Local Police Range

[ThomR]

I just got permission to reclaim bullets from my local police range. This is a private range that is not open to the public. They shoot around 9,000 rounds of 40 and 45 for their qualification a few times a year. Should be able to get at least two or three pounds of lead out of there.

[Wheelguns 1961]

Good going!

[ThomR]

Good going!

I am going on the 4th. I'm probably going to spend several hours there.
The nice thing about it is that it's less than a mile from my house.

[Grmps]

Any Idea what the backstop is like? Clay, gravel, sand, rocks?

You may want to bring help, a shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, sifting screen (preferably hanging from a 2x4 A-Frame, several 3-gallon buckets (5 gal is too heavy)

[ThomR]

Any Idea what the backstop is like? Clay, gravel, sand, rocks?

You may want to bring help, a shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, sifting screen (preferably hanging from a 2x4 A-Frame, several 3-gallon buckets (5 gal is too heavy)

Honestly have no idea what the backstop is like. You have to drive up over a small hill to get to the range so it can't be seen from the road. I plan on buying a shovel and more buckets. I have a heavy duty metal grate that I'm going to attach a metal screen to that has quarter inch holes.
Based on what the chief told me I calculated that they roughly put 300 pounds of lead in the berm for their qualifactions, plus all the times the individual officers go out and train. I should be able to get a significant amount of lead out of there if all goes well.

[lightman]

It sounds like a good source for you. Take lots of buckets so you don't have to move full buckets. If my memory serves me, a full bucket will be 200-240#! A 2 wheel dolly would still be nice unless you can drive right up to the backstop. Forth of July! Take lots of water! And Good Luck!

[CastingFool]

There are places where you can get free buckets, but you will have to clean them out. When I need buckets, I visit the bakery at our local Meijer. Walmart will have them, too, but they charge $1 per bucket, but they will be very clean.

[Dusty Bannister]

You are very fortunate to now have access for mining. I have a brass source, but they have with held permission to mine the berms because of "liability". I try to leave things cleaner after having been there. Your range officer will probably appreciate it if you can pick up some trash while you are building your stash. If you are fortunate, you might develop a source for removing their fired brass from the range as well. Just let them know you are interested. Some agencies are required to trade in their range brass when buying fresh ammo. Others just store it until they run out of room because many scrap dealers pay so little for it. Good luck and be careful in the heat.

[Grmps]

▲▲▲+1 ▲▲▲ IF you want to be able to go back, I would spend extra time leaving it looking better than when you got there.

[ThomR]

I've already been given permission to pick up the brass after their next qualification.
I've got a week off of work in a couple weeks. I might end up going back to the police range and getting some more lead if it ends up being a good source.

[Leadmad]

Along with good advice above look after your own health too, mining can be a dusty operation and change of clothes/coveralls and dust mask will come in handy, good luck hope you do well

[richhodg66]

I mine a lot of lead from a pistol rang that is mostly FMJ bullets. It's a certain amount of trouble rendering it down due to the jackets, but I have found the lead in FMJ bullets seems to be harder than I expected.

I've been saving the jackets with the intent of trading them to a scrap yard on town for lead. No idea what I can get for them, but not really looking for money, so hopefully I can make them worth something.

[jaguarxk120]

Doing a rough calculation, 9,000 bullets at 180 grains

each should net you about 230 pounds of lead.


The 45's should sweeten the pot. Great find!

[ThomR]

I ran out there earlier to check it out. It's a dirt berm with two very heavily used shooting spots. I bought a shovel and more buckets yesterday before work. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

[Grmps]

clip all bullets that don't have hollow bases or points,
put a guard over the top of your smelting pot just in case you missed a couple
flux sever times with wax and pine sawdust to get all the lead out of the jackets
the jackets are worth around $1.30 a pound at the scrap yard if you clean them.

Here, police shoot some non-lead projectiles. I wouldn't recommend smelting these :(

Best of luck

[lightman]

I ran out there earlier to check it out. It's a dirt berm with two very heavily used shooting spots. I bought a shovel and more buckets yesterday before work. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Good Luck, and don't get overheated. I don't know where you are but around here it is misureable hot and humid. If you regularly work outdoors you know what to do. If not, start drinking some water before you leave home and continue to do do. A Gatorade along the way won't hurt. Early is better than mid day. Just pace yourself. Like I said, be careful and Good Luck! Oh Yeah, we like pictures! Lead porn ya know!

