I Quit

[ioon44]

I have pretty much stopped looking for WW and rely on my bullet traps to recycle my lead but when I shoot matches, I lose that lead.

[MrWolf]

My back decided I was done collecting. I still have to smelt what I have lying around - someaday. I did enjoy collecting and smelting so it was not considered work. I have about 2,000 lbs smelted that was real fun moving out here about six and a half years ago.

[gwpercle]

About two years ago my free unlimited wheel-weight source retired from the Tire business and sold his two shops .
I have been stretching my COWW supply with soft lead 50-50 for the past 5 or 6 years . I probably have a lifetime supply left but if I don't I'm going to go old school and shoot a simple Tin/Lead mix .
According to the 1936 book "Sixgun Cartridges & Loads" the following Tin/ lead alloy's should cover most needs :
1 / 25 - most revolver , light loads and normal pressure Target and Plinking (bhn 9)
1 / 20 - most revolver, light and normal pressure loads , up to 999 fps (bhn10)
1 / 16 - heavy revolver and magnum loads 1,000 fps + (bhn 11)
1 / 10 - Auto-pistol and rifle boolits (11.5 bhn)

If I ever need tin-lead alloy I'm pretty sure one of these will work .
And I still have a big box of Printer's Type from a print shop that went over to more modern means of type setting ...and the owner gave me all his old line-o-type !
Gary

[firefly1957]

Obama had ordered all lead mines closed though the EPA ,Trump changed the rules allowing them to stay open or reopen. I think there was further progress because lead is an essential defense item even with changing to lead free ammo.

[StrawHat]

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.

Wheel weights used to be okay for handgun boolits, unless you were competing. Even when the lead ones were plentiful, they were never a repeatable source.

For rifles and when I was shooting PPC, I always bought from RotoMetals or similar source. Easier to duplicate the recipe.

Kevin

[Land Owner]

According to the 1936 book "Sixgun Cartridges & Loads" the following Tin/ lead alloy's should cover most needs :
1 / 25 - most revolver , light loads and normal pressure Target and Plinking (bhn 9)
1 / 20 - most revolver, light and normal pressure loads , up to 999 fps (bhn10)
1 / 16 - heavy revolver and magnum loads 1,000 fps + (bhn 11)
1 / 10 - Auto-pistol and rifle boolits (11.5 bhn)

gw - You know best what works for you. This is no criticism - just my $0.02.

As I started out to cast, everyone here said read, read, and read some more. I found a strong recommendation of 2% tin, which is 1:50, as indicated by Rob Applegate & Gary Fryxell on page 36 in their From Ingot to Target - A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners.

In today's inflated cost, insufficient supply, and increased demand, those without a stockpile may question the amount (in particular the cost) of the Tin to use, which cost has heretofore been 10 times more than lead. Everyone comes to terms with their own velocity, hardness, and cost. Certainly, my way (49-49-2 percent Pb-WW-Sn) is not "the only way", but, (imho) is pretty good for my means and the way in which I shoot.

[WILCO]

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

Congratulations Danny!!!!

Not sure the last time I made an empty.

[lightman]

I probably have 2 or 3 lifetimes of lead stashed away and I still get it when its available. I no longer search for it but I still take it when the opportunity presents itself. A buddy brings me a bucket of weights about every 6 or 8 weeks from an old source. Maybe I'm different but I rather enjoy sorting stuff and sorting weights doesn't bother me. Also, I'm still getting 55-60% lead.

I see several post that mention not knowing what you're getting, ect. Me and a buddy get together once a year and smelt the past years accumulation of scrap. I melt in batches of 350-400# and send BNE a sample of every batch to test. I'm still seeing the same alloy.

Some may call me a hoarder and look down on me for still getting lead but anything I leave behind will go to another caster after I'm gone, not to the scrap yard.

[dverna]

I probably have 2 or 3 lifetimes of lead stashed away and I still get it when its available. I no longer search for it but I still take it when the opportunity presents itself. A buddy brings me a bucket of weights about every 6 or 8 weeks from an old source. Maybe I'm different but I rather enjoy sorting stuff and sorting weights doesn't bother me. Also, I'm still getting 55-60% lead.

