lead

[sagebrush2401]

I am new. Why not bullet lead?

 

[Black Hand]

Bullet lead is usually an alloy of lead and tin, making it a bit hard for shooting in muzzleloaders. The conventional wisdom says to use pure lead for bullets, while some folks also use the harder alloyed stuff for certain applications.

 

Generaly speaking bullet lead is too hard to use in a rifle, however there are exceptions... swaged pistol bullets are mostly pure lead as are .22s. If you have a smooth bore almost any lead will do (wheel weights ect.), but the hot set up for almost all shooting remains pure lead. Check on search for a nice discussion on finding pure lead. Oddly enough once you get the hang of it pure lead is easy to find and cheap even free.

 

[bob308]

for muzzleloaders and cap&ball pistols use pure lead.
for b-p cartage guns i use a mix of recovered .22 and pure lead that gives a little tin to the mix.
for smokless powder i use wheel weights.

 

[bwhoffman]

you need pure lead for best results....
soft lead will obsturate in the bore, that is the lead flattening from pressure to make a seal, and also the patch will engage the ball and rifling.
I have used wheel weigh before, it is much harder to load, obsturate and gett a good patch/rifling mix, then accuracy goes down.

 

[Rat Trapper]

If you know anyone working for the telephone company ask them for some lead. Years ago they used lead to cover where they joined two lines together. Now days I'm told they use some different stuff. When they find some of the old stuff, I've been told they just bury it at the site. Plumbing supply stores or even your local plumber can be a good source.

 

[gooddw]

You can use bullet lead just fine if you are using patched roundballs. Since the ball does not contact the barrel, hardness is not an issue. I cast wheelweights in .490 for my deerstalker and they work just fine.

Revolvers must use pure lead. A small amount of lead needs to be shaved off as it is seated into the cylinder in order to get a ggod seal. This is next to impossible with alloy lead.

 

[BRUN]

You might find roofing lead at a salvage yard.I get it for 25 cents a pound.BTW its pure lead.

 

[arquebus]

Yes, the lead used for roofing applications (flashing, etc.) is pure lead & is what I mainly use for my bullets & Minies. However, the lead that is used on the joints (for vent pipes, etc.) is alloyed, so if you want to keep the lead pure you should cut the joints out before melting.