Alloy or Trade?

[Gliden07]

I'm still new to casting, and got into the game late! Like most of my fellow casters finding lead is getting more and more difficult! Have had some pretty good scores but with time it will get worse. I've been mining Range Lead from the club I belong to (I have permission), every time I go to shoot I try and take a quart size paint can of lead home with me. I have about 40 lbs so far. My question is should I alloy this lead? Or should I Ingotize it and trade it for WW Ingots?

If I alloy it what is a good recipe?? I shoot IDPA with a 1911, 45ACP, thats all I'm casting for now. Probably will expand to include 38/357Mag and 9mm in the next year. Still have a decent amount of ammo for those 2 yet and most of the time I do shoot the 1911.

Should I get a hardness tester or do the pencil thing? Another thing I have a couple bags of shot that was given to me could I use this to alloy with or again trade for WW's.

Thanks!

[MBTcustom]

If you are mostly gathering up jacketed bullets and melting them down, you have close to pure lead. Buy some linotype (a little dab-l-do ya) and some tin (if you can afford it).
However, you could probably shoot that stuff out of your 45ACP without any problems, or if you add a gas check, you could run it about 1500-1800FPS in a 30-30.

[Kskybroom]

I mixed 80lb of range scrap with 25lb of chilled shot an 1lb solder (60/40)
Work ok, check around in this site for posts on mixing alloys..
Get a idea an try it. You can allways remelt it an add ..

[Lloyd Smale]

I use it for low velocity (38,44spcial, 45acp) just as it is or if i want a bit harder bullet for the acp i water drop it. Works great as is for these applications.

[btroj]

I use range scrap straight for handgun bullets. Never had any issues. My range scrap is probably 80 percent jacketed bullets, the hardness isn't an issue.

My suggestion is to try Using range scrap straight, even water drop it, before deciding if you need something else.

[dragonrider]

Before you buy anything else, cast and shoot with what you have. Your barrel and target will tell you what you need to do.

[Gliden07]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll make some boolits and try um!

[sbeatty1983]

Ive used quite a bit of range scrap for my 45acp. I water drop and never have any leading issues with my kimber. My load is a 200gr SWC with 5gr of Win 231. According to the manuals it is right about 800fps.

[Arkansas Paul]

Before you buy anything else, cast and shoot with what you have. Your barrel and target will tell you what you need to do.


I agree with this. Just don't push it to crazy velocities. The .357 may be pushing it, but it will be easy enough to tell and fix.