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Duncan wrote: [quote=handirifle]Sure you can get lead. I live in CA also. Go to tire shops and they usually have plenty of lead they pull off wheels. They may need to recycle it but most usually will give some. I used to get buckets of it from them. Gun shops might sell it. Dont buy shot, too hard and too expensive, get lead bars. Also check ebay
Don’t want to sound like a killjoy here but please be careful with molten lead, not only is there the obvious burn risk but more importantly the risk of breathing dangerous fumes. Tire weights are likely alloyed but with what metals? Melt lead outdoors and keep your head out of the fumes. By all means please don’t use commercial shot as it has high levels of antimony and may contain arsenic. Melting it releases these agents that help it retain roundness when used as shot. I think most who use shot just weigh out what they want and drop them in the casing and then epoxy it in place with no need to melt the lead.
Duncan
It’s not voodoo, but folks like me, have been casting bullets for many centuries, and as long as you use common sense there is no danger. For one, I suggested melting the lead once it was already in the casing and this could be done easily with a propane torch, in fact that would be a preferred method, since you could weigh them beforehand to match weights. Stay in a well ventilated area, and you could even have a small fan going.
Always wash your hands when done, this is sufficient to clean the lead residue off your skin.
Nearly all of the old style wheel weights were pure lead. Modern weights are usually zinc, and this could be used as well, it’s just lighter than lead so you’ll have to use more. Use the same precautions. You could use commercial shot with NO ISSUES, as long as you do it the same way as described earlier. Shot is a LOT harder than pure lead and requires a little more heat to melt.