Preparing dirty range lead. How to start?

[GypsmJim]

Forty Five years ago when I started casing I bought a Lyman book and followed the directions. Lyman #2 allow was always my goto. I also tried straight Linotype and Monotype, but found it to be TOO hard. of course I use pure lead for muzzle loader bullets, but not for anything else.

Years ago an old timer emphasized the importance of keeping the "formula" correct. Jacketed bullet innards, poor reloader's junk and .22 bullets would not meet my requirements.

When I alloy the lead in the beginning I use an old muffin tray to make ingots. Then when I cast I just throw ingots into my melting pot and I'm good top go. I have my own range and recycle all my own bullets. Of course, they are all of known alloy. When I make a pot I throw a handful of range lead in each pot.

Maybe I'm over thinking this all, but it works for me, and at the end of the day I don't have any jackets or other junk to dispose of.

 

[Jaymo]

Y'all DO realize, we're not smelting anything, right?
We're merely remelting it.
Unless, of course, we're refining galena ore into metallic lead.

Anyhoo, I use Marvellux. It's worked well for me for 16 years.

Yes, lead cores from jacketed bullets are softer than cast lead bullets.

One of my favorite bullet alloys is battery intercell connector bars.
These are NOT from inside automotive batteries.
these come from the outside (top) of electric forklift batteries.
Ya see, these batteries use replaceable, individual cells. Each cell has posts that protrude through the top of each cell's case.
The bars are welded to the posts, to connect the cells in series.
So far, they are harder than WW, but softer than linotype.

Plus, I got a bunch of it for free.

 

[fredj338]

I've used recovered lead from our outdoor range for about 15 years.
It's great "free" lead, lots of good info here, one point I have noticed is that the lead in jacketed bullets is softer than all lead bullets.
I think it may be pure lead but I can't say for sure. A few jacketed bullets seems okay but I don't think I want to shoot a cast bullet made from lead from only jacketed bullets.

Most plated or jacketed are soft lead, easier on the swaging equip. You can run dead soft lead in low pressure rds like 38sp & 45, just size them right, good lube or coat them.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Lead in jackets is at or around BHN5.Yes,you can use lead this soft for target use in .38Spl and .45Acp(that's what swaged outside lubed bullets are made of).For other uses,say 900 to 1000Fps,I go with lead that's around 9 to10BHN and still a little harder(12 to 15) for magnum loads(1200 to 1500FPS).I have a few hundred # of lynotype;I mix it with the range recuperation lead 10% for the 1000Fps loads and 20% for the magnum loads.
Qc