What do you do with all your used lead ammo?

[Smitty]

If you shoot into targets that make it possible to collect the spent lead, what do you do with it?​

I’ve read that some use it to make a backplate mold (melted lead poured into metal baking pan, cooled, then framed up to hold paper targets in front of the lead mold).​

I also hear of others who recast pellets or slugs, but after reading further on that topic, it is clearly not an easy or viable option for the average airgunner to do effectively and with high precision without proper equipment.​

Can it be recycled, reused, or sold? It sure would be nice if it could be sold and the money gained could be used to buy more ammo, right?​

So, what do you do with your spent lead ammo?​

 

[pan60]

turn it into balls and mini balls for my cap guns.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

I shoot into a pellet trap filled with concrete. Then, eventually, I toss the whole thing into the nearest fishery. The local fishmonger said the fish have been tasty lately so I know it's the best route to take. Alternatively I toss it once a year.

 

[Hare]

I cast with my used pellets. Look on Roto Metal for their "Used Shot" prices and sell it for funds to purchase more.

AtasAirguns deliberately throwing lead into a water reservoir could bring a hefty fine for cleanup. Lead sinkers are barely tolerated, with recommendations from Fish and Wildlife to use alternatives.
Lead shot is outright banned.

 

[Spinach]

Lately I've been saving my spent pellets and slugs, aim to recycle for swaging slugs.

Got most of the swaging kit, a set of GMI swage dies will be with me next week.
Purchased 3kilos of lead wire to get me started.

Not really swaging to save money, more looking for consistent ammo. It's a winter project.

Inconsistent ammo from previously good manufacturers drove me down the swaging route.

 

[Loren]

Melt it down and cast into new projectiles.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

I cast with my used pellets. Look on Roto Metal for their "Used Shot" prices and sell it for funds to purchase more.

AtasAirguns deliberately throwing lead into a water reservoir could bring a hefty fine for cleanup. Lead sinkers are barely tolerated, with recommendations from Fish and Wildlife to use alternatives.
Lead shot is outright banned.

I hope you realize that was a joke. I dispose of it legally, obviously.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I hope you realize that was a joke. I dispose of it legally, obviously.

Can't up the % much over everyday lost fishing lead or any industrial waste vs the population of the world.. .00000000000000000000000000000000000001% worth added. Just china or India alone no telling how much lead they dump per second.. your little bit is pretty insignificant over all.

 

[mobilemail]

The lead is usually mixed with shredded paper in my bullet box. I save the mess and occasionally have my wife make me a range bag out of an old pant leg and fill it with the stuff. If I ever need to melt lead down to make pellets, I know where to find it!

 

[Smitty]

Lately I've been saving my spent pellets and slugs, aim to recycle for swaging slugs.

Got most of the swaging kit, a set of GMI swage dies will be with me next week.
Purchased 3kilos of lead wire to get me started.

Not really swaging to save money, more looking for consistent ammo. It's a winter project.

Inconsistent ammo from previously good manufacturers drove me down the swaging route.

You must know what you’re doing then. How does one even learn, start, or even get the equipment to begin that process of making pellets?

 

[Spinach]

You must know what you’re doing then. How does one even learn, start, or even get the equipment to begin that process of making pellets?

I'm a total beginner, got to start somewhere.
A buddy who has been swaging slugs a while sorted me out with dies etc, plus his information has been invaluable.
Internet and the tube also helps.

I'm retired so I've plenty of time to experiment.

It's just another part of our fantastic hobby.

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

I save mine for a guy that casts

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

I cast with my used pellets. Look on Roto Metal for their "Used Shot" prices and sell it for funds to purchase more.

AtasAirguns deliberately throwing lead into a water reservoir could bring a hefty fine for cleanup. Lead sinkers are barely tolerated, with recommendations from Fish and Wildlife to use alternatives.
Lead shot is outright banned.

You're absolutely right . . . would you want to eat that bass or crappie that had elevated lead levels? Or how about your children or grandchildren? Do you have any idea what lead does to the brains of children? With your thinking, I wonder some about your lead levels. Orv.

 

[Johnney]

I suppose if you get enough you could make sinkers for fishing.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

You're absolutely right . . . would you want to eat that bass or crappie that had elevated lead levels? Or how about your children or grandchildren? Do you have any idea what lead does to the brains of children? With your thinking, I wonder some about your lead levels. Orv.

Read my reply. Then read my second post. Obviously consulting with a fishmonger about the fish tasting better is a joke....I use a pellet trap to capture lead safely to dispose of it in an ethical manner.

As for fishing, I have often thought about the amount of lead in streams that is deposited from lost lead weights. I'm not a fisherman but I suspect in certain rivers that are fished often it does have a greater impact than any ammo shot during hunting. But I'll leave that concern to the fisherman.

Cheers

 

[PasadenaMike]

I feed the condors

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Just think of Chinese electronic manufacturing alone domping lead and gosh knows what in to there rivers and then ocean ... Unchecked.. but you here get punished for everything not green or Paris accord and what not .

 

[EdinGa]

I dump my recovered pellets back into my lead pot and cast more pellets.

 

[PasadenaMike]

I dump my recovered pellets back into my lead pot and cast more pellets.

I’ve always been curious does the dirt get filtered out somehow?

 

[EdinGa]

I’ve always been curious does the dirt get filtered out somehow?

Any dirt, leaves, paper or other debris char and float to the top and you skim it off. I usually rinse my dirty lead and let it dry good before I melt it though.