recycled fmj

[jetrecbn]

Just got 500lbs of indoor range bullets. It is a pain to sort out the carpet from the lead. I have no experience with casting so please bear with me. What happens to the copper jacket when melting fmj? Is it safe to recyle these bullets?

 

[Jeff F]

Is the lead in FMJ bullets on the soft side? I would think the jackets would collect on the bottom of the pot and you would have to screen them out some way. I've never tried to recycle jacketed bullets.

 

[Bartkowski]

If you stuck the FMJ's in a lead pot the copper would float on top. As far as recycling, do you mean the entire bullet?

 

[wally]

With the price of scrap copper these days it'd probably be worth melting out the lead and skimming off the floating copper pieces for recycling even if you don't cast bullets!

--wally.

 

[ants]

Yep. Hundreds of thousands of us recover lead from jacketed cores. Melt the lead out, scoop the jackets off the top (they sure do float), and use the lead. It is very soft. Mix it with harder lead.

 

[jetrecbn]

The indoor range has predominant fmj but there are hard cast bullets in the mix. I would guess a 70/30 mix. Would this mix and water quenching suffice to harden the bullet (230 lrn 45acp @ <860fps) to minimize lead fouling of the barrel? If not, what do I have to add to the pot and where do I get it? Thanks.

 

[Remo-99]

At those velocities, you shouldn't have a leading problem, if your using a good lube on them. Leave the hard cast bullets in the mix to keep the hard alloy qualities and molten metal flow qualities. If you still have concern about hardness, just add some used wheel weights to the mix, while your refining into ingots. A local tire dealer should be able to supply those fairly cheap.

 

[Hutch]

I've melted and cast recovered bullets. It is an evil chore. Cast bullet prices would have to go much higher for this to become an attractive alternative.

 

[Jeff F]

I did not know that the copper jackets would float on top. I have never tried to recycle them. I did suspect FMJ were made with soft lead.

 

[Navy joe]

If you are dealing with any plated or total metal jacket bullets be careful. If the jacket isn't pierced you may get a hot lead surprise when melting.