Range Scrap for 38 and 45?

[Jon]

My wheel weight supplies are sporadic at best, and I've started using range scrap.

I'm shooting 4gr Bullseye and 230RN in the 45 ACP and 3gr Bullseye in 158gr SWC for my wife's 38spl revolver. So far I haven't noticed any abnormal leading. Am I asking for trouble with this recipe? It seems that most recommend at least 50/50 for non BP loads.

Thanks

[ktw]

I've been using range scrap (mostly 22lr scrap, ~8-9 BHN) for target and plinking loads in 38 special and 45 colt.

You shouldn't have any problems in revolver loads if the bullets fit the throats and you don't try to ramp up to high velocities.

If you have a mold that throws marginally big enough with WW alloy you might want to check that it throws big enough with the range scrap which, in my experience, throws a slightly smaller diameter.

You may also have to work a little harder to get good fill-out in the molds but a little more heat will solve that.

-ktw

[Jon]

Thanks, I just needed a sanity check.

[fredj338]

Range scrap can vary quite a bit depending on what is shot at your range. I find most average RS is close to 50/50 lead/clip ww, so it owrks great for 38sp & 45acp or any bullet under 1000fps. Water drop it & it can run to 1200fps.

[Jon]

It's mostly jacketed bullets with some cast. I don't have a hardness tester, but I'm guessing it would be close to pure.

[evan price]

The range scrap I get varies from lot to lot depending on how much cast boolits have been shot, but it is pretty soft.
That said, in low velocity, low pressure stuff like 45 acp and 38 special, or the slow Cowboy type loads, range scrap works good as is, but maybe a bit of tin to get the mold happily filling out if needed.
For 9mm and magnums, I stick to water dropped WW alloy.

[Fugowii]

I've melted range scrap twice. One I skimmed the scrap off the top of an outdoor range and it came
in around 10BHN, just about the same as my wheel weight stuff. This is a range where very little .22
is shot. The other was two buckets given to me that looked like it was taken from an indoor range
trap. That batch came in around 8 BHN. Either one I would shoot out of the .45 and .38. Add a
little tin (1.5%) for fill out and it should be good to go.

[captain-03]

RS is about all I use now in my plinking 38spec loads .. no problems so far after several thousand ..