Just given ~ 200lbs of lead. What now?

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Milkmaster said:
1. Yes they are "M" and not "N".
2. I can't ask him about it because he is dead. I saved the lead from cleaning out his work shop for the widow. I felt it should be good for something.
3. The reloading I do is for shotguns shells. I thought about making a dripper for 7.5 shot.
Click to expand...
I'd be researching how to build a shot dropper.....
 
It is usable for something just the way it is. You just need to find that use. Personally I would find someone that reloads and sell it for a very reasonable price in your situation.

I used to use #4 babbit to cast round balls for a muzzle loading rifle to plink with as I had access to used. This is a very hard alloy and makes a "clink" sound when struck with metal. It is so hard it shatters when shot against a hard target so stand well back. It seemed to be just as accurate as patched pure lead.
 
If you fish there are several options. I cast a special one of a kind jig for fishing but do not cast bullets. The only reason why is my supplier passed away and they were no longer available. The jigs have a specially shaped head.
 
You can real close to finding the Bhn of the lead with numbered drawing pencils. I have a lead hardness tester and used it to verify the accuracy of the pencils and with the exception of extremely hard lead, they get pretty darned close.

Lead hardness pencil testing and Checking Lead Hardness With Drawing Pencils

edwardware said:
You will need to invest more than the value of the lead in ancillary equipment before doing anything, and that's before you spend time. . . and it's alot of time.

If you're a pistol shooter, reloader, and your time is not in high demand, maybe try your hand at casting; otherwise, don't. Perhaps making shot is easier.

This coming from a guy who casts, and has roughly 4000# stocked away.
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AJC1 said:
It's definitely a time vs money thing. If your retired and money is tight good. If your working and raising kids, pass.
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I've never understood factoring in time when one casts, yet no one factors in time when they're sitting in their recliner watching the ball game.

35W
 
35 Whelen said:
I've never understood factoring in time when one casts, yet no one factors in time when they're sitting in their recliner watching the ball game.
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I figure casting supports reloading and shooting, as an alternative to buying commercial cast bullets, so it's an economic calculation. That's why.
 
35 Whelen said:
You can real close to finding the Bhn of the lead with numbered drawing pencils. I have a lead hardness tester and used it to verify the accuracy of the pencils and with the exception of extremely hard lead, they get pretty darned close.

Lead hardness pencil testing and Checking Lead Hardness With Drawing Pencils





I've never understood factoring in time when one casts, yet no one factors in time when they're sitting in their recliner watching the ball game.

35W
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I don't factor it in other than do you have it or not. Working 50 weeks and raising two kids you have no time for things like casting. If your retired and looking for things to stay busy then that's the opposite story. Some guys try to value their time like it's work and I agree that's insane in reloading period.
 
I am waiting to get a license to sell scrap metal in the mail from my state government. At this point I have small buckets of brass with the intent to sell. I feel like a felon... Check your state and local laws.
I advise you to slowly invest in the tools of casting, (It won't take long to get going). It has brought me pleasure in crafting things I can use without having to find them. I cringe at the prices of copper jacketed bullets. I would rather load and shoot my own castings. I rather enjoy reduced recoil loads on my bolt guns.
Is it possible the friend that gave you the lead has tools he might part with. Lee double cavity molds are cheap, and work great.
 
Pottimus said:
I am waiting to get a license to sell scrap metal in the mail from my state government. At this point I have small buckets of brass with the intent to sell. I feel like a felon... Check your state and local laws.
I advise you to slowly invest in the tools of casting, (It won't take long to get going). It has brought me pleasure in crafting things I can use without having to find them. I cringe at the prices of copper jacketed bullets. I would rather load and shoot my own castings. I rather enjoy reduced recoil loads on my bolt guns.
Is it possible the friend that gave you the lead has tools he might part with. Lee double cavity molds are cheap, and work great.
Click to expand...
Op said guy passed and this was in garage he cleaned out.
 
Find a caster and trade on shares, they get so much lead, and in return, you get back so many cast bullets of your choice, both win, and you don't have invest in something, that after you run out of lead, might just sit, as you won't have a source for more. That gives you time to see if it is something you want to do, in the future. Maybe if you find somebody from where you trap shoot, they would even let you sit in on the melt, to help, and learn.
 
If I lived in Tenn., I would help you out and trade you bullets for your lead. Maybe someone here would be interested. I just know how hard it has got to locate new lead and it sounds fun, to start a new hobby, but when that lead is gone...
 
What does it sound like when you drop it on concrete from a few inches? Thud...ding... somewhere in the middle?
 
If theres differing hardnesses I would hope one is lead or close to it and the other is lead with tin. Heck, make some bullets.
 
Are there any markings, numbers or letters stamped on them such as : This is my marking system , others have their own .
L = lead
WW = clip on wheel weights
50/50 = 50% lead and 50% clip on wheel weights
1/20 = 1 part tin to 20 parts lead
1/16 = 1 part tin to 16 parts lead
1/10 = 1 part tin to 10 parts lead

Some caster place a BHN number for the hardness , the numbers range from
5 for pure soft lead to
15 for Lyman #2
22 = Linotype , 23 = Sterotype and 28 = Monotype ... all printers types used in the printing industry ,

Most every caster marks his ingots so he will know what the alloy is .
Gary
 
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