casting bullets from lead batteries??

[EricTheBarbarian]

well i'm fairly new to reloading. the whole idea of reloading enticed me because I like to do things myself and I got a book called the ABC's of reloading. It talked about a section of casting your own bullets. I did some further research and found out places like midway sell lead for casting bullets. However, I thought buying lead for that defeated the whole purpose. then i began to think of places I could find lead for cheap or free then it hit me. Car Batteries!! so i took apart an old junk car battery that I had and got about 6 lbs of lead out of it. I figured this would be a good way to get free lead if it is any good. I've also heard something about there being lead sulfate in batteries. I have not tried casting bullets from it yet and was wondering if anyone has tried this or if this lead is ideal for casting bullets. I believe the lead they sell is an alloy with tin. if anyone knows if this would work or has tried it or has any advice id appreciate it if you could give me any pointers. thanks

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Research it a LOT more before you do it -

Once upon a time the hazards of lead batteries (after the issues of explosive hydrogen outgassing while charging and such) were mostly the acid and the downside of sulfation was a low yield of usable lead after a lot of work and a lot of acid to dispose of or otherwise make a mess with so that batteries could reasonably be used as source of lead.

Today the alloys used in sealed or low water batteries include things like calcium so that the hazards include noxious byproducts and poorly filled out bullets.

Some alloys such as lead plates from modern batteries are to be avoided at all costs because of the hazardous alloying materials.

http://www.recguns.com/Sources/VIIB5.html

 

[BEARMAN]

The most commonly used salvaged lead is from wheel weights. SOMETIMES it is free from the tire shops, sometimes you have to pay. I think it depends on how much they have and if it is to their advantage to save it until they have stored enough for the recycling company to come and get it. It makes pretty good pistol bullets.

 

[Crosshair]

DO NOT use lead batteries to cast bullets. It is the wrong "kind" of lead and you will waste alot of time trying to get it to work. Get your lead from another source.

 

[Jim Watson]

The calcium and arsenic in battery plates are not going to do you any good. The dross from melting them down will, if contacted with water or even humid air will release stibnine, a gaseous arsenic compound. Ick.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

hey thanks for the help, just one of those ideas i had. ill check a shop around here and ask about the wheel wieghts. thanks

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

The lead from old batteries is not worth the effort, forget about it.

 

[dfaugh]

Yes, battery lead contains all kinds of ugly and poisonous stuff (including arsenic)...DON'T mess with it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Lead plates from a battery melted down for bullets??? NO NO NO!!!

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Lead Batteries bad fumes

About 55 years ago when I was a beginner I melted one battery and it was my last battery. The deed was done in a double car garage with the two side doors open and the big garage door also and with a fan when it smelled bad. The result was very little useable lead and with the few fumes I did breathe made me sickish for several weeks.

On tire weights I have had good luck asking for the weights for fishing sinkers and showed my ocean sinker milds and showed some cold beer also. It is no ones business that you own any weapons and I will be a fisherman any day I want tire weights.

 

[Rottweiler]

A box of donuts from the local bakery placed on the counter at the tire shop will go a long way toward getting you those wheel weights.

 

[redneck2]

Try a local metal salvage yard. The ones around here typically have lead pipe and/or lead wire (pure lead). Pure lead should be pretty easy to tell because it's so soft.