Smelting Copper Plated, Jacketed, & Bonded Core Bullets?

[builder_one]

Hey guys, noob here that is getting interested in the prospect of casting my own bullets for a 44 mag Winchester 94 Trapper & Ruger 77/44. I haven't gotten around to scrounging for wheel weights yet but I've got some bullets that were dug out of backstops previously for performance inspection that I've saved. Is the lead easily smelted & separated from copper plated (22LR), copper jacketed (various centerfire pistol calibers), & bonded core bullets? Or am I just wasting my time saving these for their lead content? I've searched several pages for the answer but so far it has eluded me. If there's another thread on this please send me a link and I will let this one die. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Trey45]

Welcome to the forum, the search feature produced the following results:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=107872&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=96914&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=95664&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=89647&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=88655&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=85766&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=78527&highlight=melting+jacketed+bullets

And about 47 more threads.

[bowfin]

You are not wasting your time. Many here do the same thing.

If you find bullets that are completely jacketed, you might want to crush the jacket or somehow pierce it so the melted lead can flow of it.

[plainsman456]

And watch out for them squirting a little when they get hot.
Welcome,lot to learn here.

[*Paladin*]

I use a hammer and small, sharp chisel to cut a hole in the jackets. Works good...

[Centaur 1]

That's where I get all of my lead. It takes longer to smelt than wheel weights, but it works. Sure beats buying lead at retail prices.

[shotman]

the copper plate on the 22s will be no problem the jackets save and you can sell for scrap brass price.
And before someone chimes in the jackets most times will not bring copper price as the heat and small lead will turn them brass color so the guys wont pay copper price

[gnoahhh]

"Smelting" is the act of extracting metal from raw ore with heat. Melting lead is what we do.

[XWrench3]

The only ones that will not give up their lead easily are the totally encapsulated ones. Those are usually plated with copper. Just take a pair od side cutter pliars, and cut one corner off (prior to putting them in the pot) from those, and the lead will dribble out when melted. Everything else will come out on its own.

[pistolman44]

I smelt a lot of these from a indoor range. I pay $10 for a 5 gal bucket full. I learned from someone on here to flux the melt before skimming off the copper jackets out of the melt.

[fredj338]

You are not wasting your time. Many here do the same thing.

If you find bullets that are completely jacketed, you might want to crush the jacket or somehow pierce it so the melted lead can flow of it.
^This. When I find plated FMJ in yum berm mining, I crush them w/ a 4# sledge, one good wahck usually cracks the plating.