Any Advice on Casting from Spent Ammo from a Homemade Pellet Trap?

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Ezana4CE

Ezana4CE

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Jan 15, 2021
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I’m looking to recycle the spent ammo from my pellet trap. I’ve been sitting through it and collecting various projectiles. My question surrounds the fact that I’m extracting JSB, FX, NSA, H&N, Crosman, and a couple of other brands I’m probably forgetting from this trap. I have no idea about what ratio of lead, tin, etc the mixture would be if I melted these projectiles down together. When I read about other members casting pellets and slugs I’ve read many questions about the lead content. I’ve read a couple of you saying that you cast slugs from recycled pellets, but I didn’t want to derail the threads where I read those comments as some were tangential. So I thought I’d ask here.

Simply put, which method has worked for you in casting pellets and slugs from a melange of recycled lead? Keep in mind that I have no casting experience at all. Thanks in advance to all of the experienced casters that respond.
 
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I haven't used shot pellets for casting myself, but... The fact that how it works should almost be tried. Some barrels/guns are not that specific about alloy content and some are.
All commercial pellets or slug makers are bound to have a slight difference in the alloy used. Some use only pure lead but I think H&N, JSB etc has something mixed with alloy. I think pellets has more likely mixed alloy than slugs. NSA probably use only pure lead
 
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If you want to check your lead hardness from your recycled lead ignots . You can buy a lee lead hardness tester..They are pretty cheap. I wouldn't worry about it melt it together in one lot and cast all your slugs in the same lot. For consistency. With my 50 Texan casting it will shoot pure lead and hard wheel weight lead.. You can use muffin tin to make lead igonot s with. A old cast iron dutch oven is excellent for melting down scrap lead. Check local recyclers or junk yards for lead.. I've been able to buy sheets of pure lead roofing for $1.00 a pound previously.
 
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Nice! I want to cast mine in the future too🤗
Been saving traps....they are getting heavy🤪
I personally think that it shouldn't matter too much. Even if the brands are different. It's not by say 25% vs the very small percentage that will actually be different. Some other metals MIGHT even separate/burn off for you in the heating process
 
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It is my understanding that when you melt lead slowly and at a low heat it separates the different metals from each other better, instead of mixing them and keeping them bound up. So the harder lighter metals and other impurities rise to the top of the pot and can be scooped off with a ladle. There's other "additives" that will not be removed as easily, without going through a process, but the low and slow method gets lead pretty soft and pure for the most part. Look at the castboolits forum for a lot of these answers.

Lead and Lead Alloys

Galena , the silver stream itself, the base metal of the craft. Pb, Linotype, monotype, Wheel Weights and the rest!
castboolits.gunloads.com
 
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@Airgun-hobbyist Thank you for the link. I discovered that site a day or two ago after reading through some threads and a I noticed that a couple people mentioned the site. A lot of this is new to me. I’ve read of skimming off dross where people use sawdust or paraffin wax to draw/attract junk that floats to and collects on the surface of a melt pot. They then skim it off with a ladle. I don’t know how molten metal stratifies in suspension by weight of its components. I don’t recall reading about that. I have a lot to read and a lot to learn.
 
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Reedmosser said:
Its not too hard. Get a hot plate to set your molds on. Also a PID controller is great to have on your melting pot. I got mine on castboolits.com forum. If you need anything here to help.
Click to expand...
@Reedmosser Thanks man. I’ll definitely have some questions. Got a mold coming. Already have a bottom-pour pot and I picked up some welding gloves. I’m going to check some thrift stores to see what I can find. Lotta reloaders in these parts. I may get lucky and find a few more things. I want one of those semi-enclosed ladles with a pour spout.
 