[ThomR]

clip all bullets that don't have hollow bases or points,
put a guard over the top of your smelting pot just in case you missed a couple
flux sever times with wax and pine sawdust to get all the lead out of the jackets
the jackets are worth around $1.30 a pound at the scrap yard if you clean them.

Here, police shoot some non-lead projectiles. I wouldn't recommend smelting these :(

Best of luck

I usually smash them with a three pound hammer on a piece of railroad track.

[ThomR]

Good Luck, and don't get overheated. I don't know where you are but around here it is misureable hot and humid. If you regularly work outdoors you know what to do. If not, start drinking some water before you leave home and continue to do do. A Gatorade along the way won't hurt. Early is better than mid day. Just pace yourself. Like I said, be careful and Good Luck! Oh Yeah, we like pictures! Lead porn ya know!

Southern Illinois. Forecast for tomorrow is 95 degrees. I work in a hot environment, but I plan on taking lots to drink and taking frequent breaks to make sure I'm not getting overheated.

[ThomR]

Well I went out to the police range this morning. The berm is made out of clay and was wet so it was pretty hard to get lead out of it. My sifter was basically worthless. I ended up just picking up bullets as I saw them. I don't think I did too bad for an hour and a half of work. I'll melt it down later and get a total on the weight.
223124

[ThomR]

Managed to get 8.2 pounds. Not bad for just picking them up. I checked the weather and the next ten days are supposed to be sunny. I might try going back out there next weekend to see if the berm has dried up any.

[Grmps]

You may want to think about modifying your sifter to something like this and hang it from 3 2x4s in an A-frame. sides will keep the material in, and hanging it will save on your back (lead gets heavy fast). you my want to bring a garden rake or a grub rake to rake the surface, breaking it up as you rake your way into the berm.
[my 2¢ worth]https://i.imgur.com/l9ztZQ9.jpg

[ThomR]

You may want to think about modifying your sifter to something like this and hang it from 3 2x4s in an A-frame. sides will keep the material in, and hanging it will save on your back (lead gets heavy fast). you my want to bring a garden rake or a grub rake to rake the surface, breaking it up as you rake your way into the berm.
[my 2¢ worth]https://i.imgur.com/l9ztZQ9.jpg

I need to make a better sifter for sure. I hadn't thought about the grub rake. I need to go get one of those.

[dbosman]

In my experience, lead expands when heated. If there are no folds or cracks in jackets or plating, there will be after there is molten lead for them to float on. Do cover the melt pot though, just in case. I'm also assuming you always start with a cold rendering pot and never add after you start heating - to avoid hidden water.


I usually smash them with a three pound hammer on a piece of railroad track.

[ThomR]

In my experience, lead expands when heated. If there are no folds or cracks in jackets or plating, there will be after there is molten lead for them to float on. Do cover the melt pot though, just in case. I'm also assuming you always start with a cold rendering pot and never add after you start heating - to avoid hidden water.

I always put the range scrap in a cold pot, usually with a lid on it. If the range scrap is wet or may contain hidden moisture I will only melt down as much as I can fit into the pot at one time. I never add range scrap to an already melted pot.

[lightman]

Managed to get 8.2 pounds. Not bad for just picking them up. I checked the weather and the next ten days are supposed to be sunny. I might try going back out there next weekend to see if the berm has dried up any.

I was really hoping you would make a big score. But, every little bit helps. Theres a learning curve to mining berms and its different with every soil type. I expect you will refine your tools and methods and continue to pick up more and more.

I really miss the days when Bullseye Shooting was in its heyday. All of those 185-230 grain bullets just laying there!

[jsizemore]

I've been saving the jackets with the intent of trading them to a scrap yard on town for lead. No idea what I can get for them, but not really looking for money, so hopefully I can make them worth something.

I got red brass price for mine.

[mold maker]

I also used to get the red brass price because of the small amount of lead left on the jackets. I always figured it was just a way to reduce the payout more than an actual grade.

[ThomR]

I was really hoping you would make a big score. But, every little bit helps. Theres a learning curve to mining berms and its different with every soil type. I expect you will refine your tools and methods and continue to pick up more and more.

I really miss the days when Bullseye Shooting was in its heyday. All of those 185-230 grain bullets just laying there!

If the clay berm wasn't soaking wet I am pretty sure I could have gotten a lot more lead out of it. I might try running out there next saturday and try again.

