Where to get lead?

I

ilikeoldguns

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I still feel new to this; I'm not to the point of casting bullets yet, but I try and grab lead when I can, but that ammounts to a piece here and there.

I have some scraps, maybe 10 pounds and some pewter? You can use that?

I have heard some types of lead need to be alloyed to be used for bullet casting.

I guess what I am looking for is an introduction to where I find lead and what I need to know about it to get the right stuff.

My dad suggested that I try the auto repair shop for instance for wheel weights, but I have heard others say that this lead is too hard to make use of.

Help for the uninitiated?

Thank you for your time.
 
Get any and all lead as you can trade it for what you need or sell it.

Type/alloy totally depends on what you are shooting.
Antiques use nothing but pure.

Start pouring through the threads and then you can come back with more specific questions.

There are also good books available.

I learned most my stuff from castboolits.

YouTube is another good source
 
Wheel weights vary in hardness but they are certainly not too hard for bullet making, assuming we are talking about smokeless cartridge loads. Even those are going by the wayside as better methods are available for balancing wheels. Lead is becoming harder to find these days.
 
Wheel weights aren't all lead anymore. However, they've been used for eons. They're not pure lead even if they are lead either.
Pewter is mostly tin and may not have any lead in it these days.
Rummage around here. Add the W's. .ctidirectory.com/search/product_company_list.cfm?prod_code=4285500
 
Beermaker said:
Look around for discarded car or sealed lead acid batteries.
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NEVER...the fumes will kill you and the lead is useless!
 
start with going to small auto repair shops in your area and offer to take their scrap lead weights for maybe 30$ for a full bucket...or take what they have for less. I never looked elsewhere...but there are other sources if you keep at it.
 
they don't even use real lead in batteries these days. melting the so called lead will kill you when you try to melt it as the fumes are very toxic and shorten your life span by many years. DO NOT USE BATTERIES FOR A LEAD SOURCE.
 
Noticed there is someone selling lead in Windsor Ontario:

h ttp://www.kijiji.ca/v-hobbies-craft/windsor-area-on/200-lbs-of-lead-great-for-fishing-jigs-decoy-weights-achors/1072700696?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Too far away to be cost-effective for me to get it. But if anyone has a line on something local I'm all ears. I've had no luck asking at the tire shops, even when I ask after buying new tires. In the past 2 years I've managed to accumulate 10lbs (after smelting) from picking bullet splatter under steel targets at the range, and the occasional lost wheelweight that I can spot in intersections when there is a walk signal.
 
The tire shops out here are going back to lead for tire balancing. Might want to check it out in your area. Check with roofing contractors because they rip old lead flashing off of buildings regularly and they throw it in the garbage.... 1 old house got me 170 lbs of lead flashing. To add to my 2800 lbs of ingots. Watch for diving belts at yard sales. Just a few ideas.
 
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