Casting Rifle balls with wheel weights

I didn't mean to open a can of worms. I do appreciate the replies though. I have a bunch of wheel weights, the steel ones just float up and get skimmed and set to the side. I've only smelted one pot of the stick on's and good lord that was a STINKY process, so I've only been melting the clip ons. But I will go through an separate them. I'll cast up a few .457's out of the clip ons and see how the ROA likes them though.
 
Coupla problems.
Loading hard alloy round balls with the on board loading lever can and eventually will cause harm to the gun.

I attempted to make my 454 RBs shiny a few years ago and added some lino to make them shine.

I had 4 chain fires before it dawned on me what my problem was. Went back to dead soft and have had no problems since.

Cast them hard if you wish and good luck to you.
 
Noz,

I mentioned in a previous post that loading hard lead on the gun was tough on the gun and I use a loading press. Chain fires occur from the rear (go ahead and argue the point if you wish) and I have not had one attributable to my hard cast balls since 1978. YMMV. Good luck to you too, and do it the way that makes YOU happy! I only relayed my experiences.
 
Deerslayer

IMHO, there is no need to hesitate about raising this issue.

Each time it comes up, a new entrant wades into the discussion and I am personally happy for the additional points of view.

I think I feel as though the best test of lead mixtures is what works for the individual shooter and only after careful consideration of all of the factors that are important to him or her. This assumes that the shooter is well informed and willing to try new things.

In some cases pure lead is hard or expensive to get and to the guy who wants to shoot inexpensively, bullet metal that is down to about 95% is tolerable if not optimal.

It does make sense that a hard metal bullet might be more likely to shave an incomplete ring, and therefore add to the likelihood of hot gases migrating into the front of the chamber. I shoot metal which I think is about 10 or 12 hardness based only upon what I think the percentage of other metals is (which is not even a SWAG) and I have had only one chain fire, in my life which I think came from a poorly fitting cap.

I do agree that harder metals make the loading process more potentially damaging to the pistol if you load with the lever. This is an excellent example of something I learned from the fist fights that develop on this forum. I was once an avid loading lever guy, swearing that a loading press is an unacceptable compromise made only by pantywastes who can't hack it. I have now changed my tune completely based exclusively on the coments of persons on this forum. I load only with a press and I think I can hear a feint "Thanks a lot, dude" from the arbor on my Colts every time I load.
 
No argument from me. All of my chain fires came from the mouth of the chambers. Witnessed. In every case the fired chamber had an unfired cap on the nipple.
 
Lead from City/ San Fran & others Shower Pans

Anybody work with the lead pans of Shower pans?

I'V had access to TONS! of this and Old Lead Toilet:rolleyes: Drain pipes,that connect to the Flange.

I am sure the lead goes into the water supply from the drains to the ground water and then brought back up for some to drink,but that is another deal to think about, EPA issues and all. Sorry I digress.

Just wonder if anybody has worked some of this material into the Range?

I get it in Sheets and people/Companies that do HOT Mops as well have connections to this.

We have pulled it out of Sunset/ Ca homes in San Fran and there are other places that used to be full Union, 50-100 yrs back which homes where done in this material.
No days they are Liners of plastic and such, but still today, re-modelers are taking out old Very soft thin Lead liners which can be 99 percent Lead.

I can let people know where to find these companies if need be. Most times the people involved toss it away, do to it being dangerous, in general. In San Fran, all/ ALL these sort of materials are Health issues and Liability issues, like Asbestos, so people are tossign it all and running from the problems around it.
It is for the taking and so if you are using some of this, let me know and or need more information on this Lead, LMK, maybe I can help Lead/Leed(LOL) you in the right direction.

Best regards !
 
I used to scrounge for old lead drain pipes to use for casting round balls for my muzzleloader.

They're pure, or virtually pure, lead and did very well.

I'm sure that old shower pans would also work very well.
 
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