Bullets casted many years ago. Still OK?

[s1120]

OK... so this might be silly... but I have to ask anyways. Back in the 60's, and 70's my Dad shot bullseye, and casted and loaded a LOT of ammo. After his passing last spring, I was left his reloading, and casting stuff. Now he had casted up a lot of Bullets [from a Lyman 358495 mold] and sized, and lubed them. I dont know exactly when, but Im guessing late 70's early 80's. I now have all those bullets, and they are still clean, shiny, and the lube is still soft on them. Are they OK to load? Anything I should check on them? Im I safe to assume the lube is still fine if its still a little soft? This is quite a bit of bullets... I would hate to have to melt them back down. Are these fine to load up?

[largom]

I would and shoot some to see how well the lube holds up.

Larry

[Dale53]

I have shot bullets cast ten years and more ago when lubed with NRA 50/50 with EXCELLENT results. I wouldn't hesitate to try them. It would sure save you a lot of work and you can shoot these with a smile on your face knowing your father cast these.

Dale53

[s1120]

I have shot bullets cast ten years and more ago when lubed with NRA 50/50 with EXCELLENT results. I wouldn't hesitate to try them. It would sure save you a lot of work and you can shoot these with a smile on your face knowing your father cast these.

Dale53


Very true!!! I tell you, he casted a ton of them also. I would hate to toss away [errr into the pot] that many hours of work. As of now Im just target shooting, and pratice. As of now Im not doing any matches or anything.

[OLPDon]

Shoot some of them from a rest and see how well they group...... Don't for get to save some to keep for memories......

Don

[prs]

NO! That lead is rotten by now. Pack it up and send to me for disposal.

prs

[MT Chambers]

I've shot old cast bullets that had white powder all over them from age, no problem.

[koehn,jim]

I just recently loaded some I cast in 1984 and they shot fine. I would use them up a little each trip to preserve the memories.

[Dave C.]

I batch cast, size and load my Match ammo. It is 4 to 5 years old when shot.
If I do my part it goes through the X-ring.

Dave C.

[Wayne Smith]

Since when does an element go bad? Unless you know hardness and composition plan on using them for relatively light loads and you are home free.

[jaysouth]

About half a mile from my house, when I lived in Arlington, VA, there was a signal outpost on top of a hill that changed hands a number of times during the civil war. Every time I tilled my garden or dug in flower beds, I found minnie balls. They appeared to be pure lead, but the lube, I dunno. Might need a tumble bath in LLA again. Some of them looked a little out of round too, might need a trip through a sizer again.

[williamwaco]

I have 350 .38 specials left from a large batch I loaded the week my daughter was born. May - 1972.

They were lubed with Lyman 50/50 and loaded with 2.7 grains BullsEye.

Today they will only average around 1" groups at 25 yards.

[MtGun44]

The lead dries out and shrinks due to radioactive decay so the only solution is
to send them to a high post expert for proper and safe disposal.

:bigsmyl2:

Bill

If the lube is soft and they fit your gun, they should be fine.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I am using boolits that I casted back in the late 90's , work just fine .

[Valley Forge]

Agreed, I just loaded and shot 500 #358429's last summer that I cast back in 1983. Lube seemed a bit dry, but they were just fine. In fact, I was rather pleased with 'em.

[runfiverun]

woo hoo high post count win's.
if the lube is still soft like i'd shoot them.
as long as it isn't so dry it's falling out of the groove i'd load and go if it was falling out i'd re-lube them and go.

[s1120]

Thanks for the help guys! I thought they would be fine as long as the lube wasn't hard and flaking out, but figured I would ask before I loaded.

[Beau Cassidy]

Even if the lube was bad you could heat up the bullets and melt it off then relube them.

[mdi]

Check the base of each bullet. If the expiration date has passed, just send them to me for "Certified Lead Pellet Disposal"...

[s1120]

Check the base of each bullet. If the expiration date has passed, just send them to me for "Certified Lead Pellet Disposal"...

LOL!! Oh sure. Ill get right on that. :)

Well some will be going back to the pot. I have a box of a few hundred that are all corroded. they will get tossed in the pot for recasting. I have another box of about 100 that the lube has all dried and flaking.. Ill try to reheat those and try to melt the lube. [I didnt think of that at all. Thanks Beau!] The rest look great.