Buying lead alloy for casting

C

cheier

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Cochrane, AB
I'm busy looking around at various companies to do custom alloy ingots for bullet casting. Since w/w sourcing is becoming an issue these days, I was wondering what you guys would consider a reasonable cost per pound (delivered) for lead.

I'm trying to get quotes on 90/5/5 (Lyman #2 alloy) lead at the moment from larger lead suppliers, so depending on what I can come up with, I'd be interested in trying to organize a group buy for large volumes. I just don't know what most people would be ready to spend. Most places online that I see that alloy is sold is typically just over $3/lbs before shipping.

So the question, what would you pay, and would you be willing to pre-purchase your allotment of lead alloy if I was to organize a group purchase?

EDIT: I got confirmation from a supplier on some pricing. I would be required to purchase at least 5,000 lbs to be in the $1.50 to $2 range per lbs.
 
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you might want to contact local Black Powder Cartridge rifle shooters they typically bulk by lead although it is usually 20 to 1 alloy. I still have about 1000 lbs of WW alloy. After I cast it all, I may be interested.
 
Locally I have bought lead shot for shotshell reloading for $2/lbs and it works great. I use it to reload 410 shells as well as to melt down to cast bullets when my wheel weight supply runs out (I don't have a stockpile as I only got into casting about 2 years ago and have been using it faster than I can find it). The most inexpensive I've seen it is $1.35/lbs.
 
LUTNIT, that is kind of why I want to try and do some kind of a group buy. It is hard for me to shell out the $10,000+ for 5,000+ lbs of lead if it is just going to be for me. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind making a hell of a lot of bullets out of this for myself, but I was figuring my keep would be about 1,000 lbs if we could at least group enough people together who are interested in a decent volume out of the bunch. At least through this option, you'd get good clean Lyman #2 alloy ready to go for casting without having to process wheel weights as a middle step. I don't mind processing wheel weights myself, but the time it takes to do it if I manage to find a bucket of them makes me want to just spend the money on clean lead alloy.

The trick is keeping costs down, and it seems possible, just have to buy large volumes.
 
Uh, wow. I really lucked out. I bought a ton of lead (2000 lb) of mixed lead from a scrapyard for $.60 /lb.
I'm in the process of slowly processing it (ran out of propane).
I got linotype, wheel weights, and a mix of roof jacks and plumbing lead.
I lucked out and was in the right place at the right time.
I've never paid over $1 /lb for lead, no matter what it was.
Have you tried buying from a scrapyard?
 
I just don't know what most people would be ready to spend. Most places online that I see that alloy is sold is typically just over $3/lbs before shipping.

So the question, what would you pay, and would you be willing to pre-purchase your allotment of lead alloy if I was to organize a group purchase?

EDIT: I got confirmation from a supplier on some pricing. I would be required to purchase at least 5,000 lbs to be in the $1.50 to $2 range per lbs.[/QUOTE]

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I think you won't find to many group volunteers at those prices. $1.5 - $2 per lb for 5000lbs order is way to much never mind at $3 per lb. My advice to you is to try to buy clean W-W from metal recycler for an average price of $.75 or so and remelt it into clean ingots by yourself. I know, I know its a lot of work but all that exercise has its own rewards....I didn't miss the buss and squirreled over 2000lbs of w-w ingots years ago when 100lbs+ buckets from tire store could be had for $25 or so. I also had "tons of" linotype and 50/50 solder (sold most of it) before prices went up into stratosphere.
 
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