Went to an auction (estate) today. Bought a bunch of what I figure is almost pure lead. Probably at least 40-50 lbs, conservativly. Maybe more. Gonna be castin some thumpers!! Sheet lead, plumbers etc. Pal of mine has a hardness tester!Plus melting pots, moulds etc. Got a nice set of calipers etc. Could have spent a bunch. the ol' boy was a reloader and muzzleloader nut!! Don't know what happened his firearms??

Good lead is getting hard to find.

I know a guy can buy just about any bullet, sabot etc, to make a mz shoot dead nuts. But, it sure is fun to roll your own, so to speak!! Sure is fun to work up loads!! JUST GOTTA KEEP SCRUBBING THE LEAD OUT!!

You do not need a hardness tester. Just drop it on the floor. If it makes a thud-then it is pure lead. If it "Tings", then it is an alloy. The "Tingier", the "Alloyer". Tom.

Most of the ingots clunked!! the sheet lead I could scratch, deeply, w/ my fingernail! the rest I could almost gouge w/my fingernail, really soft!

A "Clunk" or a "Thud" is good. A "Ting" is bad if you are looking for pure lead. I never put much faith in the finger nail test. I am sure there are a lot of guys who are capable of telling how hard lead is by digging into it with their finger nails. But I have never been able to. Also the longer lead sits, the harder lead gets. Regardless of alloy. Tom.