Recyling at it's best.

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gamerancher » 29 Aug 2017, 4:32 pm

How I turn a few bags of scrounged "range" lead back into bullets. I pick these up mostly off pistol ranges and other ranges where a lot of cast bullets are used. I try to avoid picking up anything with copper jackets but a few get through.

Raw melt.jpg
Raw melt.jpg (178.29 KiB) Viewed 2832 times


All dumped into my raw melt pot and set on the gas ring as hot as it will go.
When it gets close to being all melted down, I start stirring it up and begin scooping the crap out. Rocks, dirt, copper jackets and gas checks will all float on top. Any FMJ's are quickly dragged out. It is amazing how many you find even though they are banned on the ranges I pick. :unknown:
At this point I will drop a piece of pure lead in, if it melts down straight away, I will scrap any bullets that have not melted down yet. It indicates to me that they may be of dubious composition and I don't want it in my mix.

Fluxed and clean.jpg
Fluxed and clean.jpg (172.96 KiB) Viewed 2832 times


That saucepan full of crap came out of about 55kg of range lead. It was about 10kg worth.
Next step is to start casting ingots for more manageability and use in my electric casting pots.
I use a small aluminium saucepan which has had a spout bent into one side.

77+ lbs ready for the pot.jpg
77+ lbs ready for the pot.jpg (192.02 KiB) Viewed 2832 times


This melt gave me 77+ pounds of ingots. I only use this in my lever-guns and get very good results with it.
I find that the more you melt down, ( i.e. the larger the batch ), the more consistency you will get.

I only use pure foundry supplied lead and tin for casting bullets to use in my BPCR's.
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gwion » 29 Aug 2017, 4:36 pm

Good stuff!
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gamerancher » 29 Aug 2017, 4:38 pm

Just tryin' to do my bit for the environment. ( We won't talk about how much I put back out there.) :lol: :drinks:
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Noisydad » 29 Aug 2017, 4:45 pm

Gamerancher wrote:Just tryin' to do my bit for the environment. ( We won't talk about how much I put back out there.) :lol: :drinks:

I reckon in my club there's actually only 200 kg of lead between the 160 of us - it just does a lot of laps up and down the range! :lol:
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gwion » 29 Aug 2017, 5:02 pm

Gamerancher wrote:Just tryin' to do my bit for the environment. ( We won't talk about how much I put back out there.) :lol: :drinks:


:lol: :drinks: :friends:


Hey Noisy, sound's like you have a good arrangement at the club! :clap:
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gamerancher » 29 Aug 2017, 5:09 pm

That's usually my goal Noisey, try to pick up more than I send down.
Usually other peoples though, as mine "always" hits the target and there 'aint much left of it. ;) (tongue firmly in cheek) :thumbsup:
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Strikey » 29 Aug 2017, 6:36 pm

Gamerancher wrote:That's usually my goal Noisey, try to pick up more than I send down.
Usually other peoples though, as mine "always" hits the target and there 'aint much left of it. ;) (tongue firmly in cheek) :thumbsup:


Hahaha, your bullets always hit their targets??????? Didn't realise you were a comedian ol' mate, now what were the rules of the Ramslammers??? :sarcasm: :allegedly: :drinks: :drinks: :drinks:
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by bigpete » 29 Aug 2017, 6:44 pm

Do the same when I can :D
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Gamerancher » 30 Aug 2017, 10:18 am

Now , now Strikey, there is a disclaimer there.
Lucky I'm not an "in touch, informed, socially aware and switched on" millennial or that would be an upsetting comment. :lol: :drinks:
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by YoungBuck » 30 Aug 2017, 1:23 pm

That is cool, am honestly impressed. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Recyling at it's best.

Post by Deco » 03 Oct 2017, 10:00 am

That's an awesome photo of all the ingots layed out.

Like bars of gold from a heist movie :mrgreen:
Browning X-Bolt Hunter in .270 Winchester
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