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: Used to go out to the shooting range in my home town.Got a lot of FMJ stuff,but also a lot of lead.Reason?It was the old Navy machine gun range,from WW2.Mostly .45ACP,.30 and .50 cal stuff.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Plate plinker]

If the clay berm wasn't soaking wet I am pretty sure I could have gotten a lot more lead out of it. I might try running out there next saturday and try again.

Mining clay is probably like farming clay. You will have a short window of "easy work" its either rock hard or soaking wet. You might invest in a pick axe. Hack into the sweet spots and see what you come out with.

Keep us posted this is always a interesting story.

[Grmps]

just brainstorming, if it's dry and hard, take a mantis type small rototiller and break the clay loose.

or https://www.amazon.com/True-Temper-4-Tine-Cultivator-163034000/dp/B006JRTZ4K/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1531078465&sr=1-2&keywords=4+Prong+Cultivator

this has a thousand uses.

[ThomR]

I'm going to stop by the police department tomorrow and talk to the chief about cleaning up some of the branches that are hanging down in front of the berm. There are a lot of small trees and shrubs growing on top of the berm, and some of them have started hanging down in front.
I have a week off of work starting the 16th, so I hope I can make it out to the range to do a little cleanup work and get some more lead.

[ThomR]

On a side note, I have a friend that works at a hospital who is going to check the xray and nuclear medicine departments for any lead they may want to get rid of.

[lightman]

Those isotope containers make nice bullets. And its really clean lead.

[nagantguy]

I was years ago a consummate berm miner, as it was my only source of lead but than I learned the local scrap yard sold lead at just above spot price and I than inherited several thousand pounds of Lyman #2 alloy and when I became a firearms instructor we built an indoor range with a handy lead “collector “ which is a series of baffles and all than precious metal drops into a barrel outside!
Keep at it; it was always very satisfying to mine my own lead, didn’t need to go to the gym on days I did! Lead that used to be bullets or boolits tends to make good boolits; and you can always sweeten the mix with your preferred alloy to make your favorite flavors!

[ThomR]

Those isotope containers make nice bullets. And its really clean lead.

It's a pretty good size hospital. I'm really hoping she finds a bunch of lead there.

[ThomR]

I was years ago a consummate berm miner, as it was my only source of lead but than I learned the local scrap yard sold lead at just above spot price and I than inherited several thousand pounds of Lyman #2 alloy and when I became a firearms instructor we built an indoor range with a handy lead “collector “ which is a series of baffles and all than precious metal drops into a barrel outside!
Keep at it; it was always very satisfying to mine my own lead, didn’t need to go to the gym on days I did! Lead that used to be bullets or boolits tends to make good boolits; and you can always sweeten the mix with your preferred alloy to make your favorite flavors!

I'm going to try to spend more time at the police range. Hopefully I can bring home 20 pounds or more.

[Petrol & Powder]

I think you'll have better luck when that clay dries out. It's harder to dig when it's rock like BUT it will also separate from the lead easier.

[ThomR]

I think you'll have better luck when that clay dries out. It's harder to dig when it's rock like BUT it will also separate from the lead easier.

That's the plan.

[JoeJames]

[smilie=s: Used to go out to the shooting range in my home town.Got a lot of FMJ stuff,but also a lot of lead.Reason?It was the old Navy machine gun range,from WW2.Mostly .45ACP,.30 and .50 cal stuff.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
LeoI'd wonder about tracers though. Should that be a concern?

[woodbutcher]

:smile: Hi Joe.If the base of the slug looked different from plain lead,I just left it laying.Better safe than sorry.One of the lellows that helped me a bit was one of the repair shop guys from the base during WW2.He had some very interesting tales to tell.Like using surface cruising sharks for strafing practice.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[ThomR]

Texted the chief today and asked about cleaning up the range. He said contractors are going to be redoing the whole berm at the end of the month. He wasn't sure if they were going to be reclaiming the lead or not as they were still in the bidding process. Maybe I'll finally score in a few weeks.

[Postell]

If the clay berm wasn't soaking wet I am pretty sure I could have gotten a lot more lead out of it. I might try running out there next saturday and try again.

