Help !!! What is the difference in these leads?

[Southern Shooter]

I have a variety of material for casting. What can ya'll tell me about these different lead/alloys? Compositions? Bhn? Best uses? ect...... I just don't want to waste these materials.

1) clip-on wheel weights

2) stick-on wheel weights

3) shotgun slugs of various brands

4) material melted from various jacketed bullet both jacketed hollow points and and FMJs

5) lead roof jacks(looks like a vent pipe on a roof) and lead plugs

The calibers I cast for are .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .454 Casull

Thanks

[canyon-ghost]

Clip on wheelweights are an alloy around 5-9 bhn. The rest are mostly pure, except the slugs, no clue on those.

Stick on wheelweights are pure, soft lead. So are most cores from jacketed. Roofing lead should be real soft, pure lead.

Good Luck,
Ron

[clodhopper]

Shot gun slugs are mostly soft lead, formed by swaging.

[KYCaster]

I have a variety of material for casting. What can ya'll tell me about these different lead/alloys? Compositions? Bhn? Best uses? ect...... I just don't want to waste these materials.

1) clip-on wheel weights
Vary a bit by region, but generally .5% Sn, 1.5-2% Sb, a bit of As and several other elements in small amounts.

2) stick-on wheel weights
Most sources say they're soft, but I've found them to vary widely in composition, from dead soft to COWW or even harder.

3) shotgun slugs of various brands
Most are pure Pb, but some are harder.

4) material melted from various jacketed bullet both jacketed hollow points and and FMJs
Varies a bit depending on mix, but generally a little softer than COWW.

5) lead roof jacks(looks like a vent pipe on a roof) and lead plugs
Most lead sheet has some Sb (.5-2%). The seams are joined with Pb/Sn solder, usually 50/50 or 60/40.

The calibers I cast for are .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .454 Casull
I'd throw it all in the pot together. Maybe add a little Sn if you think it will help with fill out. If you want a harder boolit, your alloy should heat treat pretty well.

Thanks

Good luck,
Jerry

[Southern Shooter]

Thank ya'll !!