Processing range scrap...

[AJC1]

Finally live near a range that mining doesn't seem to bother anyone, and I gave up the golden goose of range brass. So when dealing with processing scrap do you seperate/segregate anything or just process it all together. It seems like I could separate the slug material to keep the mix higher in tin and antimony.... just curious.

 

[mdi]

I normally mix it all together, melt (and cut FMJ to vent) clean and pour ingots/pucks. Later I will check BHN for a batch and adjust for my use (cast for my handguns, "Mystery Metal" runs 11-13 BHN). I can adjust with tin, linotype, pure, or a known BHN...

 

[dannyd]

When I mined range lead just used old Lee 20 pound pot, added the range pickup let it cook, skimmed the top, flux and repeat. Did a 5 gallon bucket over a weekend.

 

[AJC1]

When I mined range lead just used old Lee 20 pound pot, added the range pickup let it cook, skimmed the top, flux and repeat. Did a 5 gallon bucket over a weekend.

I have a cast sauce pan I use for making ingots to keep the casting pot clean.

 

[dannyd]

I have a cast sauce pan I use for making ingots to keep the casting pot clean.

Look around up there for an old corn muffin pan. Looks like four ears of corn, used it as a ingot mold for years.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Finally live near a range that mining doesn't seem to bother anyone, and I gave up the golden goose of range brass. So when dealing with processing scrap do you seperate/segregate anything or just process it all together. It seems like I could separate the slug material to keep the mix higher in tin and antimony.... just curious.

Dumb together, there are annoying mating pair caese like 9mm & 40

 

[41 Mag]

You could separate the known shotgun slugs, but the rest is going to be a mix of proprietary blends from different sources. That can be blended into a bulk alloy and based upon the hardness be cast accordingly.

I've used quite a bit of range mined lead for my HG 68's and 50's, and it works just fine. Those are poured in a batch sitting and I'd rather not use up my known blends for just blasting ammo.

 

[BWS]

Yup,what 41 mag wrote.

For me,it's more of an inventory issue than anything? I don't process until it's necessary.... you could call it laziness but,not really. I just don't know ahead of time enough to cast a bunch of ingots of any particular blend. Therefore,leave them as found/bought until the particular project comes up.

But will say,have been 100% happy with range scrap in most handgun applications. Good luck with your project.

 

[AJC1]

Yup,what 41 mag wrote.

For me,it's more of an inventory issue than anything? I don't process until it's necessary.... you could call it laziness but,not really. I just don't know ahead of time enough to cast a bunch of ingots of any particular blend. Therefore,leave them as found/bought until the particular project comes up.

But will say,have been 100% happy with range scrap in most handgun applications. Good luck with your project.

There is zero chance I'm going to do a melt during the summer. It's just ugly down here. I'll try and collect a nice pile before processing so it's worth the effort. I've only got 20-30 pounds right now, but if I can get several piles that big ill be quite happy.

 

[DMW1116]

I worked last June where you are now in GA. It’s buhrutal in the summer. I wouldn’t even shoot down there unless it was before 10 am.

 

[Walkalong]

It's just ugly down here.

last June where you are now in GA. It’s buhrutal in the summer.

 

[Soonerpesek]

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That 37% humidity is nice….!!

 

[AJC1]

That 37% humidity is nice….!!

Humidity sucks...

 

[FROGO207]

I have sources of pure lead scrap already
I also have a friend that has a couple tons of used wheel weights in a pile. The range scrap, I just melt down everything together in a large dutch oven, skim the crap off the top and use it as is for 38 SPL WC & SWC and other low pressure loads that I want to obiturate easily

 

[41 Mag]

This was at our place in tha country last weekend, right back porch in tha shade, left in tha kitchen...the oldest grandson (21) and I were going to do some shooting but I passed. He managed to get about 30rds over our chronograph before he'd had enough..

 

[lightman]

I have not used range scrap in a long time but when I did I didn't try separating any of it. The exception to this was if I picked up an unusually large amount or shotgun slugs, round balls or mini-balls. I considered those as soft lead and melted them separately.

 

[Speedo66]

View attachment 1169688

You sure that’s not your body temperature?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

View attachment 1169688

Looks like winter down here.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

View attachment 1169697
Humidity sucks...

Nah. You get used to it.

 

[Walkalong]

Nah. You get used to it

Kind of sort of.......

 

[jmorris]

I chunk them all in together, if you collect mostly cast bullets they will be alright. The more jacketed bullets you have the heavier the alloy is going to be (purer lead).

I have one mold I use as a “standard” knowing what it drops with “certified“ lead, if it drops heavy, I just cut Linotype into the mix until they drop at 230 grains.

 

[kmw1954]

This cleaned up to between a 9-10, have monotype to add if I need to harden it up.

 

[AJC1]

Picked up another small pile today. Looking on Amazon for a metal detecting scooper to increase my volume.

 

[jmorris]

I have the best luck going right after a good rain. All the dirt is washed away, leaving the frosted white bullets right on top for the picking.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I keep a pair of Lee bottom-pour melters going when it's cool enough for casting.
I mix everything together except for .22rf stuff - some of that isn't lead.
Also, I segregate clip-on wheel weights from the sticky-back stuff, even when I'm just making lead figures.
Sometimes, the sticky-back stuff won't fill out the molds.