Freeborn Man Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Hey everyone, I found some old cast lead bullets for my .45 that have been sitting around for about 13 years. I see that lead will harden over time. Is there such a thing as too old of cast bullets to use? Should I just melt them down and re-cast them? Thanks, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBB Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I had not heard about them hardening. I have heard that if you heat treat them in an oven or by water dropping that they will eventually return to their non-heat treated hardness. Either way I would load and shoot them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leas327 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Water dropped will harden some about a week after they are cast. But they don't continue to harden. I have some bullets that are older than I am. They shoot fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Shoot them as long as the lube is still there!!! Or give them to me Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar45 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I just opened my last box of Delbert Swanney's bullets from Ft. Harmar rifle club...newspaper wadded up inside was dated June 3, 1977. They work great. Hope this helps Kirby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeborn Man Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Thanks for the responses! I appreciate it. And Kirby, how many boxes did you have for not needing any bullets all this time??? Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar45 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Thanks for the responses! I appreciate it. And Kirby, how many boxes did you have for not needing any bullets all this time??? Matt I had 5k left over, quit 'IPSC' in 1986. Shot trap for 26 years, now I've come full circle back to the .45. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbopp Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I was gifted some old 38 cast DEWC's that most of the lube had fallen out of the grooves. I toss-lubed them with Lee Liquid Alox and shot them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbird1976 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 They are fine... even if they look a little furry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z40acp Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The thing I would be looking at is to make sure they are not dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trini Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I have 6K of Lane bullets in 9 & 45 that I got a few years back. IIRC Lane quit the business in the late 80's. Some of the lube has fallen a few but it's easy to put back on. Load them & shoot them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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