I was wondering what is the best way to get copper jackets off of spent bullets to melt down?

Hod

Just simply melt them, the copper will rise to the surface and can be skimmed off. Just like the clips on wheel weights.

Just simply melt them, the copper will rise to the surface and can be skimmed off. Just like the clips on wheel weights.
IF they are back-stop rounds that had been fired, might be a good idea to pre-heat them to dive out any moisture. Jacket often loosens at impact, water can wick into the little space between the loosened jacket and the lead core and get trapped there.

HAve had that happen...stuff that had been stored high and dry for weeks. Even a little trapped moisture can make a large lead spash when it converts to steam.

Good point. The last time I picked up any range lead was in Tucson, AZ. Not a lot of chance for much if any moisture out there. But, that aside, your advice is very sound and I wish I had thought to clarify my comment.

Bake them in an oven for a while at about 350-400 degrees. That will drive any moisture out before you drop them into a melt pot.

Bake them in an oven for a while at about 350-400 degrees. That will drive any moisture out before you drop them into a melt pot.
Wet here...anything and everything that water can get to, it does.

Been using a beat up old pot. Once I bake out a pot full in the oven and put it in the melting pot, will slap an old beat up opt on top of the melting pot and use the heat of the lead pot under it to pre-heat/dry the next load.

Does make the lead melt faster (becasue the warming pot acts like the lid on a kitchen pot) and protects from any splashes from below.
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Casting outside, had either a suicide bug or one just decided to drop dead above my lead pot. Doen't know what he was, just saw a brown winged-streak falling just before a big lead gyser.

Well I just gave it a try to melt out the lead from the copper casings. It worked well except for the bullets that had a full copper case even the base. I had to use some pliers to smash the case to get the lead out. (Not the safest thing that I have done) Some of them would splatter lead all over instead of just pouring out of the case. Next time I think I will use a hammer and smash them before I try to melt them.

Thank for the inputs.

Hod

That might work too,, I dunno.. I never bothered with full copper bullets. I sorted them out and moved on to those with hollow bases or soft points.

I just put them in a cold pot. By the time they reach melt temps, the water is long gone.
By a cold pot, I mean a pot with no melted metal in it. After I ladel out all I can, I let the pot cool until the alloy solidifies. Haven't ever had a steam explosion this way. Had ONE putting "dry" weights into a half full pot. Exciting!!!

Well I tried useing a hammer on cold bullets to brake the full copper jackets loose. Not a good idea! All most lost a finger over that one. Then I got out my dremel and use a cutting wheel and made cutts in the copper works much better. Just what I found works for me.

Latter

Hod :cool: