I've purchased scrap lead from the local salvage yards. The last I bought was 35¢ a pound. I bet it's sure gone up by now.

I lucked out and got about 30 pounds of lead x-ray envelopes from my dentist. I haven't tested the hardness but I do think it has a tiny bit of tin in it. The destist lead makes good balls and bullets. Although I don't think it's pure lead the roundballs still load easily.

Anyone know of other sources of lead? I don't think wheel weights have that much lead in them anymore. Bearing babbit is almost all zinc these days.

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Born in the Pineywoods of East Texas a long long time ago.

Hi
I think Wheel weights my be a better bet than you think. I have not personally used them for round balls in my muzzleloaders but I have heard they work ok . I have used WW to cast other bullets though. It would be only slightly harder than pure lead. Do not water quench though.That will up the hardness rateing from about 8 to as high as 22 or so. Ned

I used to work for municipalities in various cities in Texas. Almost all of them had lead water pipes in the ground. You might want to check around and see if they have any locally. Lead is hard for cities to get rid of and they may be happy to give it to you.

I HAVE FOUND THE BEST PLACE TO FIND LEAD IS ANY AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY RECONDITIONING STORE SOME BATTERIES FAIL TO HOLD A CHARGE AFTER SO LONG AND THE VENDOR WILL USUALLY GIVE YOU THE OLDER BATTERIES JUST TO BE RID OF THEM TAKES ABOUT TEN BATTERIES TO YEILD 5 POUNDS OF LEAD. ANOTHER GOOD SOURCE OF LEAD IS YARD SALES WHERE YOU MIGHT PURCHASE OLD FISHING TACKLE FOR PENNIES, SOME QUALITY TIME OVER AN OPEN FIRE AND YOU CAN MELT DOWN THE OLD SINKERS AND SPLIT SHOT TO A VERY USEABLE AMOUNT OF LEAD.

I've never thought about yard sales. I'll have to keep that in mind. Don't make as many as we used to.

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Born in the Pineywoods of East Texas a long long time ago.

Round these parts retail lead is a dollar a pound... cannot even buy it anymore from the scrap yards...
A friend of mine uses old car batteries.
Myself ... I have enuff lead to last my lifetime... n then sum.
Worst way to get lead is ouuta a bullet wound.
lol

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Traditional shooter/leather worker/Hawk maker
Keep The Tradition Alive !
... get somebody else hooked !

me and r.b. been picking the trail behind mr. woodchuck for the past couple days

ENUFF LEAD SPIT AT MEE IF THE LAST FEW DAYS.

_________________
Traditional shooter/leather worker/Hawk maker
Keep The Tradition Alive !
... get somebody else hooked !

While I may still support the "cause" of the AMT I probably won't support all of the people there. There was some wrong done. That's all I'm gonna say about that. 'Sides I gotta black cloak and mustache too, ya know.

I met a friend about 3 months ago that works for Con Edison (Electric company here in NYC) ..
They use lead rings to support cables underground in the sewers so the cables coving don't rip on the strappings ..

It's good and pure, each ring weighs about 9-10 oz each.
Their about 3" dia and about 1/2 thick..

After each job they throw away what is not used..

Being he don't have the time to melt it down, he bring it to me, I melt them into bars and we split the lead...

I have now about 80 lb now that I have to melt down and put into bars...

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It's not what tool you use to hunt with.
It's that you use the tool Legally and Ethically

NYS Hunter Safety Instructor

I got some from a furry varmit and I picked up some wheel weights from my tire dealer(several hundred pounds)
My oldest son called a couple days ago and asked if I needed and x ray shielding another 80-100 pounds

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I'm potty trained, know my abc's and wear pants with zippers

... YA KIN MAKE POWDER OUTTA CHICKEN POOP TOO
Honest ... read it in Backwoodsman mag a few months back.
Some gentle Ole Lady ... chasin bear witt a flintlock.
Wish I had saved the Article... gave it away.
There he was in the sewers of NewYork ... takin Lead hangers straps when the 82 foot alligator attacked...
Naw I'll stick ta livin long the creek and worryun about snakes.
lol

_________________
Traditional shooter/leather worker/Hawk maker
Keep The Tradition Alive !
... get somebody else hooked !