I want to cast some pure led bullets to paper patch and shoot in my muzzle loader. I need pure lead to be soft enough to size through my size die and not tear off the paper jacket.

Where can I obtain some pure lead?

Perhaps post this question on the Cast Bullets forum on Accuratereloading?

I certainly don't claim to be an expert on the process but as I understand it, you put the paper patch on AFTER sizing the bullet and then after the patch has dried (if you use some kind of damping of the paper), then you seat it in case.

Cast, size, patch, lube is what I was told. I know that's how it's done with metallic cartridges.

BTW, to answer your question, rotometals will sell and send free all the lead you can use as long as you buy their minimum free shipping amount, which is currently roughly 60 pounds of 99.9% pig lead. They are selling a 55 pound ingot for $80, requires $99 purchase for free shipping.

In the past, I've gone to junk or auto salvage yards and they have been happy to give me old auto batteries. The plates are very soft lead, but I don't know if it is "pure" or not.
Cal

I have some ingots I cast from old cable sheathing. Very soft, but I cant tell you if it is pure lead or not.

Rotometals.

http://www.rotometals.com/Bull...sting-Alloys-s/5.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Norseman:
Perhaps post this question on the Cast Bullets forum on Accuratereloading?

Yep...I see I messed up now. Thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:
Cast, size, patch, lube is what I was told. I know that's how it's done with metallic cartridges.

I am no expert for sure...in fact...I am just attempting. But I am trying to follow Idaho Ron's (from here on AR) method and he resizes the bullet with the patch on for muzzle-loader use. And some people do for cartridges as well. Here is his video on his method.

Lane: I've bought "plumbers lead", which is supposed to be almost pure, from Gold Metal Recyclers on S Lamar in Dallas.n There is a Gold Metals location in Gainesvill on FM 371 (I think), maybe you can get it there as well.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:
Cast, size, patch, lube is what I was told. I know that's how it's done with metallic cartridges.

I am no expert for sure...in fact...I am just attempting. But I am trying to follow Idaho Ron's (from here on AR) method and he resizes the bullet with the patch on for muzzle-loader use. And some people do for cartridges as well. Here is his video on his method.

I use the same bullet for two ML rifles and size for both before and after patching using Lee dies.
The paper is surprisingly durable.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Lane: I've bought "plumbers lead", which is supposed to be almost pure, from Gold Metal Recyclers on S Lamar in Dallas.n There is a Gold Metals location in Gainesvill on FM 371 (I think), maybe you can get it there as well.

Thank you Karl! I will check on that. I drive by there everyday.

'theback40' sent me some ingots that I think will be just right!

It shows up over at Cast Boolits in the Sell and Swap section fairly often.

Tire shops

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
Tire shops

Can pretty much guarantee you won't be finding any pure lead in a tire shop

Didnt know they weren't pure lead, one close to me has buckets of weights laying about

Snag 'em if you can! Wheel weights are great for most cast bullet applications, other than those calling for pure lead. Wheel weights are pretty much an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony.

except the new ones. Many have zinc in them now.

I ran into a problem last fall. The company that supplies the local tire shops is now requiring the shops to turn at least 90% of the old ones when they order new. EPA at work, I suspect.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
except the new ones. Many have zinc in them now.

I ran into a problem last fall. The company that supplies the local tire shops is now requiring the shops to turn at least 90% of the old ones when they order new. EPA at work, I suspect.

Rich

My guess is that is really just a way for the supplier to replenish their raw materials cheaply and the tire co. gets the old weights taken away by the same guy delivering.

I finally bit the bullet and ordered pure and some aloys from rotometals.
I noticed that the best bet for pure clean lead at any scrap yard or recycler is stained glass window leading. The lead flashing and pipes I have been using have a lot of contaminants in them and unless you have a pretty big pot, it is a lot of work getting the lead clean and you still don't know what you truly have.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
Tire shops

Can pretty much guarantee you won't be finding any pure lead in a tire shop

I guess they are gone now, but I always thought the stick-on weights that were in vogue when alloy wheels first came out were pure lead. They aren't? And I am not being sarcastic; I sincerely don't know...

They were, but have been "phasing out" for quite a while now. I think (?) they're mostly a zinc alloy or coated steel now.

Here you go. but Shipping will probably cost $$$
http://panamacity.craigslist.org/spo/5421756859.html


I use this all the time: http://www.searchtempest.com/

I remembered I have dive weights but I use them when I do double hose vintage diving.
That's how I found mine

Good friend went to a ship yard bought a old beat up broken day sailer for parts, found 200+lbs of lead in the keel that he sold for scrap.
Just thinkin

I have seen several old sailboats sitting around with for sale signs on them. The issue is, I don't know how you would get one moved, and then, how to cut up a solid block of lead that might weigh several thousand pounds...!

Plenty of lead will be available in Flint, Mi. I just heard on the news today that they're starting to replace the first of 8000 home lead line water connections today for a projected cost of $50 Million or something over $6000 per connection. Our government at work.

Be careful of old car batteries. Anything newer than say around 1980, will contain Cadmium which is pretty toxic stuff.

and Wheel weights, many of the new ones contain Zinc. I didn't know this and ruined a batch of lead with some zinc wheel weights.

Sometimes scrounging just isn't worth the hassle.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Lane: I've bought "plumbers lead", which is supposed to be almost pure, from Gold Metal Recyclers on S Lamar in Dallas.n There is a Gold Metals location in Gainesvill on FM 371 (I think), maybe you can get it there as well.

I've used plumbers lead for many years for muzzle loaders both for round ball, and paper patched bullets in old black powder cartridge rifles. Plumbers lead is about as close to pure lead as you will find!

....................................................................

Cal, those old batteries may have some arsenic in them. I always csst with the garage door open when I'm not sure about lineage.

I have cast and paper patched probably 6-7000 .40 and .45 caliber projectiles. I always rolled on a little marble slab after soaking the patch in water and squeezing off the excess. I always cut patch to length of projectile. No tail and just a little fold over which shrinks to the bullet. Patch will adhere just fine.

On my false muzzle Ballard #6 cross-patch rifle I load a slightly undersize 38-55 projectile with the paper strips lubricated with Sperm Whale oil. Keeps them from tearing when I use the bullet seater and rod.

I love shooting paper patched bullets. Taken 4 white tails with an original Sharps Borchardt 45-70 sporter and 560 grain pp bullets over 68 grains of Swiss 2f.

I saw some soft lead collars for going around pipes that stick up through your roof at a local RP Lumber store.
My stash of soft lead is mostly old roof sheathing.
Commercial buses still use stick-on soft lead WW's. Maybe try the nearest city bus barn?

I've got several hundred pounds of plumbers lead cast into ~1 lb "lyman" ingots. PM me if you're in the market I can easily max out a few USPS flat rate boxes.

Thanks for the various sources. My dad left me with a few lead ingots, but when that runs out. . . . . .

UEG,get what you can while you can. I'm in O.K. shape as far as ingots go but if in 2020 the Dems take over there will be a lot of unavailable components.What a shame it has come to this;this was once a great nation with freedoms that needed no explanation.Sorry,I suppose that is 'Political Forum' stuff but I never go there.

Good, sage advice and wisdom.

P.M. me your address + I'll sent you a few 1 lb. ingots,no charge.

Roofing supply companies sell sheet lead - used for roof f;ashings - and I have found it very soft - pure lead I think. After my house got a new tile roof the roofers left about 50 lbs of the lead sheeting.

Thanks everyone. I have not checked this thread in a while as I got a good supply laid in.

Lane,if you change your mind,give me a shout.Be glad to help you out.I am in the sheet metal business after all.