View Full Version : Just filled a 5 gallon bucket with lead... question
nitrohuck
06-03-2014, 07:14 PM
I just went and emptied the bullet traps at my local range... I didn't know what I was in for.
I brought a five gallon bucket thinking I might be able to fill it a quarter to MAYBE a half way full... Long story short, I had to finally stop when I reached the brim of the bucket :)
The lead pieces and lead dust have filled the entire bucket in, there are no air gaps...
So now some math...
A five gallon bucket contains 1,155 Cubic Inches,
1,155 cubic inches of pure lead weighs 473lbs
This is not pure lead however, it is range scrap and wheel weight alloy, so I am imagining the weight will be slightly less...
Any idea how much weight I might be working with here?? The damn thing literally took me four tries to lift into my trunk, and I'm not exactly a weak person...
Tomorrow I'm heading back to grab about another 100lbs!
338RemUltraMag
06-03-2014, 07:26 PM
easiest way is to use a bathroom scale
dragon813gt
06-03-2014, 07:37 PM
Seems you learned a valuable lesson today. Never fill a bucket to the top. Always take more buckets then you think you will need. I never fill them more than halfway if I have to lift them.
Sgtonory
06-03-2014, 07:53 PM
My buckets of range scrap 80% full weigh around 120 lbs
imashooter2
06-03-2014, 08:02 PM
I predict it will be under 200 pounds. There is a lot of air in there.
nitrohuck
06-03-2014, 08:15 PM
I predict it will be under 200 pounds. There is a lot of air in there.
There definitely is SOME air in there.... but I kid you not when I say a lot of this lead was pulverized into dust... that lead dust took up most of the empty air inbetween the bigger pieces...
My range has a metal backstop, bullets hit, pulverize, then the dust/pieces roll down into troughs at the bottom, so it's not like these are all large jagged pieces pulled from a dirt berm. I pick up the troughs and simply dump the whole thing into the bucket, I'd say each trough is divided 50/50 between "chunks" of lead and dust.
rondog
06-03-2014, 08:29 PM
Drop a 5gal bucket full of lead on your foot when the handle rips out, and you'll quickly determine the value of many buckets! One eats an elephant one bite at a time.
btroj
06-03-2014, 08:33 PM
A 5 gallon bucket level to the top with outdoors range scrap is right at 200 pounds. I fill a half dozen a year and they are consistent. You might have 225 to 250 depending.
No matter what it is a good hunk of lead.
imashooter2
06-03-2014, 08:48 PM
There definitely is SOME air in there.... but I kid you not when I say a lot of this lead was pulverized into dust... that lead dust took up most of the empty air inbetween the bigger pieces...
My range has a metal backstop, bullets hit, pulverize, then the dust/pieces roll down into troughs at the bottom, so it's not like these are all large jagged pieces pulled from a dirt berm. I pick up the troughs and simply dump the whole thing into the bucket, I'd say each trough is divided 50/50 between "chunks" of lead and dust.
Exactly the same as the scrap I get. There is a lot of air in there as well as dust and dirt that aren't lead. I'll stick with my prediction. [smilie=1:
nitrohuck
06-03-2014, 09:13 PM
This is sort of like "guess how many jelly beans are in the jar"....
except it's way better :)
I don't have a scale at my house but when I get this thing hauled up to my buddies to smelt it I think we'll have to see if he's got a scale to try!
krallstar
06-03-2014, 09:26 PM
How much do you think a 5 gal bucket filled to the top with nothing but flattened cast boolits. No dust no jackets just cast
btroj
06-03-2014, 09:59 PM
About 200 to 225 pounds. It is hard to say as I haven't picked up many flattened bullets with no jackets.
bangerjim
06-03-2014, 10:04 PM
Never fill a 5 gallon plastic bucket over 1/2 full of lead anything!!!!!!
banger
Jack Stanley
06-04-2014, 03:33 PM
I once recovered a five gallon bucket of lead that some thought full soul long ago had long ago poured molten lead into . The bucket had long since rusted away , I don't remember what it weighed but it was about like wrestling with an eight cylinder engine . I don't mean a short block either !!!
I "fixed" the problem by building a pot around it and melting it down , I believe it was near four hundred pounds but I wouldn't swear to it .
Jack
imashooter2
06-04-2014, 05:02 PM
Probably more hand holds on an engine too. :)
Whitespider
06-04-2014, 05:13 PM
Drop a 5gal bucket full of lead on your foot when the handle rips out, and you'll quickly determine the value of many buckets! One eats an elephant one bite at a time.
A bucket?? Heck... I dropped a 5# ingot on my foot the other night... brought tears to both eyes.
Joe504
06-04-2014, 05:18 PM
A half pound ingot will hurt too, if you drop it in your lap! Who wears ppe fie that while casting?
dragon813gt
06-04-2014, 05:26 PM
A bucket?? Heck... I dropped a 5# ingot on my foot the other night... brought tears to both eyes.
This is why I started wearing my steel toe boots when smelting and moving lead. I had to move 680#s from my carport to the attic garage over Memorial Day weekend. I only put 42#s in each bucket, used to two to balance the load, and it still kicked my butt. I would rather make ten trips at really reduced weights then one trip w/ a heavy load.
snuffy
06-04-2014, 07:12 PM
A bucket?? Heck... I dropped a 5# ingot on my foot the other night... brought tears to both eyes.
Was that after drinking all those beers?
dragon813gt
06-04-2014, 07:15 PM
Was that after drinking all those beers?
And the circle is now complete :beer:
bedbugbilly
06-04-2014, 07:24 PM
Let' s see . . . .
One 5 gallon bucket of lead = 1 rather nasty hernia = 1 hospital surgical stay = $20,000.00 (estimated of course depending on your geographical location and medical care services)
At 200 lbs (average estimate) per bucket divided in to $20,000.00 = $100.00 per pound (before processing expenses)
At approximately 42 rounds of 160 grain boolits per pound . . . that comes out to about $2.38 per boolit . . .
Maybe the Lone Ranger knew something we didn't by making his out of silver?
Sounds like you have a good source for the range lead that will offer a lot of good shooting for you . . . just take more buckets next time! LOL
Eddie2002
06-04-2014, 07:36 PM
Just don't forget to bring a handtruck and a helper this time.:-P
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