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Posted: 8/24/2008 12:48:20 PM EDT
| Could a guy use copper pipe or wire and make bullets out of it? I am about to sell my scrap off and thought i would ask before i get rid of it. |
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It is possible, but takes quite a bit of equipment. Some bullet makers use copper pipe to make their jackets, bit it requires special dies. If you are looking to save money, just sell it as scrap, though. The equipment you need would be expensive. If you want to make bullets out of scrap, casting lead bullets from wheel weights and other lead scrap is simple, and does not require a lot of expensive equipment. It is hot though, and a lot of hard work. |
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Pipe and tube are far too thick to be easily drawn into proper jackets. It also is inferior as this is nearly pure copper. Pure copper fouling builds up in the bore. Most jackets are 5% Zn which boils off under the heat of firing, reducing the adhesion of the fouling. Bullet jackets made from spent .22 cases is 25% Zn and offer much better performance. |
| Thanks for the info. I thought since i have over 50+ pounds of copper it would be worth asking about it. Barns tripple shock are solid copper, not pure but mostly?. I have made many of lead bullets with my father back when he was still alive. I was not sure what temp it would have to hit to liquify, or if i poured it into a bullet mold if it would not cool fast enough and stick. Just sounded like a fun thing to try and a way to not haul all the scrap out of town. Not sure what the market is bringing but a week or so ago it was 2.80 a pound but its 3 hours to haul it. |
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FORGET about casting bullets with copper. Too hot. Yes, Barnes makes some of theirs from copper tube jackets. The fouling means these are for hunting only, that was the original market that Fred Barnes tapped. But he had the dies and presses to extrude commercial tube into the dimensions necessary. It would cost too much for the home hobby. Swaging bullets from premade jackets or even .22 rimfire brass is much easier, still it is over $1000 for a full setup. And making 500 bullets from such preforms is still an all day operation. Your time is worth more than $5 an hour. Now casting bullets for my .45? 300 an hour is a good rate. So for 2 hours, I have turned scrap into $35. If I didn't enjoy casting so much, I would just buy commercial. |
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