MidSouth Shooters SupplyInline FabricationReloading EverythingTitan Reloading
Load DataLee PrecisionRotoMetals2Repackbox
PBcastco Wideners
Page 8 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789 LastLast
Results 141 to 160 of 166

Thread: Tips on Salvaging Range Lead

  1. #141
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    120 miles North of Texarkana 9 miles from OK in the green hell
    Posts
    5,345
    At the moment I too seem to be the only backstop miner out here .

    I cheat a little my employer sends me to replace the target backer boards ,I've built some trap boxes that amount to 8" of scrap wood and a piece of 1/8 or 3/16 steel . It stops all of the pistol stuff at the 30 yd line except that guy with the 460 and 500 S&W and the copper slugs. Nets me about 30-40 lbs per month. I sort into cast,jacketed,and 22s. Best part ? I'm paid to do it.
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

    I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .

    Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18


    Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
    Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .

  2. #142
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    205
    Harter, that's a great idea. If there's a range nearby which has actual backer boards rather than the moveable targets, I'll have to see if I can try that.

  3. #143
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    MUSKOGEE
    Posts
    1,516
    Quote Originally Posted by Stevejet View Post
    You could just "mine" mall and shopping center parking lots with a pair of WHEEL WEIGHT pliers and very good running shoes!
    fixed for ya steve!....yer welcome.

  4. #144
    Boolit Mold
    Talon300's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    18
    Years ago when I was stationed in HI, a shipmate whom I was introducing to reloading came home with a very large chunk of lead. He said that he cut off part of the keel weight (with an axe) from a sail boat before they removed the hull carcass. Just listing another source.

  5. #145
    In Remembrance - Super Moderator & Official Cast Boolits Sketch Artist

    RP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Nahunta NC
    Posts
    3,410
    For the guys using the shop vacs you may want to run your hose into a 5 gal bucket then back out to the shop vac. This will work a lot like having the hose looped the heavy will settle in the bucket and the light will keep going. When I mine the range I smelt it all trash rocks grass twits wads and flux it with used motor oil it cleans up nice. With the used motor oil the extra heat from the burning oil will clean the jackets off real good.
    Reloading to save money I am sure the saving is going to start soon

  6. #146
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    14
    Do ranges let you do mine for free?

  7. #147
    Boolit Master


    SciFiJim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Pensacola Florida
    Posts
    3,548
    Quote Originally Posted by NC Brass View Post
    Do ranges let you do mine for free?
    Some don't allow it at all. Most are OK with you picking up a few chunks by hand as long as you don't interfere with operations. A few will allow mining as long as you repair any damage you do. Doesn't hurt to ask.


    Custom Cast Boolits Google Search


    The Learning Never Stops!

  8. #148
    Boolit Master taco650's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    OR->LaGrange GA
    Posts
    1,543
    My local, state run, range allows me to pick up what I can during target changing but that's it. However, I've developed a good report with the lead Range Officer and he will actually help me pick up exposed slugs if nobody else is there. He's a caster himself so he understands the value of range pick ups. I find that if you're polite, friendly and follow the rules, you can usually garner the favor of folks which gets you more opportunities.

    The range scrap I collect is smelted dirt and all, then fluxed with sawdust or candle wax (whichever I have handy) and then poured into a dollar store muffin tin. When I cast with it, I water drop which hardens the boolits a little. They work fine for my needs, even in my 44mag revolver. YMMV.

  9. #149
    Boolit Master


    Walks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    3,028
    I envy u guys that can still find WW. Here in LaLa land I haven't found anybody willing to part with any in over 20yrs.

    The last time I was allowed to buy range lead from LAPD Harbor Div Range, I bought 50lb and it netted me 32 1lb ingots.
    Plus a whole 16.4 oz bottle of propane. It woulda been cheaper to buy from the midway thieves.

  10. #150
    Boolit Master




    Old Ironsights's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Wherever they hire Philosophers & Misanthropes...
    Posts
    1,972
    At least in LaLa land you have harbors near (enough) by to maybe get some old keel lead or old dive belts... (emphasis on "old")
    A Democrat that owns Guns is like a Vegan that owns Cats...
    C2N14... because life is not energetic enough.
    Gott und Gewehr mit uns!...
    Death is only The End if you assume the Story is about You.
    1.618034 Fnord
    מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין - Daniel 5:25-28 - Got 7.62?


