I was casting the other day with a lyman #2 mix.
The pot was running low and I threw about 5 pounds of lead shot in pot and finished casting. Bullets look good to me. I only use these in low velocity pistol loads.
I thought I read some time ago that lead shot was very hard. Anyone have any info on this?
Thank you.

As far as I know, lead shot is ~98% pure lead and ~2% arsenic. Watch the fumes! I use lead shot for 1150 fps or less cast bullet loads in several rifles and pistols. I find ~1150 fps is the leaded barrel point.

Lead shot sometimes contains antimony to improve hardness but the proportions vary from one grade of shot to the next. Arsenic may improve hardness a tiny bit but mostly it is there because it occurs naturally in lead ores so it will be there whether you want it or not, except for highly refined laboratory grade pure lead.

Lead is toxic, antimony is toxic, and arsenic is toxic. Don't eat it, don't breathe it, and especially don't let your kids ingest it.

quote:

Originally posted by popenmann:
Arsenic may improve hardness a tiny bit but mostly it is there because it occurs naturally in lead ores so it will be there whether you want it or not, except for highly refined laboratory grade pure lead.

Lead is toxic, antimony is toxic, and arsenic is toxic. Don't eat it, don't breathe it, and especially don't let your kids ingest it.

mbirdm,

Arsenic is added to shot in trace amounts (less than 1%) to greatly improve spherical forming of shot when it is dropped in a shot tower. Without the arsenic the shot tends to form tear dropped in shape instead of spherical.

I echo popenmann's last paragraph with a strong caution to melting shot. Arsenic is bad stuff! Bad enough the other two are toxic "choir boys" in comparison! Please be careful melting shot!

BigRx

Thanks Guys.
I did not realize lead shot had arsenic in it.
I made 5 of the little lyman molds when I was done. Should I be careful when I cast again?
Will the arsenic still be there or does it disapate? Thanks again for the good information.
Much appreciated.
Michael

If you can cast outside to avoid the fumes. Many years ago my cousins German Shepard ate some of his wheel weights they had to take the dog to the vet it almost died. I have no idea what possessed the dog to eat led considering it had plenty of dog food available. Young children will also put anything in there mouth.

Be safe

I have heard, but have not confirmed, that "magnum" lead shot is the stuff with the higher percentage of antimony, and when this stuff is mixed with the proper amount of tin, makes GREAT bullets. I'm not sure if "regular" lead shot has any antimony in it, or not.

Most "chilled" or regular shot, especially if it is from Mexico (one brand of Mexican shot used to be called Pattern Perfect, it was to laugh) has zero to 1% antimony. What is called Magnum or hard shot usually has about 1 1/2% to 3% antimony. It substantially improves patterns by hardening the lead and helping the shot maintain roundness when fired (setback) and while scrubbing down the barrel.

About arsenic... Melt the lead and if you ever get a hint of garlic smell, that's the arsenic. The way to tell, is to melt the lead by not being around it, except to stir it. If you are around the pot during the melting, your nose won't pick up the garlic because the nose gets confused with the other stuff coming out of the pot. The garlic lingers, while the other smells tend to burn off nose wise. ... felix