a question about casting

I've been slowly picking up wheel weights from my local shop just because they are letting me get them for free, and because it has been interesting reading about all the smelting and melting going on around here lately. I know ya'll probably can't give me a precise answer to this question, so I'm just looking for a ballpark answer. If I have a 5 gallon bucket full of wheel weights, how many bullets could you make out of that amount. What have ya'll been making in .44 mag, 240 gr? I'd just like to have an idea on amount here. Maybe I could work up a deal with one of ya'll in the future. Thanks.

a 5 gal bucket...we'll assume it has the usual tire stems, cig butts etc in it.

Probably weighs 130 lbs....if its full...probably a little more

Melted down you will lose approximately 30% to steel clips, a few zinc...some stick on BS weights etc

so we will shrinkage - 40 lbs

So that's 90 lbs of WW with hich you can make bullets.

7000 grains in a lb

so 7000 gr x 90 lbs = 630,000 grains

630,000 / 200 (typical for a 45 acp is a 200 LSWC) = 3150 bullets....

so rough numbers... that 5 gallon bucket will make you 3000 45's

Hope that helps

Oh Yeah....

I'm a buyer....pm sent

3000 45s out of 5 gallons? Holy s**t!

630,000 / 240 Gr 44 mag = 2625 bullets

Now its doubtful it will yield out perfect....but you get the picture


Yeah its a bunch

I'd be glad to take em off your hands....If you already reload, I'm sure several of us here would not mind casting you a few.....

Let's make a deal

I haven't been real aggressive about getting the weights, but I'm about to start. I'll be ready to make a deal before long!

I just asked around and picked a small bucket of ww's, a bag of lead shot, and three 'blobs' of babbit. Do ya'll use the babbit?

3spop wrote:...Do ya'll use the babbit?

Depends on the composition ... most that I am familiar with is alloy of tin, lead, copper, and antimony. I would grab it if you have an opportunity ... may have to mix it with some other stuff in order to get a good casting material ...

I got 3 blobs of the babbit, as you can see leaned up against the bucket. Pretty heavy stuff too.

well 3spop

what you gonna do with your new stash......?

msredneck wrote:well 3spop

what you gonna do with your new stash......?

I spose I'm gonna keep rat-holing til I get enough to trade one of you lead sniffers for something I can use.

I think you have msredneck hook line and sinker.

I picked up a hunk of pure or nearly pure lead today. It weighs somewhere around 20 lbs or so.