What's up with lead?

[Kid Stanislaus]

I haven't cast any bullets in about a year and I've heard there's no longer a lead smelter in the US. Is anybody having trouble gettin lead?

[alfred1222]

There wont be a problem getting lead. Most commercial manufactuers use reclaimed lead, and most of the lead that people use to reload at home is also reclaimed. There wont be a shortage, AFAIK

[Germz]

I actually just found a pretty much infinite source for me. I've gathered 100+lbs in the past two days and If I wanted to keep that up I probably could for the forseeable future. I'm not concerned in the slightest.

[mkodama]

Worst case, just melt down a dead car battery. That should leave you with about 15-40 pounds of lead.

[anyracoon]

I would not mess with car a battery. Fumes will do you in!
Here is a link. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ht=car+battery

[the86d]

One more way for the gub-ment to charge more environmental fees for disposal, and higher-taxation on new ones?

[Whiterabbit]

I actually just found a pretty much infinite source for me. I've gathered 100+lbs in the past two days and If I wanted to keep that up I probably could for the forseeable future. I'm not concerned in the slightest.

good on you!

OP, I just cast up a bunch for the holidays. mail order reclaim lead from other shooters. Turn bullets back into bullets.

The system works.

[Germz]

Yea don't source lead from batteries, you're asking for a lot of unecessary hydrogen and arsenic poison gases being released. besides, the lead from car batteries is no good; too many impurities once melted.

If you need lead, like I said I have literal tons (range scrap) at my disposal.

[uhlan1]

That plant produces nothing for the ammunition market. Hi-tech and medical.

[mkodama]

I would not mess with car a battery. Fumes will do you in!
Here is a link. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ht=car+battery

Hmm, I wouldn't have guessed the alloying elements and the electrolyte would make for such bad lead for bullets and terrible gasses. I learned something today.

[Whiterabbit]

yep, and its a shame. With Li-ion, Ni-MH, and all sorts of alternatives to SLA hitting market plus an aging and retiring fleet of SLA products hitting surplus stores and the junkyard, batteries would be a GREAT source of lead for us.

Alas, unusable. And the real sources for decent lead, printshops and tire stores, are drying up. Combine that with the full recycle mentality where everyone pays for everything and contracts cover everyone's stash for stuff. Hard to get a foothold. Hopefully Germz guards his source and keeps them buttered up. If the price is good, it's worth a case of beer every half ton or so..