used airgun pellets ok to cast for 7.62x39

[wtr100]

worked the airgun range at a sports show years ago and when cleaning up got the bright idea to keep the pellets off the floor and I have maybe 20 lbs worth.  They're a mix of plain old daisy and crossman.

would these be 'hard enough' for use with 7.62x39 plinking rounds?  Maybe with some wheel weights thrown in?

[alfsauve]

Airgun pellets are pretty soft.   Possibly even too soft for muzzle-loading mini-balls.   

You're going to have to throw in some harder metals for sure.  Do you have a hardness tester of some sort?

[wtr100]

Airgun pellets are pretty soft.   Possibly even too soft for muzzle-loading mini-balls.   

You're going to have to throw in some harder metals for sure.  Do you have a hardness tester of some sort?

no such thing as too soft for minnie balls!

hardness tester - I got pocket knife and finger nails!

[Solus]

don't think you would be able to find lino type metal any more but that would harden up soft lead.

I have heard that wheel weights work too, but I've not tried them.  If you have a contact at a local garage or tire company, you might be able to get the scrap weights they take off old tires, but, now days, not  much is considered scrap.

[fightingquaker13]

If you can't use them you might be able to sell/trade them for guys that make their own jig heads. At least you'd get something for them. If you fish, you could buy a few molds ad save dollars on tackle. 20pounds =a lot of jigs, jerkbaits, worms etc..
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[tommy tornado]

Airgun pellets are pretty soft.   Possibly even too soft for muzzle-loading mini-balls.  

You're going to have to throw in some harder metals for sure.  Do you have a hardness tester of some sort?

For a muzzle-loader you want soft lead.

I would say it couldn't hurt to try.  I would make up about 20 of them and see how they shoot.  Don't know what kind of lube you would use but I would try that liquid Lee stuff.  Also if your bullet takes copper gas checks that should help as well.  I probably would stick to the lower side on velocity (lighter loads).

[billt]

Most air rifle pellets are pure, soft lead. This is so the thin skirts of the pellets will expand at the modest pressures they operate at. Good for muzzle loading, but too soft for modern smokeless, centerfire, cast bullet loads. A little Tin and Antimony will harden it right up. The problem today is finding a cost effective source for it. As was mentioned Linotype metal is pretty much a thing of the past. A bit like finding a Silver quarter in your vending machine change.

A lot of shot sold today has 5% Antimony mixed into it for hardness. The problem is that is expensive as well. 25 pounds of shot is still over the $30.00 mark. Scrap yards are a good way to go, but many can only buy lead and alloyed lead, but cannot sell it except to licensed smelting operations. All of this is a result of the "big lead scare". People today act like they're dropping like flies from the stuff.

I would say wheel weights are the way to go if you can manage to find a source. The bigger tire stores like Goodyear and Big-O have buyers for the stuff, but you might be able to work out a deal with some of the smaller local operations. It takes legwork and a lot of calling, but it can be done. Once you find a source they can keep you supplied for a long time. Especially if you take care of the owner with a fifth of Jack Daniel's at Christmas time!  Bill T.