Where to find casting lead these days?

[Got_Lead?]

Hello all:

Yes, I am addicted to casting my own boolits. I used to be able to go down to the local junkyard and pick up wheelweights for 15 to 25 cents per pound. Unfortunately, wheelweights are now made from a zinc alloy, and the lead ones are soon to be unavailable. I've been casting with WW's + 5% 50/50 for years, and am not quite sure what to do as the supply of lead WW's dry up.

Can anyone offer suggestions on what to use and where to find it without going broke?

Thanks

G_L

 

[zxcvbob]

Pick it up off the berm at the shooting range. You would be amazed at how quickly you can get 100 pounds -- for free. It's generally soft lead that has some tin and antimony in it. Add a little purchased magnum shot or linotype to if you need hard lead; add a little lead-free solder or 60/40 for tin if it doesn't want to cast (I've never had that problem with the stuff I've collected)

 

[oneounceload]

You could try metal recyclers where you live, although they most likely will want market spot price for lead. See if there are ranges that will let you "mine the berm/backstop for bullets. Contact your local trap/skeet club to see if they will be having a reclaim mining operation being done and then see if they'll sell you the shot for less if they do not clean and regraphite it - you could then melt the shot and cast your own

 

[zxcvbob]

You can also run a "wanted" ad on craigslist. I got 300+ pounds of pure foundry lead that way 2 years ago for $100. I was offering 25¢ a pound, but this was so nice I paid extra for it.

 

[snuffy]

Tell everybody that will listen that you want lead. It's amazing how many times I been handed a chunck of lead, or told where I can get some.

Then, if you know where some is, and nobody seems to want to re-claim it, ask if you can have it. That's just what I did last year when the indoor range at my club was being re-built. Here's what I came up with;



That's about a third of the 1 ton we dug out of the sand trap. It runs just fine for standard velocity loads in semi-auto pistols and revolvers. Magnums need some extra tin and antimony. Cost? Gas for a couple trucks, propane about 10 tanks and some wax for flux. I figure about 10 cents/#.

 

[Got_Lead?]

Thanks guys, great ideas. Snuffy, those pics are a beautiful sight to behold. Haha, I never thought of lead muffins, that's a good one! I did cast some scuba diving weights once using a tin canteen cup, they came out looking like flat kidney beans.

 

[RugerBob]

My son-in-law does a lot of commercial sheetrock work and does alot of work at Hospitals. You would be amazed at the lead from old x-ray rooms. They just roll it up and drop it off here. If your near any old style sclales they have lead counter weights. Berm diggin is ok too.

 

[RugerBob]

^ them are lead counter weights from a old commercial scale.

 

[MrWesson]

So far i just go around and beg for wheel weights.

Usually they wont give them away but might take $30 for a 5gal bucket(150lbs unsmelted).

 

[amlevin]

MrWesson

Make sure your old wheel weights actually have lead in them. Most States have or will be outlawing lead in wheel weights.

You may end up casting mostly zinc bullets.

 

[MrWesson]

MrWesson

Make sure your old wheel weights actually have lead in them. Most States have or will be outlawing lead in wheel weights.

You may end up casting mostly zinc bullets.

its very easy to tell the difference.

zinc has a higher melting temp.

I have only found maybe a pound or 2 in 1000lbs of lead.

 

[GP100man]

I`ve sorted WW & now have 37# of zinc weights !!!

 

[snuffy]

Quote:
MrWesson

Make sure your old wheel weights actually have lead in them. Most States have or will be outlawing lead in wheel weights.

You may end up casting mostly zinc bullets.
its very easy to tell the difference.

zinc has a higher melting temp.

I have only found maybe a pound or 2 in 1000lbs of lead.

Zinc melts at 787 degree F. If you keep the melt below that the zinc, iron, or other metal WW will float.

Better way is to not toss them in to start with. Most are marked or painted, they are also very hard. A side cutter will easily dent lead weights, not hardly scratch zinc or iron WW.