At the moment I'm sitting next to pot of range lead waiting for it to melt. I've noticed before that every once in a while, I will get a completely intact jacketed bullet that will squirt lead inside my pot. I'm guessing it builds up pressure until it ruptures somewhere. I'm wondering if anyone has ever had one pop or "explode?" If that's a risk I should probably wear a little extra safety gear...
Melting down range lead
- Thread starter Fnusa
- Start date
I always separate all the jacketed bullets that appear or seem to be whole and give them a couple of wollops with a hammer. I find that this keeps them from creating pressure when I throw them in the pot and I also make sure they are the first in the pot that way if there is any that does creat pressure there is no lead in the pot to squirt. The addition of protective clothing and accessories is never a bad idea when working around molten lead.
FrankenMauser
New member
All FMJ or fully plated bullets get squished with linesman's pliers to cut the jacket on the side, or the tip gets cut off entirely.
I have heard of a few popping spectacularly and more lead than expected splattering more violently than expected. But, I've never seen it, personally, from a jacketed or plated bullet (a hail storm, yes, but that's another story). I've always cut the jacket/plating as a precaution.
I also usually give range lead anywhere from 6 months to more than a year to dry before it goes in my pot - which always starts cold for range lead. (Usually more like a year to a year and a half.)
The first time I melted some range lead down, the pile had been sitting in my garage for more than a month, in the middle of summer, and had been mined from a dirt embankment that hadn't seen water in over two months.
I still had sizzling, hissing, and visible steam coming from the pot...
It should have been bone-dry, but there was, I assume, still water trapped inside some jackets. So, I give it plenty of time to dry, now. I haven't had an indications of moisture in the pot since going to the longer drying time.
I have heard of a few popping spectacularly and more lead than expected splattering more violently than expected. But, I've never seen it, personally, from a jacketed or plated bullet (a hail storm, yes, but that's another story). I've always cut the jacket/plating as a precaution.
I also usually give range lead anywhere from 6 months to more than a year to dry before it goes in my pot - which always starts cold for range lead. (Usually more like a year to a year and a half.)
The first time I melted some range lead down, the pile had been sitting in my garage for more than a month, in the middle of summer, and had been mined from a dirt embankment that hadn't seen water in over two months.
I still had sizzling, hissing, and visible steam coming from the pot...
It should have been bone-dry, but there was, I assume, still water trapped inside some jackets. So, I give it plenty of time to dry, now. I haven't had an indications of moisture in the pot since going to the longer drying time.