I Quit

[snipecg21]

After smelting the last of the wheel weights I had, I took a look at what I got in lead compared to the effort to sort usable WW from all the rest of the crap. I have now come to the conclusion that it just ain't worth it anymore. I won't quit casting but unless someone gives me a bunch off roofing lead or similar I'm just going to buy from a reputable supplier from now on.

[Hannibal]

After smelting the last of the wheel weights I had, I took a look at what I got in lead compared to the effort to sort usable WW from all the rest of the crap. I have now come to the conclusion that it just ain't worth it anymore. I won't quit casting but unless someone gives me a bunch off roofing lead or similar I'm just going to buy from a reputable supplier from now on.

I came to the same conclusion some time ago. No question what the alloy is and as I don't have a private range any longer 50lbs lasts me a long time.

[huntinlever]

Been buying from Rotometals a long time now, for that reason.

[dannyd]

I have been buying lead from different sources for about 5 years, because trying to WW became to hard. Casting is still cheaper if you don't count your time and I like to cast, plus no unwanted surprises in the pot.

[imashooter2]

I feel for folks just starting out. Thank God I was lucky enough to put some on the shelf while the getting was good.

[atr]

I have been using late 60's and early 70's WW which I have been lugging around with me for years. That and a lot of sheet lead that I've also lugged around. I am glad I have saved both. I know for a fact that I have more lead than I will ever be able to cast and shoot before I pass on.
atr

[Winger Ed.]

All the smelting & such isn't for everybody.

I do, or more nearly did it when I could readily scrounge Lead almost by the ton.
Sure, it was more Lead than I'd ever cast & shoot in 3 lifetimes.
I did it as much to get out of the house and from in front of the TV as much as anything.

When scrap prices first went to $1.oo, I cashed in well over 1,000 pounds.
It made a noticeable dent in my stash, but I still had/have more than I'll ever make into boolits or fishing sinkers.
But it did add a nice contribution to what I call the 'Keep Winger Ed. from starving to death-- this week fund'.
And even left a few bucks to buy Whiskey and gun powder.

[WILCO]

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

[dannyd]

I feel for folks just starting out. Thank God I was lucky enough to put some on the shelf while the getting was good.

I have already shot 8,595 rounds this year, so nothing stays on my shelf to long.

[imashooter2]

I have already shot 8,595 rounds this year, so nothing stays on my shelf to long.

You just need a bigger shelf.

When I was younger, I managed to cast all I wanted to plink, shoot ICORE and USPSA and still put over 3,000 pounds in stores. Now old age and infirmity has snuck up on me and my casting and shooting is way down. I draw down on those stores to stay in the game, but at this point they will surely outlast me.

[firefly1957]

Recovered range scrap can be very useful but if you can it is best just to pick it off the ground mining the berms damages them .
I recently got 80 pounds of lead from a yard sale for 10 bucks some is ingots of dead soft the rest was cast into downrigger weights and seems to be hard alloy .

[HWooldridge]

I seem to recall the good old EPA shut down the last lead mine in the US of A some time back, so no telling where new ore is coming from and what might be in it.

[Kestrel4k]

I seem to recall the good old EPA shut down the last lead mine in the US of A some time back, so no telling where new ore is coming from and what might be in it.

The article below lists the five largest lead mines in the US for 2022, based on annual tonnage.
https://www.mining-technology.com/ma...-mines-the-us/

Perhaps you were thinking lead smelters, not lead mines - they aren't the same.

-----

https://www.miningweekly.com/article...ths-2023-05-17
"The country has five lead mines in Missouri, and lead is produced as a by-product at two zinc mines in Alaska and two silver mines in Idaho. These mines include the Renco Group’s Sweetwater mine in Missouri and Teck Resources’ Red Dog mine in Alaska."

[HWooldridge]

The article below lists the five largest lead mines in the US for 2022, based on annual tonnage.
https://www.mining-technology.com/ma...-mines-the-us/

Perhaps you were thinking lead smelters, not lead mines - they aren't the same.

-----

https://www.miningweekly.com/article...ths-2023-05-17
"The country has five lead mines in Missouri, and lead is produced as a by-product at two zinc mines in Alaska and two silver mines in Idaho. These mines include the Renco Group’s Sweetwater mine in Missouri and Teck Resources’ Red Dog mine in Alaska."

I’m happy to be corrected, it would be a strategic mistake to close all of our domestic lead mines.

[dannyd]

I seem to recall the good old EPA shut down the last lead mine in the US of A some time back, so no telling where new ore is coming from and what might be in it.

Unfortunately same with your food

[slim1836]

I quit refining lead into ingots a few years ago after I came to the conclusion I have enough in ingot form to last me to the end. I'll still acquire any lead in any form if it's free. The wife can scrap it after I'm gone.

Slim

[Charlie Horse]

Like others have said, glad I stocked up when the getting was good. I've still got two 5 gallon buckets of linotype in the shed.

[john.k]

When I was at school,one teacher was a bullet caster ,and he used to offer the dumb kids a way to get a pass mark by bringing in lead scrap...........the dumb kids could also get high marks for bringing in old muzzle loaders .

[dverna]

Never got into the scrounging WW thing. Just easier to buy known alloy. Did a bit of range lead for a while but I had more money than time and stopped doing that too.

I have about two tons now and will soon turn 73. That will make over 180k bullets. Should last my lifetime.

I built a trap to reclaim lead but doubt I will use it much.

[poppy42]

I still get ww for free, and scrap the junk for $.15 a pound. But it is getting harder and harder to get a decent amount of usable lead from a bucket full!