I just had to share this with the bullet casting guys

[Grizz Axxemann]

Over the last couple of days at work (I'm working on a freight dock until I get a call back to go surveying) and we've had several containers come in with lead sheets and plates... one can had 24000 pounds worth. I think I've moved some 85000 pounds in total, with more than half of it going to the U of A for some reason (Xray lab?) but I thought I'd let you guys know because that much lead could make a LOT of bullets

How many grains are in a pound again? I'm just wondering how many bullets you could cast at 200 grains a piece

 

[phronq]

7000 grains per pound... you've got 595,000,000 grains in 85,000 pounds. That's 2,975,000 200 grain bullets.

And imagine the discount you'd get for such volume!

 

[Grizz Axxemann]

No kidding, eh? I think nearly 3 million bullets would wear out a few barrels

and it'd be 3.3 million and change for 180 grain bullets I just did the quick math

 

[Gibbs505]

That is a ton of lead!

 

[CanAm]

Where was the lead coming from?

 

[Grizz Axxemann]

Some foundry/smelting operation in Quebec. Came in on a bunch of our cans out of Montreal.

 

[Andy]

No kidding, eh? I think nearly 3 million bullets would wear out a few barrels

It would wear out a few barrels, but I bet it'd be powder erosion of the throat, not bore wear due to bullet friction that would do it.

We bullet casters need to let others in on the advantages of casting:

- the bullets are easy on the bore;
- the light recoil is easy on the gun and shooter;
- the light loads make your brass last forever, and with some loads you don't even need to neck-size, just reload the spent brass;
- great variety of molds, with the custom option;
- almost infinite variety of bullet diameters with various molds and sizers;
- the satisfaction of doing it yourself; and
- cheaper ! ? The ! is because it is true that each bullet, cast by you with your found wheelweight is almost free, but in my case, I bought the furnace, molds, sizers, accessories, etc., etc. You know what I mean, so I need to stop buying and cast a few thousands bullets before I break even. Of course you can always buy pre-cast.