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Thread: What do I actually have? Recommendations?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy HumptyDumpty's Avatar
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    What do I actually have? Recommendations?

    I just loaded up my truck bed with lead sheeting from a construction project. To be a bit more specific, a very old government building used this in the ceiling to block RF signals. Sort of a lead-foil hat, if I understand correctly.The men working inside were happy to let me haul away the "junk". Do any of you know more about this stuff, and how best to employ it for creating boolits? I want to use it for 45 Auto. It is very soft and pliable. I can't seem to get the pictures turned the proper direction, but hopeful they are still helpful.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20210429_062623.jpg   20210429_062617.jpg  

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Recommendation: Melt it down and consider yourself lucky.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  3. #3
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    My guess is that it bends very easily ---- almost pure if not pure

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    This is going to be nearly pure lead, likely a little antimony needed to help produce the product. This would be popular with bullet swagers or BP shooters. A little soft for 45 and wad cutters, but still probably usable. Mark your ingots clearly you have a nice product.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Grade C of sheet lead is 99.9% Pb. Grade B and A are alloyed but the Pb % is still above 95%
    The Lyman #2 alloy will work nicely for your reloads.
    Bookmark this link for future references on alloy mix’s and resulting hardness
    http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm#alloyrecipes
    Regards
    John

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy HumptyDumpty's Avatar
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    Well, that all sounds promising. I do some BP shooting, and can definitely don't mind a bit of alloying to increase hardness, if necessary, for my 45. This is the first time I've just stumbled across free lead in such a quantity (I've got 100+ pounds). They were still pulling the stuff out of the structure while I was there, so I may be able to grab some more over the next day or two.

  7. #7
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Get all of it you can.
    These opportunities don't come along very often.
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  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Mix twenty pounds of that soft sheet lead with one pound of thrift store pewter. I’ve run that same alloy in my 45 acp with great results.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    IIRC, over in the coating sub forum there are posts in the big HiTek thread (by Ausglock) about successful using pure lead HiTek coated 45 ACP cast.

    Free is good. For the cost of shipping, you could swap for harder lead, or sell and then use the proceeds to buy the same.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Good score. Make a lot of round ball out of that. If you know anyone who happens to swage 45 bullets they may be willing to work up a deal. Finished bullets for lead.
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  11. #11
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    If it was in the ceiling I would have it XRF tested. Pure lead would practically "drip" if it was attached to the ceiling. There must be an appreciable amount of antimony in there. And maybe TIN....If it is very old probably tin.

  12. #12
    Boolit Man Spooksar's Avatar
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    Used this in 1970 to line a office it pure as can get lead

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy HumptyDumpty's Avatar
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    Well, it's going to be a bit before I can experiment with he stuff, but I did return for some more. I dare say that I won't be running out anytime soon.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails FUll bed.jpg  

  14. #14
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    I bought shielding lead from Orisolo here on castboolits a while back... It was 92.5% lead and 7.5% antimony.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    By the looks of it, it doesn't look very dirty so hopefully it will be easy to melt.

    If you are into flintlock shooting you may want to cut a few strips and pound them thin to hold flints.
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check