Lead source - shotgun shells?

N

NINEX19

New member
OK, so I have been wanting to get into casting for a few years. Mainly for the fun of it and to possibly save a few dollars in the long run. The one thing that has prevented me so far from actually buying equipment and learning is sourcing lead. Where I am at, I can not seem to find any lead for sale (except for bulk shot at Cabela's for $2.28/lb) , let alone free lead from the usual sources. I can not seem to get the numbers to work out (not that I really have the time either), so I just keep shelving it.

So, I have been thinking and would like input on this. I am sure it is not an original idea and have not really seen any discussion on it before, so tell me where I am wrong on this train of thought.

So, I can go to Walmart and get Federal 12g shot shells right now for $4.94/ box of 25. These are 1.125 oz shot (#7, I think). What would stop me from cutting them open to melt and cast into say 158g for 38 caliber? Lead too soft or wrong alloy? Here is the math:
1.125 oz x 25 shells = 28.125 oz lead per $4.94 box
28.125/16 = 1.75 lbs of lead, so 1.75lbs is costing me $4.94 or $2.82/lb
(yes, this is slightly more expensive than buying bulk shot, but I get to keep what I don't want to cast in handy storage containers in the form of shotshells)
158gr bullet = .02257143/lbs
1.75lbs = 12,250 grains
12250/158 = 77.53
so a box of 25 shotshells for $4.94 will melt down to @77 bullets weighing 158 grains.
77/$4.94 = .06 cents each

I know I can not buy bulk precast lead bullets for 6 cents each, so it appears I would be ahead on that.

EXCLUDING factors of cost of equipment and my time, what is wrong with this idea? Thanks for your help.
 
It will work physically, a friend bought several hundred pounds of shot cheap from a dealer going out of business, He added tin and cast excellent bullets out of it. I don't know how well it will cast without the tin.

But why not just order a suitable alloy from Rotometals?
Lyman No 2 or 92-6-2 is $15.99 for 3 lbs. Buy $99 worth and they will cover shipping.
http://www.rotometals.com/Bullet-Casting-Alloys-s/5.htm

That would save a lot of labor vs cutting open shotshells, get you a good bullet alloy and be a wash on price if you consider sales tax.
 
Jim,
Very true. It would be a wash with the tax and it is already a correct alloy. I did look at them, but did not see the free shipping on $99.00.

I guess that kinda gives me the solution, unless someone has a lead on free lead sources.
 
Have you thought about buying lead on Ebay? Lots of sellers there are selling it and shipping in the USPS flat-rate containers (I'm sure that makes the post office employees really happy).
 
Doyle,
No, I don't mess with Ebay anymore. Ten years ago, yes. Too much fraud and then I would have to reactivate my paypal :mad: account.

Good idea, but not for me.
 
Have you thought about making friends with dentists and oral surgeons? Those guys frequently have to actually pay someone to come in and dispose of their lead. And, it's good clean lead too. I don't cast, but if I did those are the people I'd be hitting up for supplies.
 
Why not just buy ready made bullet alloy? Lead shot(especially the low priced shotshell pellets) is far too soft for usable bullets. By the time you buy the tin and antimony to harden the melted shot into a decent alloy, you've added appreciably to the cost of the metal.
We used to get all the bullet metal we needed from tire shops but no longer. Between the "lead scares" and the use of zinc in balancing weights and the demand, most tire shops either don't sell to walk-ins or ask a high price.
 
FWIW, for any projectile I cast that doesn't exceed say 1,500 fps, a 30 to 1 lead to tin alloy works just fine.

More important than alloy is size and adequate lube. It is my belief that the "hard cast" bullet is important to commercial casters more because of potential damage in shipping from bullets bouncing around than it is for actual use. Too, the hard lubes they use are not as effective as good old 50/50 beeswax/crisco lube, but these lubes are chosen by commercial casting concerns because they stay put in the grooves during shipping.

Once things start going north of 1,500 fps or thereabouts, alloy hardness and different lubes do factor in to the equation.

My experience. Do with it what you will. Have fun and be safe.
 
Call the roofers in your area. Re-roof jobs often generate lots of lead from the stacks and flashing. Many recycling centers sell lead to reloaders.
 
Any scrapyards around your area? I called one near me and they will sell me soft lead at $1/lb. Sure its not ready to cast since it will have to be alloyed, but a buck a pound is pretty darn cheap.
 
You'd be ruining the powder and primers. Secondly, the bullets will be no where near as hard as cast bullets from a maker will be.
 
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