new caster - need recipe!

[davinci]

I've found a few sources of lead, all of it is 'pure, soft' lead...about 75 cents a pound plus shipping. Is this an ok price? I've found 'lead' from my local scrap yard for 60 cents per pound, but I'm not so sure of the quality.

I want to know what I need to do to make the lead hard enough for 45acp and 9mm bullets. Also, is there a different formula for shotgun slugs, and what can I do to cast my own buckshot, I haven't seen a mold anywhere.

What can I do to find out if the lead that the scrapyard is selling is actually decent stuff? Is there any way to tell if it's going to be ok to melt, or the hardness without having to bring it home and actually try it?

Thanks!

 

[Bula]

davinci, my advice is ask the scrapyard specifically for clip on wheel weights (WW). The trouble with pure lead (especially at .75 per lb + Shipping) is that you'll need to alloy it with another expesive, harder, lino or type metal in order to make it usable for 9mm. Not sure about the shotgun slugs, I'd guess pure lead would be good to use for slugs. No idea about the shot. I recently mixed up a batch of lead using 22 lbs of pure lead, 13 lbs of type metal, 60 lbs of Wheel weights and 5 lbs of 60/40 solder. I only did that because it's what I had on hand. It sure casts nice pistol bullets. With .45 acp straight WW would be fine, I like to add a little tin to my WW melt in the form of 60/40solder--1 lb 60/40 to about every 20 lbs of WW , I think it makes my molds fill out a little better. I dont cast for 9mm but I push my lead mix above 9mm velocities, lube/sized with 50/50 beeswax/alox with great results. Good luck, be careful, and if you haven't already, check out castboolits.com, a GREAT site for all things bullet casting. I just started casting this year and I'm hooked.

 

[snuffy]

I've found a few sources of lead, all of it is 'pure, soft' lead...about 75 cents a pound plus shipping. Is this an ok price? I've found 'lead' from my local scrap yard for 60 cents per pound, but I'm not so sure of the quality.
That's about the going price now days, shipping might bring it up to a buck a pound

I want to know what I need to do to make the lead hard enough for 45acp and 9mm bullets. Also, is there a different formula for shotgun slugs, and what can I do to cast my own buckshot, I haven't seen a mold anywhere.
Alloying it will require a source of tin and antimony. IF you can find it, linotype lead metal is an excellent source for both. BUT it is getting harder to find, since they seldom use the linotype machines anymore. Buckshot can be made using the lee muzzle loader round ball molds.
Shotgun slugs can be made from the "pure lead" OR the harder stuff. Actually the harder stuff casts easier. Pure lead takes a lot of heat, and keeping the mold hot also.

What can I do to find out if the lead that the scrapyard is selling is actually decent stuff? Is there any way to tell if it's going to be ok to melt, or the hardness without having to bring it home and actually try it?
Not much without a hardness tester That means taking a chance, buying some, bringing it home to cast a few boolits so you can test it. If you don't have a hardness tester. lee makes one that works quite well, but don't cost a lot.

Thanks!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Wheelweights are good for almost all cast bullet loads. When considering the .45 ACP, most cast bullets sold are too hard. The sellers brag about "hard cast" but they cast them that way because they use an alloy designed to fill out the moulds, not to shoot especially well.

 

[davinci]

thanks folks. I'll keep researching before jumping into this head first.
It looks liek the equipment is going to be about $85 from midway. $60 for the lee lead furnace, $25 for 2 cavity 9mm mold with handles. I'm going to make more 9mm at first because I can get more out of a pound of lead. ;-)

 

[yammerschooner]

I strongly suggest going for more than two cavities on a pistol bullet.

 

[fireflyfather]

I'd strongly suggest buying the stuff at Grafs. MUCH cheaper. Shipping & handling is a flat 3.95, and the prices themselves are usually under MSRP by a good bit. They have great customer service, and a very easy to navigate website with an extensive catalog of products. They do tend to sell out of common products regularly, but also tend to get them back in stock quickly.