Lead Sausage "Links" for casting?

[BigBird]

I just scored some Lead Weights for $2.00 USD for the whole spool.  I havent weighed it.

Listed as "Sausage Bead Weights" that are used to "Control drapery hems with sausage bead weight. It can also be used in the bottom o a valance or Jabot control the design.  It has also been use to make wet cord table skirts."

Seems to be pure lead but I am not sure.  I am going to use these for bullet casting (next time I have time).
Rope should burn off easily.



Anyone ever used these for something other than skirts and drapes?

[Insanity]

That's a screaming deal.

[BigBird]

That's a screaming deal.

Yeah I was just looking at Rotometals at the $3.39/lb wondering if I should get some.

So, I have already used this "lead" as a projectile and all I can say is "brown is down!"  Ha ha!  I hate spiders.  I went to check my highly organized "measurement drawer" and found a wolf spider.  Zoom in and you can see the ill-fated male right above the big spider.  So there may be eggs in there somewhere too.



I had time to snap a picture, make a makshift sligshot and cut off a string of 4 links to use for ammo.



At full draw I also found out the links slide off easily, which could help in casting (made a great trigger).  The slingshot was aimed right at the spider so it took the sipder out with authority!  I just dont know where the other links went to.



They measure 5/32" in diameter and on my postal scale 20 sausage links ~ 262.5 grains

[Madd Hatter]

Hope they don't end up being lead free ones.

[BigBird]

Hope they don't end up being lead free ones.

Yeah. I guess if so, they would be tin or pewter which wouldn't be half bad for adding to make alloy for bullets.  I'm thinking these were made before the lead free trend as they don't look anything like the fabric covered ones I see on the internet.  Also it was from a second hand store and Im thinking someone knew it was lead and took a tax write off.
These are dark grey oxidized, shave off pretty easily but I probably won't know till I use this to make a specific bullet in my mold and weigh it.

[BigBird]

Weighed the roll,



Melted several strands (string and all ).  Lots of dross but did have a blue color so I was hoping for the best.



cast a specimen in a "known" mold (Lee Single Cavity Mold produces a .575 diameter 472 grain Minie bullet) and then weighed.  It was about 1.1 oz based upon an ok postal scale (~481-525 gr).  There may have been some depleted your-anium (GI trackers) in there or my scale is not very precise.



So if you see this stuff (and it looks older and dark grey oxidized) it may be worth using it for what it should be intended for.

[Insanity]

I use this scale it is very nice and not all that expensive and seems that it can be had for less.

[BigBird]

My brother took my mini digital scale for reloading last time he was here.  I'm going to need one cause I like to get the exact FPE.  Yours looks like it would work well.

I did some casting.  The top row looks really bad and was my fault.  I'm kind of new to this and I probably should have prefaced this thread with that.  Can anyone tell me what went wrong with those?  Maybe mold temp too low or lead temp too low.  I can never cast the round balls (used pure lead for second batch) correctly as they come out like soccer balls.

This was from the string lead


This was with pure lead from chilled shot.  Bullets a little better but round balls look like soccer balls.

[Insanity]

I'm no authority on it but looks like everything was too cold.

[Insanity]

It would probably get a better audience in the correct gate.

[Madd Hatter]

I'm with Mr. Insanity, I think your mold was to cold but like Matt I'm in no way an expert.

[BigBird]

Thanks.  I'll have to keep the mold in the pot longer or pour faster.

One of these bullets (cut off minnie) with the link lead is 1 ounce = 437.5 grains

I used these FBCMB Flat Base "Corto" Minnie ball today to sight in the 58 caliber at 50 yds.

Photos are turned 90°



437.5 grains x 573 fps = 316 fpe 3600PSI
437.5 grains x 671 fps = 437 fpe ~ 3000PSI
437.5 grains x 665 fps = 429 fpe ~ 2000PSI?

Maybe round balls WOULD be better for this gun but this does put out some FPE.

[KnifeMaker]

Either old too cold or is contaminated. I use spray  auto brake cleaner to ensure there is no contamination in the mold cavities.

[K.O.]

I do not see that you would have much to lose by cranking the heat to max and fluxxing the carp out of it before turning down to pour temp...

give it the thumbnail test if it scratches easily it is 12 BHN or less... if it barely scratches 12 bhn up...