Hardness of range scrap lead.

[tazman]

I recently acquired four 5 gallon buckets of indoor pistol range scrap lead.
Does anyone have experience as to what hardness I can expect with this after smelting and casting?
I don't have a hardness tester.
This will be used for 38 special and 9mm.
I do have some clip on wheel weights I can add if needed.

[R.M.]

No need to add any WW. If it came from pistol ammo, you should be able to turn it back into pistol ammo.

[dikman]

Seems logical. All you're doing is re-casting it into what it was before. The only thing to watch is how much of it is .22 stuff. A little bit won't matter, but if you have a lot it will "water down" the alloy, i.e. reduce the tin/antimony content overall. I have a lot of pistol range scrap (not a lot of .22 in it), and while I can't give a hardness figure it's significantly harder than pure lead.

[tazman]

Thanks for the replies.
I was hoping that would be the case.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Besides 22lr ammo being soft, most Plated bullets are soft, as well as most Jacketed pistol bullet.
I've bought Range scrap from a member here, and it measures 8 BHN.
YMMV

[Bigslug]

For .38, 9mm, .45ACP, non-Keith .44 Specials, non-Blackhawk .45 Colt, and things of that ilk, you'll be good to go with range scrap. Save the wheel weights for the hotter stuff.