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Reedmosser said:
If you want to check your lead hardness from your recycled lead ignots . You can buy a lee lead hardness tester..They are pretty cheap. I wouldn't worry about it melt it together in one lot and cast all your slugs in the same lot. For consistency. With my 50 Texan casting it will shoot pure lead and hard wheel weight lead.. You can use muffin tin to make lead igonot s with. A old cast iron dutch oven is excellent for melting down scrap lead. Check local recyclers or junk yards for lead.. I've been able to buy sheets of pure lead roofing for $1.00 a pound previously.
Click to expand...
@Reedmosser I checked that out. The Lee hardness tester is $60-$70 IIRC and you need to have a press to use it. The RCBS hardness tester runs around $250 i think. Anyhow, I wanted to know if it’s a good idea to smelt in a bottom pour pot or should I reserve that for casting and use another pot for smelting?
 
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Ezana4CE said:
I’m looking to recycle the spent ammo from my pellet trap. I’ve been sitting through it and collecting various projectiles. My question surrounds the fact that I’m extracting JSB, FX, NSA, H&N, Crosman, and a couple of other brands I’m probably forgetting from this trap. I have no idea about what ratio of lead, tin, etc the mixture would be if I melted these projectiles down together. When I read about other members casting pellets and slugs I’ve read many questions about the lead content. I’ve read a couple of you saying that you cast slugs from recycled pellets, but I didn’t want to derail the threads where I read those comments as some were tangential. So I thought I’d ask here.

Simply put, which method has worked for you in casting pellets and slugs from a melange of recycled lead? Keep in mind that I have no casting experience at all. Thanks in advance to all of the experienced casters that respond.
Click to expand...
Here is a good method for testing lead hardness, it works very well and is a cheaper method.

Testing hardness with pencils

I've been reading all the various posts about methods and devices for testing alloy hardness. One post by Molly recommended using pencils of varying hardness to compare against the surface hardness of bullets and ingots. This is widely used in labs to test hardness of metal coatings by...
castboolits.gunloads.com

And for what it's worth, here is some information on the hardness of different pellets,

Lead Hardness Testing Method/Updated with pellets tested - Airguns & Guns Forum

Lead Hardness Testing Method/Updated with pellets tested, Air guns, Airgun Forum
www.gatewaytoairguns.org
HtH's
Don
 
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Any dirt or rust ,anything except lead will float to the top. All you need is a slotted spoon and remove the slag. You can flux it with anything from sawdust to many other carbon sources. A gas burner works well for melting the lead. If done outside no worries about ventilation. Elvis ammo YouTube has some nice videos on reclaiming lead. Elvis ammo taught me fast...his methods good...
 
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From this generalized list below, I know you will have additional questions so please ask away.

My biggest and most valuable piece of advice is to buy a book on casting. It’s invaluable and a reference whenever needed. Understand how and what you’re doing before doing it. I know…..who wants to read a book in our fast paced instant gratification lives today?? DO IT!! It’s worth it and they explain everything in detail and answers the questions that we always see asked in these groups.

Buy MICROMETERS not calipers that measure to at least the .0001 and .00001 is even better. Slug your barrel to get the groove diameter. That will be the size you size your cast bullets to. Cast .001 to .003 over groove diameter then size down to your barrels groove diameter. For example if your slugged groove diameter is .45714, buy a mold that drops .458 to .460 bullets, then a sizing die that is .457 and then lap it out to .45714.


For cleaning and making ingots - ** thick leather gloves, cast iron Dutch oven, Turkey fryer burner, large slotted spoons, ladle, cast iron ingot molds, lots and lots of flux (I use sawdust and or crayons). Dross discard container. BHN testers after making ingots (I use Staedtler art pencils).



Materials - ** lead, alloy, tin (keep BHN 9 or less depending on bullet style and rifle capabilities).



Bullet making - ** thick leather gloves, bottom pour pot, small stir spoon, pot thermometer (Lyman digital) or PID controller, cookie sheets for sprue and dropped bullets, mold mallet, scales that measure pounds and ounces for mixing alloys and grains to measure final bullet weight.



Molds - ** molds, sprue plate oil (2 stroke engine oil), mold heater (hot plate works well or old school curling iron oven). Arsenal, Accurate, NOE, MP Molds, Brooks, LBT are several good mold makers.



Sizing - ** I use a Lee APP press, NOE sizing bushings, Lee NOE bushing adapter, lube like Bore Butter (pre and post sizing). Micrometer to measure final diameter size (measure to the .0001).
 
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