Where I mine lead it's clay and under the first two inches of soil its always wet and hard.
I use a trenching shovel and I skim the top three or four inches of soil and fill buckets up with it. When I get home I then fill the buckets up with water and let them sit overnight. I use a 1/2" drill motor with a drywall mud paddle and in reverse I turn the dirt into thick mud.
I then hold a garden hose that is running slowly while I mix the mud with the drill motor. Very shortly your fine gravel and lead will be on the bottom with the bullets and chunks of lead above the fines.
You need to hang on to the bucket with your feet, but it works well and it's quick. I stack buckets all summer and melt during the winter.
I have a small containment area so I can bring back the dirt that's recycled to the range the next trip in the buckets I fill back up.
I average 22 to 35 lbs of lead, jackets and fine gravel out of each five gallon bucket of range dirt.
In mine the 10 and 25 yd pistol ranges for the best results, the rifle ranges the lead is a huge amount of lead fines and I have never gotten near the poundage per bucket.
PS, if you try it make sure you spin your drill backwards, otherwise you will be wearing mud from your knees down. [smilie=b:

[nicholst55]

I'd wonder about tracers though. Should that be a concern?

Any tracers SHOULD have burned out when they were fired, but if they were old enough, they may have failed to ignite. I would exercise caution with anything that doesn't look like standard FMJ bullets.

[2011redrider]

I have the same deal at a local police range. It has about 10 yrs of lead in it. I usually go once a month when my old agency is shooting. Get there a couple hours before they setup. Usually get 5 to 6 5 gal buckets at 3/4 full. I have just been raking it down off the berm cause there is so much of it there. They are about 90 lbs each and are easy to manage with a dolly and a small trailer. I always help with their brass pick up and they usually let me keep it, they have a lawnmower style brass collector. It makes quick work of the brass as they have astro turf o n The first 25 yards of The range.
Going tommorrow to get a fresh supply and test some rounds when I am done.

[ThomR]

Where I mine lead it's clay and under the first two inches of soil its always wet and hard.
I use a trenching shovel and I skim the top three or four inches of soil and fill buckets up with it. When I get home I then fill the buckets up with water and let them sit overnight. I use a 1/2" drill motor with a drywall mud paddle and in reverse I turn the dirt into thick mud.
I then hold a garden hose that is running slowly while I mix the mud with the drill motor. Very shortly your fine gravel and lead will be on the bottom with the bullets and chunks of lead above the fines.
You need to hang on to the bucket with your feet, but it works well and it's quick. I stack buckets all summer and melt during the winter.
I have a small containment area so I can bring back the dirt that's recycled to the range the next trip in the buckets I fill back up.
I average 22 to 35 lbs of lead, jackets and fine gravel out of each five gallon bucket of range dirt.
In mine the 10 and 25 yd pistol ranges for the best results, the rifle ranges the lead is a huge amount of lead fines and I have never gotten near the poundage per bucket.
PS, if you try it make sure you spin your drill backwards, otherwise you will be wearing mud from your knees down. [smilie=b:

I might have to give that a shot.

[sargenv]

Instead of making something that might be too large for sifting a lot of stuff, I went to my local restaurant supply store and picked up a round wire fry basket that has a 1/4" mesh gap. I can sift about 25-30 pounds per "scoop" out of our berm, shake it well and I get a good amount of junk sifted out of the lead in this manner. I'd used the box with 1/4" mesh before and the fry basket just seems easier..

[Reloading Rod]

The berms I get lead from are also clay and sand, I bought a metal cat litter scoop and just do a scoop at a time. I can usually get 50 or so pounds pretty quick.

[ThomR]

Ran out to the police range and got 5 five gallon buckets maybe 2/3 full of range mud. I have them filled up with water and will begin to process them tomorrow.

[ThomR]

Waiting on it to dry out. If I plan on mining clay berms in the future I might consider making a small sluice box, or similar device. I wonder if I could use an old cement mixer with a bunch of 1/4 inch holes drilled into the drum with water constantly being pumped into it.
223714

[mold maker]

Tip the mixer to the point that lead ALMOST exits with the water. The mixer action will release most of the clay and the outflow of water will carry it away.
I used this method on several tons of range scrap in dense NC red clay. The resulting lead looked like fresh indoor range scrap.
The dross was also greatly reduced as much of the oxide was also removed.

[ThomR]

Tip the mixer to the point that lead ALMOST exits with the water. The mixer action will release most of the clay and the outflow of water will carry it away.
I used this method on several tons of range scrap in dense NC red clay. The resulting lead looked like fresh indoor range scrap.
The dross was also greatly reduced as much of the oxide was also removed.