I see several post that mention not knowing what you're getting, ect. Me and a buddy get together once a year and smelt the past years accumulation of scrap. I melt in batches of 350-400# and send BNE a sample of every batch to test. I'm still seeing the same alloy.

Some may call me a hoarder and look down on me for still getting lead but anything I leave behind will go to another caster after I'm gone, not to the scrap yard.

The people who look down on hoaders are idiots.

[35 Rem]

I don't spend much time sorting weights. I drop 'em in the pot and if they melt, I stir 'em in. If zinc melts who cares? I've never particularly worried about it especially to the point of sitting with pliers pinching each weight to check for hardness. If somebody is doing that, I can see why it would become too tedious to use current WW's. For me, using current WW's I'm more concerned with how many non-lead weights are in there from a total cost per pound of useable alloy. The local scrap yard sells lead for 30 cents a lb so I don't mind it at all if I only get 50% useable alloy. That is still darned cheap if you ask me. The problem is that even those buckets with 50% steel weights are getting few and far between.

Of course, as most are saying, if somebody is just now starting to cast, wheel weights are probably not going to be available enough to sustain their casting needs. I'm thankful I got into this years ago and packratted back enough to last the rest of my life years ago. Still if the scrap yard had 1,000 pounds available at 30 cents/lb, I'd jump on it if I had to borrow the money! And I'd never sell it at any price. Such is the mindset of a true hoarder. That mindset paid off well in 2020 when my family had 200 rolls of toilet paper while many others were burning gas every day driving store to store looking for a few rolls.

[Abert Rim]

I gather spent slugs at my club range. Keeps me puttering along as I don't shoot all that much. May go the Rotometals way here one of these days.

[Rickf1985]

I don't spend much time sorting weights. I drop 'em in the pot and if they melt, I stir 'em in. If zinc melts who cares? I've never particularly worried about it especially to the point of sitting with pliers pinching each weight to check for hardness. If somebody is doing that, I can see why it would become too tedious to use current WW's. For me, using current WW's I'm more concerned with how many non-lead weights are in there from a total cost per pound of useable alloy. The local scrap yard sells lead for 30 cents a lb so I don't mind it at all if I only get 50% useable alloy. That is still darned cheap if you ask me. The problem is that even those buckets with 50% steel weights are getting few and far between.

Of course, as most are saying, if somebody is just now starting to cast, wheel weights are probably not going to be available enough to sustain their casting needs. I'm thankful I got into this years ago and packratted back enough to last the rest of my life years ago. Still if the scrap yard had 1,000 pounds available at 30 cents/lb, I'd jump on it if I had to borrow the money! And I'd never sell it at any price. Such is the mindset of a true hoarder. That mindset paid off well in 2020 when my family had 200 rolls of toilet paper while many others were burning gas every day driving store to store looking for a few rolls.

I drop 'em in the pot and if they melt, I stir 'em in. If zinc melts who cares?
I care!!!
One or two zincs per 50 lbs. of lead is not going to make any difference but if you start adding in 15 20 per hundred then you will start having issues. The problem is compounded if that lead is sold down the road or scrounged from the berm at the range. Casters generally trust casters to have clean lead.

[lightman]

I don't spend much time sorting weights. I drop 'em in the pot and if they melt, I stir 'em in. If zinc melts who cares? I've never particularly worried about it especially to the point of sitting with pliers pinching each weight to check for hardness. If somebody is doing that, I can see why it would become too tedious to use current WW's. For me, using current WW's I'm more concerned with how many non-lead weights are in there from a total cost per pound of useable alloy. The local scrap yard sells lead for 30 cents a lb so I don't mind it at all if I only get 50% useable alloy. That is still darned cheap if you ask me. The problem is that even those buckets with 50% steel weights are getting few and far between.

Of course, as most are saying, if somebody is just now starting to cast, wheel weights are probably not going to be available enough to sustain their casting needs. I'm thankful I got into this years ago and packratted back enough to last the rest of my life years ago. Still if the scrap yard had 1,000 pounds available at 30 cents/lb, I'd jump on it if I had to borrow the money! And I'd never sell it at any price. Such is the mindset of a true hoarder. That mindset paid off well in 2020 when my family had 200 rolls of toilet paper while many others were burning gas every day driving store to store looking for a few rolls.

