Pure lead from salvaged range lead?

[gjkershul]

Does anyone know of a protocol for getting the tin and antimony out of salvaged range lead to purify the lead to make it suitable for rifle projectiles? I am interested in a source of lead for casting conical minie type bullets for use in a rifle musket.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Unfortunately no, it is my understanding that once alloyed the tin and antimony can not be removed by home workshop methods. At least that is the impression I get from the Lyman Cast bullet handbook. I sort range scrap into two containers, round balls which I presume to be pure lead, and other bullets which I presume to be hardened. The "other bullets" makes a much bigger pile.

 

[arquebus]

Pretty sure Joe is correct, it takes a foundry to purify the lead by removing the alloys. Of course if you have a smallbore or, better still, an air rifle/pistol range nearby the gleanings there would be as close to pure lead as you could want.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Separating out metals is done with electrolysis, and can't be done by ordinary mortals, who lack both the equipment and the knowledge of how to do it. Use the scrap range metal for making revolver and Modern pistol bullets, where lots of antimony or tin in the mix won't be a big problem. You can use them in rifles, but you may have to mix lead in the mix in the pot to get the lead soft enough to throw good cast bullets for rifles.

If you can isolate a range backstop so that ONLY pure lead balls and bullets are fired into that backstop, then, of course, "What goes in, also comes out", and you will have pure lead, with slag being whatever crud the lead picks up from the soils in the backstop.

 

[Darkgael]

Yep. Can't do it in the garage. I look for shotgun slugs after hunting season sight-in time. The basic Foster slugs are soft lead and easy to recognize, as are minies.
I have access to an indoor range (I run it.) and can salvage range lead from there but it is way too hard for most of our use. The exception is for round balls fired from a smoothbore which work OK in that circumstance.
I use it for casting bullets for my .45 auto.
Pete

 

[JackAubrey]

I have to concur with the other gentlemen.I obtained a large supply of used wheel weights with which I cast bullets for my SMLE.I was erroneously informed I could skim the tin and antimonies from the molten surface leaving relatively pure lead.I took my "pure" lead and merrily began casting .490 balls.Save for the missing jacket, the blasted things were more like fmj ammunition! :haha: .So I remelted them and they worked just fine in my Enfield.Best regards,J.A.