Last Lead Smelting plant closes in Dec!!!!!

[BenL]

I can't quite see what this whole panic is about.

Ammo manufacturer don't use new, raw material for casting their bullets, but rather use recycled lead material.

Why would they even think of paying the premium when they can get it for much cheaper.

The fact that the EPA forced, by new extremist environmental regulations, the plant to close down is an f'in shame, but it won't affect us at all.

Keep calm and shoot on.

 

[coreyd]

You guys do know that 99% of the lead in ammunition is recycled lead right.

Where did you find this out? I would be curious to see proof of this number.

 

[09outlander]

Where did you find this out? I would be curious to see proof of this number.

http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/12/media-telling-future-lead-ammo-shortages/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...losing-will-not-affect-ammunit/#ixzz2mdm1YV45



It's common sense, do you realize how expensive ammo would be if the manufacturers used virgin lead.

 

[SandRoad]

http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/12/media-telling-future-lead-ammo-shortages/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...losing-will-not-affect-ammunit/#ixzz2mdm1YV45

It's common sense, do you realize how expensive ammo would be if the manufacturers used virgin lead.

Sorry, but that's wrong. Cost of "new" lead is no different than using recycled lead. Recycled lead isn't any cheaper than new lead, it's a commodity. Price is based on the international market price.

ALL lead for ammo is refined to very tight tolerances, regardless of where it came from. They simply don't just melt down batteries and cast bullets from it. Check out metals suppliers. You can get bulk, raw unrefined lead from recyclers, but it has contaminants like zinc and who knows what else in it. Fine for large castings and ballast for sailboats, but not bullets. (zinc causes tiny voids in castings)

Is recycled gold from melted down jewellery, processed to a given specification (purity/alloy), cheaper than "new" gold? If it is, please tell me where to get it.

It's not intentional that bullets are made from "recycled" lead, it's just that's the most common source of lead in current inventories. There is absolutely no difference in quality or cost between recycled lead or new lead of the same specification.

 

[coreyd]

http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/12/media-telling-future-lead-ammo-shortages/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...losing-will-not-affect-ammunit/#ixzz2mdm1YV45



It's common sense, do you realize how expensive ammo would be if the manufacturers used virgin lead.

I must have missed the 99% quote in both of the links you provided. You seem to be quite the expert on everything quoting numbers without any real sources for your year and a bit of actual firearms experience.

 

[09outlander]

Yes I was hasty throwing out the 99% number, I couldn't find an actually number from a manufacturer.

http://tomremington.com/2013/12/04/...bout-closing-of-lead-smelt-plant-in-missouri/

 

[SandRoad]

Yes I was hasty throwing out the 99% number, I couldn't find an actually number from a manufacturer.

http://tomremington.com/2013/12/04/...bout-closing-of-lead-smelt-plant-in-missouri/

The manufacturers probably have no clue where their lead comes from. Lead is lead. The refineries that alloy the lead and sell to bullet manufacturers buy lead from multiple sources. It doesn't matter. Lead, like all metals, doesn't wear out and can be recycled indefinitely, provided it's recovered. A LOT of lead used is never recovered, plus the total amount in circulation increases every year.

The 97% recycling/recovery rate is way too high. There is much, much more than 3% new lead coming into the existing inventory every year. By existing inventory, that means all lead in use, and in stockpiles.

Found one article that's probably a lot closer. http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/go336/morris/

The BATTERY recycling rate is 97%, but not all lead used for everything. http://batterycouncil.org/?page=Battery_Recycling