicle of your choice. Hammer-smash those that don't crack.