recovered spent bullets

[hdbiker]

Due to the difficulty in getting wheel weights for casting,I've been reduced to diging up spent bullets at our local pistol range.I have now ammased just over 100 lyman mold ingots of fluxed,clean but soft bullet lead. My question is ,would this soft lead be suitable for midrange loads in .38SP. and .45ACP ? I also have about 60 ingots of wheel weights that I could alloy in.Any advice would helpfull .hdbiker

 

[rcmodel]

would this soft lead be suitable for midrange loads in .38SP.

It would be ideal for that use.

For about the first 75 years, factory .38 Spl bullets were all very soft swaged lead.

It may also work fine in the .45 ACP, however due to the shallow rifling designed for jacketed bullets, I like them harder for that.

Hard bullets are Way over-rated these days, and can cause more leading problems then they cure if they are too hard to bump up to fit the chamber throats & barrel when fired.

rc

 

[918v]

Soft lead is better than hard lead in soft-shooting applications. You'll prolly need to add a little tin to make the alloy cast well.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you want 'em a bit harder for 45 ACP, water quench 'em.

I use the same lead for 45 Colt & 32 H&R magnum.
The difference? I water quench the 32s & air cool the 45s.

 

[41 Mag]

All I can say about range lead is that my hunting bud and I split a big purchase, like 9 or so 65# boxes. We have been using it in several revolvers for mid range loads up to around 1000fps or just over, with no issues.

You might find that adding in a 4-5" piece of 95-5 solder per pot full will help out with getting the finer corners for fill out but you will need to pour some up to find out.

We're using Unique, HS-6, Blue Dot, 2400, and a couple of Accurate powders, and tumble or pan lubing everything. Just play with your load or switch powders around if you get a bit of leading. Other than that it has been very good alloy for 38 SPL up through 44mag bullets. Just keep the pressure on the lower end and you should be fine.

 

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Cast some up and try them first in a small batch. If it is indeed too soft, then mix 50/50 of the bullet core alloy and wheel weight alloy. The bullet fit will have more effect on leading than the alloy. I recently ran a small batch of stick on wheel weights (really soft) in an almost full throttle load in my 40 s&w. I was trying a soft alloy so the hollow point on the bullet would open up. After the batch was tested, about 50 rounds, the barrel did not have any leading.