OT- Bullets for lead

[Andrew]

I have bought recently 1000 cast bullets for reloading(whenever that gets started...) because I saw that the price of them+shipping was less than I could find online in the line of lead ignots before shipping. Ingots that would have to be melted down and cast before use. No brainer there. I also ran accross some more real recently(about 5min ago..) that were not of the caliber I needed.

"Hmmmm" I thought to myself, "If I can get the lead bullets for cheaper than lead, then I would still be ahead getting them and melting them into .50 Maxi-ball, .490RB, .457RB and what ever .452SWC mould I get in the future".

Kind of an "imperialistic" approach to getting the Pb that I need: find, conquer, assimilate. It feels kinda backwards, but, it makes sense in monetary terms.

Anybody else ever bought cast stuff cause it was a cheap way to get your lead?

[Rusty]

Andrew I never have but then I have a pretty good source for WWs. From the list you have there you have some BP stuff and some smokeless stuff. Does that mean you're not shooting pure lead in your ML's?

[Andrew]

Andrew I never have but then I have a pretty good source for WWs. From the list you have there you have some BP stuff and some smokeless stuff. Does that mean you're not shooting pure lead in your ML's?

Not that I know of. All the stuff I have shot has been factory ML bullets. I will be sure to ask them about the mix or lack of before recyling them and then, probably still may keep them organized apart.

For all intents and purposes I would like to stick with pure lead as much as possible to keep it simple(KISS). Plus, the paper can't tell the difference anyway.

I don't cast yet, but I am reeeeeeaaally close to it.

[Marc]

Blackpowder bullets and balls are generally soft. Either pure lead or a tin lead mix. Commercially cast bullets for modern guns are usually harder and sometimes much harder.

[Rusty]

If you're going to be pushing that .452 SWC past about 850 FPS I think you'll want something harder than pure lead.

Melting down already purchased bullets should OK for that but make extra sure you have plenty of good ventilation as that much bullet lube will sure make smoke. There's nothing wrong with the lube it will generally serve to flux the pot.