22LR range scrap
- Thread starter waco
- Start date
I asked Glen Fryxell that question several years ago and this was his reply.
.22 lead is mostly lead, virtually no antimony and possibly about 1-2% tin.
In other words, pretty soft, that of course could change by mfg. and different types of 22 ammo but this is probably a reasonable answer.
.22 lead is mostly lead, virtually no antimony and possibly about 1-2% tin.
In other words, pretty soft, that of course could change by mfg. and different types of 22 ammo but this is probably a reasonable answer.
Kaytod
New Member
I procured a large quantity of 22LR bullets several years ago from a local range. Intermixed were some, not many 40 caliber bullets from LE trainers. I initially washed it in a cement mixer to rid it of the range trash, dried, then smelted in large batches. The results were nice soft alloy right at 10 BHN.
Hope this helps.
Todd
Hope this helps.
Todd
For those that get lead from ranges where the police are known to practice it is becoming more common for them to use "green" ammo. Green ammo is the term used to describe bismuth bullets. Bismuth is 86% as dense as lead meaning if your casting a 100 gr bullet out of lead it will weigh 86 gr cast out of bismuth. I don't know how well Bismuth does or doesn't cast, I've been fortunate to not run across any green bullets. Bismuth melts at 521 degrees F so it will melt right long with your lead, unlike zinc that melts at 787 degrees and will float to the surface of the melt to be skimmed off.
Bismuth expands when frozen so your loaded ammo case neck tension could radically change in colder climates. Bismuth like antimony is a brittle metal.
There is a perfectly good use for Bismuth, it is used in Pepto-Bismol to treat diarrhea.
Bismuth expands when frozen so your loaded ammo case neck tension could radically change in colder climates. Bismuth like antimony is a brittle metal.
There is a perfectly good use for Bismuth, it is used in Pepto-Bismol to treat diarrhea.
Pesto really isn't that helpful. It has some use in treating H. pylori infections in the stomach and in helping to prevent some other GI issues. It really sorta sucks at treating much else.
I digress. I had some range scrap tested years ago and Bi showed in the 1-3 % range in a couple samples. Never noticed a change in how it cast or shot.
I digress. I had some range scrap tested years ago and Bi showed in the 1-3 % range in a couple samples. Never noticed a change in how it cast or shot.
fiver
Well-Known Member
Bi will act like a hardener in lead almost bhn for bhn to antimony percentages.
up to about 3% then it starts causing brittleness issues.
it's brittleness can be off set by the use of tin.
in those bismuth shot shells they use 5% tin to keep the pellets from breaking apart.
up to about 3% then it starts causing brittleness issues.
it's brittleness can be off set by the use of tin.
in those bismuth shot shells they use 5% tin to keep the pellets from breaking apart.
williamwaco
Active Member
If you can scratch it easily with your thumbnail or a screwdriver tip, consider it pure.
If you don't have a tester, I would be happy to test a couple of bullets for you.
If you don't have a tester, I would be happy to test a couple of bullets for you.
fiver
Well-Known Member
anything added to the lead alloy will cause it to melt at a lower temp.
yes that includes antimony alone even though it's melt temp is something like 1200-f it affects the alloy.
I would just melt down the range scrap make some boolits [ad some tin if fill out sucks] size/lube them and shoot them.
don't over think lead alloy it works just fine with all kinds of odds and ends mixed in with it.
most of the alloy's we use has some type of gunk in it, it's just in low enough concentrations that it doesn't matter.
yes that includes antimony alone even though it's melt temp is something like 1200-f it affects the alloy.
I would just melt down the range scrap make some boolits [ad some tin if fill out sucks] size/lube them and shoot them.
don't over think lead alloy it works just fine with all kinds of odds and ends mixed in with it.
most of the alloy's we use has some type of gunk in it, it's just in low enough concentrations that it doesn't matter.