I didn't end up getting the mixer. I got about two thirds of everything melted down yesterday before I ran out of propane. I should end up with around 25 pounds of lead.
Today I'm planning on making the hour drive to Indiana and stopping in a few tire shops to see if I can score on some wheel weights.

[lightman]

Good Luck on your wheel weight run! Keep a watch out for the small Mom and Pop shops and any small scrap places.

[ThomR]

Managed to get at least some wheel weights. I went to three tire shops. One of them just said no, one gave me what's in the photo, and one said they sell all of their used wheel weights to the scrap yard in town.
223763

[Grmps]

" one said they sell all of their used wheel weights to the scrap yard in town. "
Ask how much they get, most scrap yards pay around .25¢ a pound. remember current yield after removing FE and ZN (steel and zinc) is around 60%.

[ThomR]

" one said they sell all of their used wheel weights to the scrap yard in town. "
Ask how much they get, most scrap yards pay around .25¢ a pound. remember current yield after removing FE and ZN (steel and zinc) is around 60%.

I thought about that after I had already left. Next time I'm over there I might stop by again.
I left a five gallon bucket with my name and phone number on it at the shop that gave me the wheel weights. Now I need to go sort them.
I have a bunch of steel and zinc wheel weights from the last couple times I got wheel weights. I might run them up to a scrap yard that sells lead tomorrow and see what they will give me.

[ThomR]

I got them all sorted. Total weight with the steel clips still attached and the bucket is 58.2 pounds. Not bad for a quarter tank of gas and a little time.

[Grmps]

Don't forget those jackets are copper and cleaned up are worth around $1.30 a pound at the scrap yard.

[ThomR]

I got all the range scrap melted down earlier. Both trips combined I ended up with right at 30 pounds of lead. I haven't weighed the copper jackets.
I've gotten quite a bit of lead in the last month or so. 30 pounds of range scrap, ~50 pounds today, and ~20 pounds from a local junk yard.
All of it was free, minus the time and labor. That's enough to last me for a year or more.
I'm going to the scrap yard on Wednesday. I'm going to see if I can get some Tin. I'm going to need some if I plan on buying a hollow point mold.

Is there anyway I can test with basic materials to see how much Tin or Antimony is in my range scrap?

[Grmps]

TRY CASTING @ 720° If you don't get fill out you need more tin/pewter.

I'd suggest you keep mining the berms in your free time and build your stockpile while you can:)

[ThomR]

TRY CASTING @ 720° If you don't get fill out you need more tin/pewter.

I'd suggest you keep mining the berms in your free time and build your stockpile while you can:)

My little propane stove doesn't have a temperature gauge on it. I need to invest in a bottom pour pot eventually.
I need to run up to the police station tomorrow and talk to the Chief. Hopefully I can get a bunch of lead at the end of the month when the contractor comes through.

[lightman]

Most of us that have lead stashed away did just like you, got it a little at a time. Big scores are nice but are also a lot of work. Theres not much of a way to tell the content of your alloy at home. Grmps suggestion is about as good as any. Also consider doing something for that shop that gave you the weights. A box of donuts sometimes goes a long way.

[ThomR]

Most of us that have lead stashed away did just like you, got it a little at a time. Big scores are nice but are also a lot of work. Theres not much of a way to tell the content of your alloy at home. Grmps suggestion is about as good as any. Also consider doing something for that shop that gave you the weights. A box of donuts sometimes goes a long way.

Next time I go over there I'll take them some cookies or donuts or something.

[ThomR]

Ran up to the scrap yard today. I took all the junk wheel weights, and three old car batteries. I came home with 26 pounds of pure lead. I'll try to get it melted tonight along with the range scrap I picked up yesterday.
I think the title of this thread should be renamed to ThomR's never ending quest for more lead!
223846

[mjwcaster]

A tip I just picked up here a few months ago-
Add baking soda to the water/clay/dirt soup in your bucket.
It causes the clay to break down.
Mix it up a few times, I just dump from one bucket to another.
After it is all mixed up good and liquidy, let it sit and all the dirt will fall out if suspension.
This sure made separating clay out much easier.
Still messy though.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Postell]

A tip I just picked up here a few months ago-
Add baking soda to the water/clay/dirt soup in your bucket.
It causes the clay to break down.
Mix it up a few times, I just dump from one bucket to another.
After it is all mixed up good and liquidy, let it sit and all the dirt will fall out if suspension.
This sure made separating clay out much easier.
Still messy though.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting, Thanks.