Lots of good points here!

I've sorted so many weights that I can tell most Zinc weights by looking. I do pick each weight up for a look-see. I start a small pile for the questionable ones and those are the only ones that I cut.

I know that a few Zinc weights won't ruin a batch but I strive for zero. And my burner will easily melt any Zinc weight thats on the bottom of the pot.

I'm also retired so I rather enjoy the sorting process. Plus my weights are free from the shop that I do business with. Although I do take them a box of donuts when I get a bucket from them.

[fredj338]

Yup, most ww are now zinc or steel or composite. So for me its berm mining at the clubs I shoot if I want useable, free alloy to cast. with. Though a buddy of mine came into about 2000# of lead sheeting he has melted down & we trade.

[fredj338]

I don't spend much time sorting weights. I drop 'em in the pot and if they melt, I stir 'em in. If zinc melts who cares? I've never particularly worried about it especially to the point of sitting with pliers pinching each weight to check for hardness. If somebody is doing that, I can see why it would become too tedious to use current WW's. For me, using current WW's I'm more concerned with how many non-lead weights are in there from a total cost per pound of useable alloy. The local scrap yard sells lead for 30 cents a lb so I don't mind it at all if I only get 50% useable alloy. That is still darned cheap if you ask me. The problem is that even those buckets with 50% steel weights are getting few and far between.

Of course, as most are saying, if somebody is just now starting to cast, wheel weights are probably not going to be available enough to sustain their casting needs. I'm thankful I got into this years ago and packratted back enough to last the rest of my life years ago. Still if the scrap yard had 1,000 pounds available at 30 cents/lb, I'd jump on it if I had to borrow the money! And I'd never sell it at any price. Such is the mindset of a true hoarder. That mindset paid off well in 2020 when my family had 200 rolls of toilet paper while many others were burning gas every day driving store to store looking for a few rolls.

While I have found a bit of zinc in the mix hurts nothing, a bunch can ruin the alloy. A friend of mine used to just crank the heat up & melt everything. He poured some into 15# bricks & gave me a few. Dropped one into 20# of alloy in my magma & froze the pour spout up. I had to get the rest of it up to 800+ deg to get it to pour. Waste of time but I did eventually add enough good alloy to it to get it to cast. I always sort my ww when I get them.

[fredj338]

Obama had ordered all lead mines closed though the EPA ,Trump changed the rules allowing them to stay open or reopen. I think there was further progress because lead is an essential defense item even with changing to lead free ammo.

I dont think its the mines that causes the shortage but the refining. I believe most of that is done in yes CHina.

[BrianL]

Third clearing of the 50 yard mulch trap this year. So far 87 lbs. The pistol trap is next and those are mostly 200- 230 gr 45 acp. Some of these have been downrange in some form several times. The Pure lead BP have their own trap
I actually bought 1000 225 grainers due to time constraints but now that I am retired, not again.

[Wheelguns 1961]

Third clearing of the 50 yard mulch trap this year. So far 87 lbs. The pistol trap is next and those are mostly 200- 230 gr 45 acp. Some of these have been downrange in some form several times. The Pure lead BP have their own trap
I actually bought 1000 225 grainers due to time constraints but now that I am retired, not again.

Tell us more about your bullet traps. Are they all mulch?

[BrianL]

They are pressure tanks from expansion tanks or compressor tanks. I cut off the tops. Take junk tires, cut the treads off and slice the sidewalls into chunks. I stand the tank up and line the outsides of the tank with the treads, dropping the sidewalls in to form the first (actually last) set of baffles. I pour store bouught rubber tire mulch in to about half the depth, add another layer of sidewall and more mulch, then cap it with plastic Wood pellet bags. I have welded up target frames for the fron and attached points to grab it with a chain to dump it. I have a set of pictures that I will share if you send an email. I have no luck attaching pictures here but, I do believe if you did a search of my posts, I think I may have posted this before.I have never had a bullet go all the way and that includes 30-06 armor piercing

[Wheelguns 1961]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!