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Thread: Question on a couple WW from today's haul

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Question on a couple WW from today's haul

    In two stops today, I grabbed up around 450lbs of WW. Sorted about a 3rd of them so far. Mostly lead, maybe 75% so far. I was surprised, I figured with the decline in lead WW I might get 50%.


    So the top, I'm not certain about, haven't seen them before. Non magnetic, no Zn on them. Just a new one to me....assuming it's usable lead.(Been 10 years since I messed with WW or casting). Left is obviously Zinc, do all the Zinc WW have a Zn or is there anything else to watch for? Bottom left is steel, just don't remember seeing the Fe on them before, looked it up and that's Iron on the periodic table. That thing in the middle is new to me also. Found several of them so far. Been dropping them in the scrap bucket. Feel soft and a little rubbery....quite heavy though. Seems to be slightly magnetic, but only a little. What is that stuff, trash? Bottom right is the standard clip on WW.... those I've been keeping all of so far along with the obvious lead stick on weights. Seems like I found a few like that years ago that may have Zn in them but they were marked. None in this batch so far.


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    Last edited by Namerifrats; 10-10-2018 at 08:49 PM.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    CastingFool's Avatar
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    When I find those soft, spongy looking weights, I toss them in the trash.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    The 5 & 6 segmented weights at the top are lead and made by the same outfit that made the clip on WW. Painted stick on WW are about the same alloy as clip on. Unpainted are close to pure lead. The ones around NC usually have TAW or tape-a-weight stamped on them. I throw the rubbery foam things in the trash. There's a crowd that shoots canon that like to use zinc to make their ball. They'll trade me their COWW's straight up for Zn.

  4. #4
    Boolit Man
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    I sort the stick on and clip on weights as the stick one are pretty much pure lead. The ones on the top are hard lead and I put them with my clip on lead.

    The bottom "MC" is hard lead as well. I usually do the drop test to hear the "thud" or try to cut with side cutters.


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  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Good info! So the sponges are trash as I thought. There may be a slight side market for Zinc...is it worth keeping them in a separate bucket for trading? I maybe found 60-80 Zn ww so far. Still have 4 buckets to go through.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Thats a good score. 250# in 2 stops nowadays is unheard of. And your lead yield is good too! I would say you have identified the weights in your pictures correctly. That MC weight at the bottom looks like one of those plastic composite weights. Its a throw away too. I save the zinc and steel weights and sell them at the scrap yard. Sometimes you can find someone that will trade for the zinc but I have not been that lucky.

    If it helps any, the sorting gets easier after you have done it for a while.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Ateam's Avatar
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    That MC is plastic coated steel, a magnet and side cutters are essential when dealing with unknowns or just starting out.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
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    A good side cutter is your friend. The rubber foam stuff has lead but not enough for the stink. It goes in my scrap bucket. I sort stick on in a separate bucket then use a magnet. I never get my smelt pot over 625 degrees. Any zinc or iron missed does not melt.
    NRA Benefactor Member

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


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    The bottom weight may be coated steel. I can not tell from the picture. You can use a magnet or side cutters to tell. The weight will be slightly magnetic due to the heavy plastic coating. Or you can use the side cutters and cut on the very end of the weight. Usually you can cut it off and expose the steel below. When you get real good you can usually identify them by their lighter density as opposed to lead.
    I wish I would have beat you to the supply.

  10. #10
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    Ones I find like the bottom are just painted lead and cut easy with a side cutters. I get a LOT of them that are 4oz+++ from the truck tires the co-op replaces.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    Did some reading about the Plasteel weights, and I'll def check that clip on weight in the photo and report back.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master wrench man's Avatar
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    I'd look at that "MC" weight closely!, MC is the type of wheel rim it clips onto NOTHING more!, the MC weights I have NEW in the bin at work are either obviously cast lead or painted lead "MCN", the two injection mold punch marks are VERY suspicious looking!??
    I agree with the other descriptions of the various weights.
    ASE master certified engine machinist
    Brake & Alignment specialist, ricer to class 8

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Out of town with work currently. Be back Tuesday and I'll check that weight for sure.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    MC Clip on weight is plastic coated steel. In the scrap bucket. I'll be watching for more of these.

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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