Jacketed boolit lead

[bslim]

I was lucky enough to pick up 800 lbs. of smelted lead from the inside of jacketed bullets. I don't normally smelt lots of different types of lead, so a hardness tester was not in big demand. Would anyone know if this type of lead is consistant in hardness between brands and what the hardness would be close to?
Thanks guys.

[Jim]

I've been smelting range lead for three months. A friend has tested it for hardness a few times since I started and the BHN is running right around 10 consistently.

I will add, though, that there is quite a bit of cast boolits in the mix. The presence of additives will change the BHN. From what I have been told, the bullet mfgrs. use very soft lead for the filler in jacketed bullets. If the lead you have came exclusively from jacketeds, it might be considerably softer.

[bslim]

The lead is 100% from jacketed bullets.

[grullaguy]

100% from jacketed should be between 5 and 7 BHN.

[evan price]

In my testing of 75-pound lots of range scrap which may contain cast boolits as well as 22s, shotgun slugs and shot, etc. I wind up with BHN of 8-10 usually towards 8. It water drops to BHN 12 and seems darn near perfect for me.

If you want to make it great alloy I'm selling linotype metal for $1.25 per pound plus shipping in the Vendor Sponsor marketplace.

[Jailer]

The lead is 100% from jacketed bullets.

If it was from nothing but jacketed bullets is very close to, if not pure lead. I've got about 300 lbs in ingots of the same stuff and it won't even begin to melt until near 620 F.

Now if I could just find the time to melt the other 900 lbs I'd be all set.

[gbrown]

[QUOTE=evan price;1717635]In my testing of 75-pound lots of range scrap which may contain cast boolits as well as 22s, shotgun slugs and shot, etc. I wind up with BHN of 8-10 usually towards 8.]

+1 with this. It's just where mine comes in.

[bslim]

Thanks for the info. I'll mix it 50/50 with WW's and use it in my 45 LC & 38 spl. loads.

[evan price]

How about buying some of my linotype lead and mixing it 3 parts range scrap to 2 parts lino and having some great alloy? Shameless plug...

[blackbike]

I have found J bullet lead to be 99% to 98% pure.
BB

[handloder]

Several jacketed bullet manufacturers that purchase bulk lead wire/ingots for their bullet cores show certificates of analysis as 3%Sb/97%Pb (antimony/lead). The antimony gives the lead core much better terminal ballistics (as well as other properties) than 'pure' lead.

[evan price]

Several jacketed bullet manufacturers that purchase bulk lead wire/ingots for their bullet cores show certificates of analysis as 3%Sb/97%Pb (antimony/lead). The antimony gives the lead core much better terminal ballistics (as well as other properties) than 'pure' lead.

+1 to that, most jacketed bullets use antimonial lead to keep the core in shape better. All of my range scrap lots have been antimonious and not pure. Perhaps once they were pure (like once upon a time clip wheel weights had appreciable tin in them) but nowadays they are not pure.

[clodhopper]

I'm thinking that the 3%sb cores will be in rifle bullets desinged for deep penetration.
The soft lead in pistol bullets.

[bslim]

This lead is all from pistol bullets and if I compare it to pure lead, it's has a bit more shine to it but if I scratch both with my thumb nail, they seem to be comparitivley the same. I do appreciate the information.

[Hickory]

I went on tour of both the CCI/Speer plant in Lewiston, ID and Hornady plant in Nebraska and was told that, depending on the bullet and what it is used for, antimony is added to the lead of jacketed bullets, from between 0.50% to 1.50% to help control expansion and to make it easier to make the bullet.