Tom I have about 300 45 cal bullets purchased about 13 years ago that are oxidizes. Is there any safe way to melt them down? They do have some lube on them. I read in cast boolits that they can be smelted or tumble them.
Mike B
Tom I have about 300 45 cal bullets purchased about 13 years ago that are oxidizes. Is there any safe way to melt them down? They do have some lube on them. I read in cast boolits that they can be smelted or tumble them.
Mike B
Last edited by Mike in tx; 09-24-2014 at 03:54 PM.
If they are too oxidized to load and shoot then sure, there is no problem melting and recasting them. The old lube will just float to the top. The biggest issue is yellow lead oxide itself. As you know, it is highly water soluble and quite toxic if ingested. Wash them first to get most of it off and spread them out to dry completely before melting them to avoid a visit from the tinsel fairy. That should get rid of the majority of it, the remainder can just be fluxed and skimmed off the pot with the remnants of the lube and other slag. I use beeswax for flux, it smells much better indoors. Don't breathe the powder and wash your hands thoroughly after handling them as you normally would and you will have no problem. Same with your casting pot as the oxides may cling to the inner walls with dirt and other debris. I take mine outside about once a year on a very windy day and brush it out, more often if I am not so careful smelting. Every spring we find thousands of cast bullets that melt out of the snow banks at our range. I recycle all we find. Same thing, the old lube and GC's float to the top and I just skim them off.
"Stand your ground.
Do not fire unless fired upon.
But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
- Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775
Thank you Tom, Clayton had me intimidated. LOL
I had you INFORMED!
~Clayt
hunter at large
With that avatar, intimidated. LOL
Bonjour.
"Stand your ground.
Do not fire unless fired upon.
But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
- Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775
Bonjour mes amis. Bon chance avec les balles.
Last edited by j1; 10-26-2014 at 12:48 PM.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |