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View Full Version : mixing and re-melting bullets for new mold?



wquiles
11-03-2014, 03:22 PM
I got a new 45-70 mold from Accurate arriving soon, and I noted I have a good amount (several hundred) commercial bullets that are now "surplus" in my inventory (most always too small diameter, not accurate enough, too much leading, etc.), so I figured why not remelt those and use that as a new "source" for my 45-70 bullets.

These are lubed, but I though I read that bullet lube is actually good to get the alloy to stay mixed while casting. Some are "moly lubbed", like these very old 45acp slugs:
http://m3coupe.com/Firearms/casting/IMG_20141103_125003.jpg


OK to mix/match and remelt these? Any special considerations (warnings) about the moly coated ones?

Will

Pb2au
11-03-2014, 03:32 PM
The only consideration I can think of is that it might be a little smokey when you melt them down, so I would suggest doing it with a small fan handy!

jhalcott
11-03-2014, 03:33 PM
I'd GUESS the moly would float to the top of the melt and scooped off. I have melted a ton of range pickups and "mystery metal" alloys with few problems. Melt a small portion to see what happens in another dispoable pot.

bangerjim
11-03-2014, 03:54 PM
Melt 'em down.

Moly will/can cause adhesion problems if you plan on powder coating later. But if you skim your melt well, it should float off with the pine sawdust flux (3x).

banger

leadman
11-03-2014, 03:55 PM
The moly will have to be fluxed out, just a little more time consuming than normal. The lube on the other boolits will be a big help in doing this so recommend you do some from both boxes at the same time rather doing the moly all at once.

pworley1
11-03-2014, 05:07 PM
I do it all the time. I will smoke but when you are through the mix should yield great bullets.

JSnover
11-03-2014, 05:29 PM
If you had several thousand I'd say try boiling them to get some of the lube off but where it's just a few hundred, the other guys are right; turn the old lube into smoke.

wquiles
11-03-2014, 10:53 PM
Thank you guys - will proceed with caution :)

mdi
11-04-2014, 01:41 PM
Lubed bullets = Self-fluxing lead...

Forgetful
11-04-2014, 02:37 PM
MoS2 will float in the dross so just scoop away. It should be immune to the temperature until around 900F. If anything, having elemental molybdenum in your alloy is slightly beneficial, if the sulfide were to react with say, any zinc present, producing zinc sulfide to be skimmed and depositing molybdenum in your alloy.

compass will
11-04-2014, 03:57 PM
Just watch for fire on top of pot if you throw too many in the hot mix at once.

45-70 Chevroner
11-04-2014, 07:34 PM
I think I would look for a trade on here, those bullets look pretty good to me. I think some one would trade you ingots at twice the weight of the boolits pictured. There appears to be more than 200 in each box.