Copper Bullets

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  • Last Post 23 September 2009
SAMUEL.DEAN posted this 22 September 2009

I am new to reloading and live in California where we can not use lead bullets so I woud like to pour copper bullets, I am a electrician, I have access to copper wire.

How to comput the weight of copper bullits from standard molds?

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LWesthoff posted this 22 September 2009

Specific gravity of pure lead is 11.34. Specific gravity of pure copper is 8.96. If you have a pure lead bullet that weighs 200 gr., a pure copper bullet cast in the same mold should weigh 200 X 8.96/11.34 = 158 gr. I'm not sure what the melting point of pure copper is (didn't bother to look it up) but I think maybe you might have some problems melting and casting copper with standard bullet casting equipment. Interesting idea, though.

Wes

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SAMUEL.DEAN posted this 22 September 2009

Copper melts @ 1083 deg.F Lead melts @ 327deg.F Thangs for the fast reply.

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RicinYakima posted this 22 September 2009

Samuel, Your temperatures are in error. Cu is 1083 degrees Centigrade (1981.4 F.) and Pb is 327 degrees Centigrade (620.4 F.) Ric

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LWesthoff posted this 22 September 2009

Ric, you must be almost as old as I am. They changed the nomenclature from “Centigrade” to “Celsius” clear back in 1954. (I DID bother to look that one up.)

Wes

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SAMUEL.DEAN posted this 22 September 2009

Your right I.

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CB posted this 22 September 2009

Samuel

Where did you get your info on a ban on shooting lead bullets in California. As far as I know there is no ban on shooting Cast bullets and Trap and Skeet still use lead shotshells in California. There is a steel shot requirement for waterfowl hunting.

What interests me is your copper bullet idea. You would need a heat source hotter than one for lead. Once you cast some come back and give a report. Good luck.

Stephen Perry

Angeles BR:fire

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RicinYakima posted this 22 September 2009

LWesthoff wrote: Ric, you must be almost as old as I am. They changed the nomenclature from “Centigrade” to “Celsius” clear back in 1954. (I DID bother to look that one up.)

Wes Wes, I will admit that when I was a freshman Chemistry major, you were required to take German language  classes because they were still considered the world's leading chemists. Ric

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SAMUEL.DEAN posted this 23 September 2009

When hunting in Ca. you have to use lead free.

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canalupo posted this 23 September 2009

SD,

I have limited lath turning knowledge however have you considered, cutting and sizing soft copper wire to length and making a flat point wadcutter from appropriate size wire? It seems that would be a cheap way to make bullets instead of trying to pour them in a mold. The mold would need to be cast iron or pour into a sand mold and then break them out. I believe a sand mold casting would still need to be turned to proper diameter.

Just a thought.

Bob D

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LWesthoff posted this 23 September 2009

Sounds to me as though this thread is getting closer and closer to taking a piece of copper wire and swaging it into bullet form. Isn't something like that already being done by some of the major bullet manufacturers?

Wes

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