Lead from pipe joints?

[Canute Rex]

A friend is scrapping some old cast iron drain pipe, the kind with oakum and cast lead joints. Has anybody here ever used that for casting bullets? Is there some standard lead/tin alloy used for pipe joints, or was it pure, or was it whatever came to hand? I just read that it takes 3-4 pounds per joint, which is a reasonable amount of shooting for a few whacks of a sledge. That is, if the stuff is usable for round balls.

[P.W.Berkuta]

From what I remember when my father did that kind of work he used pure lead so my vote is it's not alloyed with anything else.

[bluenoser]

I also recall it being pure lead.

[bdixon]

Probably the real deal.

[ken]

I have used it . It is very soft and I beleive to be pure lead.

[smylee grouch]

I have used alot of it and it was always the good stuf, needed cleaning up but was dead soft lead and cast up great.    Gary

[Canute Rex]

Thanks!

Now, where did I leave that sledge-hammer?

[T*O*F]

A friend is scrapping some old cast iron drain pipe, the kind with oakum and cast lead joints.

Is it drain pipe or sewer pipe?  If it's the latter, you know what the oakum is saturated with besides the lead.  Oughtta be real fun to clean up.

[Old Ford2]

The lead in drain and water pipes is 99% pure, because to make it work, they either poured it in place, or they put it in ribbons, then pounded it to fit.
Hard lead would not give good results.
Old Ford

[swordmanjohn]

I also used it years ago , very soft and pure... prime stuff.. grab it fast.