  11. #151
    Boolit Mold Jmac90yj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Western PA
    Posts
    5
    I'm new here and this is my first post. This past weekend I took an old Grill and smoker to a junk yard , got 13.50 and got 50lbs of wheel weights. it only hand1.5 lbs of zinc and stick on. He only charges me .25/lb

  12. #152
    Boolit Master Pee Wee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Debary, Florida Volusia County
    Posts
    596
    Quote Originally Posted by Jmac90yj View Post
    I'm new here and this is my first post. This past weekend I took an old Grill and smoker to a junk yard , got 13.50 and got 50lbs of wheel weights. it only hand1.5 lbs of zinc and stick on. He only charges me .25/lb
    good score,JMac .
    NRA LIFE MEMBER
    ILSA MEMBER
    NRA RANGE SAFETY OFFICER

  13. #153
    Boolit Master



    skeettx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Amarillo, Texas
    Posts
    4,102
    Jmac90yj welcome on your first post and congrats on the score!!!!
    Mike
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  14. #154
    Boolit Mold Jmac90yj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Western PA
    Posts
    5
    I received permission from my local game officer to collect range scrap. I made a screen thing with a milk crate and 1\4" wire screen to shake out the dirt.

  15. #155
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    2
    Whitetail, this is exactly how I do it and I have more lead than I'll ever use.

  16. #156
    In Remembrance - Super Moderator & Official Cast Boolits Sketch Artist

    RP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Nahunta NC
    Posts
    3,410
    Another tip is if your in sandy dry soil a leaf blower and a rake is a good trick. Blow the dirt but up the berm the lead will roll to the base then just rake it up. Bonus is the dirt is back where its needed and it removes wads from slugs and other things like sticks grass or paper from targets.
    I have found you have to modify your mining to the dirt type or wetness of the soil. I have used modified cement mixers dry to washing the dirt out with water leaf blowers and hand shift screens what ever it takes to give the biggest yields.
    Not many ranges let you mine only way I get to mine is to repair the berms and that takes a backhoe every couple of years.
    Reloading to save money I am sure the saving is going to start soon

  17. #157
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    So. Illinois
    Posts
    486
    Wow. No posts here in over 5 years.
    I've got 3 or 4 kitty litter buckets, 1/2 full of range scrap. I've smelted 4 pans full. A pan full yields about 1/4th pan full of lead.
    It's smokey work. The buckets are stashed in my shed for when there is nothing else.

  18. #158
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    North Central
    Posts
    2,514
    Quote Originally Posted by taco650 View Post
    My local, state run, range allows me to pick up what I can during target changing but that's it. However, I've developed a good report with the lead Range Officer and he will actually help me pick up exposed slugs if nobody else is there. He's a caster himself so he understands the value of range pick ups. I find that if you're polite, friendly and follow the rules, you can usually garner the favor of folks which gets you more opportunities.

    The range scrap I collect is smelted dirt and all, then fluxed with sawdust or candle wax (whichever I have handy) and then poured into a dollar store muffin tin. When I cast with it, I water drop which hardens the boolits a little. They work fine for my needs, even in my 44mag revolver. YMMV.
    Was at the Atglen club in SE PA with my son and found quite a few large caliber cast boolits on the ground down range. Left them on a railing by the benches for a local to use. That Atglen club is really something, gorgeous setting surrounded by old growth hardwoods.

  19. #159
    Boolit Master
    Outer Rondacker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    The Adirondacks
    Posts
    1,857
    If you can harvest the lead when after a dry spell. Screens do not work to good on wet dirt or clay backstops. Ware gloves jackets are sharp!

    Please forgive me if this has been mentioned but I did not read all the pages ahead of my post.
    Stop being blinded by your own ignorance.

  20. #160
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Man the first time I posted on this thread was 14 years ago!

    My CT Store switched to zinc WW as has most of the tire outfits up here. I just bought tires from another store and he is going to let me pick up his old WW. Mostly zinc but there still is enough lead WW to make it worthwhile when you got nothing else to do. Water quenched WW alloy is all I use for my rifle and handgun bullets.

    The pure lead stick on WW, get converted to lead balls for my 1858 Remington.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

Page 8 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check