Reclaiming lead from indoor range?

[MrPhil]

Gents, I recently got a weekend job at a gun store that has an indoor pistol range. The bullet traps deposit spent slugs in 5 gallon steel buckets. To minimize airborne lead, the range requires jacketed or plated bullets. The range is fully enclosed, nothing is exposed to the weather.

I'm wondering if I can recover the lead. I'm thinking a turkey fryer/crab cooker burner with an old iron dutch oven to smelt it.

What do you guys think? Anybody else tried this?

 

[MrPhil]

Gents, I recently got a weekend job at a gun store that has an indoor pistol range. The bullet traps deposit spent slugs in 5 gallon steel buckets. To minimize airborne lead, the range requires jacketed or plated bullets. The range is fully enclosed, nothing is exposed to the weather.

I'm wondering if I can recover the lead. I'm thinking a turkey fryer/crab cooker burner with an old iron dutch oven to smelt it.

What do you guys think? Anybody else tried this?

 

[john traveler]

NO problem smelting down jacketed bullets. Some of the fully plated bullets you may have to crush with a hammer before smelting. Otherwise, the copper plated "skin" may be enough to prevent the lead from melting out.

Be sure to do this outdoors. The fumes get pretty noxious, and long term exposure to lead smelting fumes is NOT good for you.

 

[MrPhil]

Thanks jt. After posting this question it occurred to me the Cast Boolits folk probably have gone over this a bit. And yes they have. Mostly outdoor ranges; sounds like a royal pain. The indoor ranges seem to yield much better. Pretty much pure lead. And, the jackets can be sold for scrap.

I think I'll give it a try.


edited to change a y to an e.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I'm not on my own computer right now, Phil. I have several pictures of me doing this very thing that I would post if I was.

I even did it the first time with the spare pot that came with the fryer. Only problem with that is possible burn through. Since then I have gotten a cast iron pot. No pictures of that though!

 

[m1gunner]

You are not likely to run across this from an indoor range, but be careful to not try to melt down tracers or bullets with water drops trapped in/on them.

Either situation would end badly for the operator.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by MrPhil:
I'm thinking a turkey fryer/crab cooker burner with an old iron dutch oven to smelt it.

Old Bay Seasoning with those Crabs really adds a nice flavor!

(sorry couldn't resist)

 

[MrPhil]

Thanks for the tips all.

Skip, am I correct in assuming I can treat this as pure lead for alloying purposes?

OCD1, I'll have to pick up some of that Old Bay.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Phil,
Yes. Range lead collected from an indoor range is usually much softer than what is collected from an outdoor one. The reason is that usually indoor ranges have some limitations on shooting plated or jacketed bullets. Those cores are usually from swaged lead.

I use is when I am loading for under 900fps or as part of my mixture. 40% range lead, 50% wheel weights and 10% Linotype makes a decent bullet for over 1000fps.


Remember casting with purer lead will make your bullets smaller but heavier. The harder they are the bigger and lighter they will be.

FWIW

Hope this helps.