Casting with Zinc...Pennies

[atl5029]

Hi all, back from a lengthy hiatus.

I've been reading a bit lately about people starting to cast with zinc to create bullets that can be run at jacketed speeds and do not need gas checks. An application I am looking at specifically is casting for 8.6 Blackout to make some cast supers that won't spin apart that would be good analogues to all coppers for inexpensive target practice. Other than newer zinc wheel weights, I'm not sure where else you would get scrap zinc, then pennies hit me. Legality aside, has anyone tried to melt modern pennies (97.5% zinc) and cast with them?

[Winger Ed.]

That popped into my head too when I saw some video about modern pennies not being Copper any more.
A guy hit a old and a new one with a regular propane torch and the new one melted like it was made out of wax.

There's a bunch of videos on youtube about casting boolits with Zinc.
One thing to note is that a Zinc boolit will weigh about 60% as much as one from the same mold cast with Lead.

[racepres]

Note: last I knew...Federal offense to Deface US Currency... Just a note

[colchester]

I have a couple buckets of lag shields that I think are zinc, if you are interested send me a PM and Ill get the weight and give them the acid test

[Winger Ed.]

Note: last I knew...Federal offense to Deface US Currency... Just a note

It's your money.
You can do with it whatever you want........ put it out in the street and set it on fire if you feel like it.
But if you deface or alter it with the intent to defraud someone then it can be very problematic.

Destroying your own money is one of those crimes that never gets enforced.

[racepres]

It's your money.
You can do with it whatever you want........ put it out in the street and set it on fire if you want...
but if you deface or alter it with the intent to defraud someone then it can be problematic.

Interpret however you want... Even putting pennies on the railroad track became an Issue... and...It is Not your Money... sorry... you are using it...Only.
While Not a Safety NAZI, I do Not make a Habit of Inviting Trouble... once a Federal "incident" is on yer record...It don't go away...No Conviction nor even trial necessary....
Rant Over....Carry On....

[Winger Ed.]

The truth often doesn't stand a chance against a well established myth.
But it is easy enough to look up..........

[OS OK]

I used to put pennies on the RR Tracks back in the late 50's...the only thought I had then was..."Is it worth it to have an oblong penny to carry in my pocket or is it worth 'not' being able to buy that big juicy chunk of Double-bubble gum?"

[hoodat]

Note: last I knew...Federal offense to Deface US Currency... Just a note

Yeah, and you would think it should be a Federal offense to destroy the US dollar like they are. Biggest counterfeiting scheme in history. jd

[dtknowles]

It cost the government a bunch of money to create currency. If you destroy it they have to spend our tax dollars to make more. It already gets lost and destroyed faster than one would hope.

Plenty of zinc scrap around to make bullets or you can buy it from a metal supply house. The company I work for just bought a huge chunk to machine to make a mold for a composite part.

Tim

[AlaskaMike]

When melting a zinc penny, can you reclaim the copper plating, sort of like reclaiming bullet jackets when melting range scrap?

[Winger Ed.]

When melting a zinc penny, can you reclaim the copper plating, sort of like reclaiming bullet jackets when melting range scrap?

I don't think they're done like the 'sandwich' coins, and are just plated like those Susan B. Anthony dollar coins are.
If it doesn't melt on into the Zinc, there probably isn't enough to bother with.

There was a interview a few years ago with the head of the Treasury Dept about the idea of doing away with pennies all together.
Part of his argument to keep them was it cost the govt. less than one cent to make them.
He argued that they were convenient compared to rounding everything to a nickel,
and with a big smile, he said the govt. actually made a few bucks by producing them.

To keep coins from having a face value less than their value as bullion--
that's why the Copper content of pennies has been going down for several years,
and why we have the sandwich coins for quarters, 50 cent pieces and dollar coins.

In the old days, melting down solid coins for bullion value was a break even deal at best.
That changed, and 1964 & older Silver coins were pulled out of the market as quickly as the govt. could get them back.
With any of our modern day production coins, melting them down for scrap prices is a losing deal.

[Kosh75287]

I'M just wondering what solid Zinc projectiles are likely to do to a firearm's barrel.

[toallmy]

I would think a fellow caster could get all the zinc they could use casting zboolits from members , possibly for the costs of a flat rate USPS box shipped . Much cheaper than 1¢ pieces

[rustyshooter]

Note: last I knew...Federal offense to Deface US Currency... Just a note

False. This is not true. Easy enough to look up. I’ve been making $65 Morgan silver dollar coin rings for years and the Seceret Service hasn’t shown up yet!!!

[atl5029]

I am aware of this, which is why I said they would be a good stand in for all copper boolits that the 8.6 requires for supersonic loads.

[405grain]

I'm not even going to jump in on the zinc coin controversy. But I was thinking, aren't consumable anodes like they put on boats made of zinc? Besides those lousy newfangled tire weights, zinc anodes might also be a source for zinc.

[Winger Ed.]

I'M just wondering what solid Zinc projectiles are likely to do to a firearm's barrel.

Should be less 'wear and tear' than Copper jackets or solids do.

[Winger Ed.]

Seceret Service hasn’t shown up yet!!!

They're just gathering enough evidence to come after you in a black helicopter.
You might want to go hide under the bed.

[durango]

I'm not even going to jump in on the zinc coin controversy. But I was thinking, aren't consumable anodes like they put on boats made of zinc? Besides those lousy newfangled tire weights, zinc anodes might also be a source for zinc.

Yes, and on that auction site we all hate, zinc ingots are getting some ridiculous bids. I haven't checked it lately, but I'm thinking in the neighborhood of $6-$10/lb. That being said, I'm thinking real hard about melting down a 32 lb box that I have on the shelf.