A buddy and I recently managed to purchase 1,000 lbs of scrap lead. It appears dead soft. We are now trying to decide whether to alloy it and cast it, or use it as cores for swaging.
Do you plan on mixing the "dead soft lead" with WW or anything to toughen it?
We use cast bullets in 9mm, 38 Special, .40 S&W and .45 ACP with no problems, but want something that won't lead at .357 and .44 Mag velocities. We also have swaging dies for .223, .243, and .30 cal.
I've looked into Free Chex--which are made from aluminum cans, etc. but there appears to be mixed results.
I have 2 of the FreeCheck tools. One was made for a modified 358156 with a larger than normal shank. The .004-.005" pop can metal is working very well. The other is for .375" boolits. I am using them in my 375 Super Mag at 1400 FPS. No problem with leading and they work well BUT I use cat food cans for the stock and it is .008-.009" thick. I have yet to master the laminated checks. I intend to try them in a 375 Winchester soon to further test them in the 2000 FPS range.
To make a long story short--my buddy recalled using something back in the 70's that would flatten a copper disk (he used pennies) and then a die that would form the flattened penny over a cast bullet to make a gas check or jacket, depending on bullet size.
Has anyone seen anything like this, or tried this?
Sorry...no I haven't. Seems like they would be even more labor intensive than the FreeCheck tools.
I know today's pennies are mainly zinc, but they're also much cheaper than gas checks by a factor of 3 or 4.
The FreeCheck tools run about $30 and with the thicker material, I am very satisfied with the results to date. To me the downside of them with pop cans is one has to laminate them. I have seen guys say they do this with no problem. I guess I am challenged!
Thanks,
Utah Smitty