I asked a local indoor gun range owner today if they still smelted and sold their lead. The response shocked me. He stated that he does not mess with it any longer, and would sell me all the lead in 5 gallon buckets (along with the floor sweepings of course) I wanted for .20 a pound. I told him that I had an unlimited supply of practically new 5 gallon buckets, and I would call him later this week and see if we could work something out on me supplying him with buckets, and him supplying me with "cheap" lead and brass. He said he was very interested.
I have smelted buckets of lead like this before, and it is a filthy mess with all of the sweepings, but I am thinking that it could be worth it if the right deal was made.
Bo