How to tell Lead vs Tungsten weights

[Comfortably Numb]

Fishing buddy passed and I got a lot of tackle from him to sell. Bunch of bullet weights and I believe some are Tungsten. The suspected ones feel heavier for their size, are painted, and have a plastic straw in the hole. Am I correct? Any other way to tell? Ty.

[Catt]

You're correct 😉

 

Take a knife & gently scrape it, if it's tungsten nothing will happen.

[Bankc]

Lead can be painted.  So I wouldn't go by paint.  But lead is pretty soft whereas tungsten is really, really hard, and almost twice as heavy, so you should be able to tell the difference fairly easily if you have one of each size or weight.  

 

Some could also be steel, which looks and feels a bit like tungsten, but is lighter than lead.  

[NorthernBasser]

I'm sorry for your loss. 

[king fisher]

Bite them.  If you loose a tooth it is tungsten, if you develop lead poisoning they are lead.

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

 

A bit less destructive comparison would be a simple drop test on a hard surface, say a concrete driveway. Tungsten being a bit harder will have more bounce when compared to a lead weight.

 

I hope this helps. Be well and Cheers!

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Generally if it's got an insert than it's Tungsten.  Density is the giveaway, Tungsten is considerably smaller in comparison but of equal weight, usually 2/3 the size or less of it's corresponding lead weight.

With the prices of tungsten I would hesitant to sell it as it's only going to increase in price.

[Comfortably Numb]

Ty all!!

[WRB]

Look at the weight nose end hole if it smooth radius it’s tungsten.

Any dought  Drop onto a hard surface if it clinks instead clunks it’s tungsten.

Tom

[CDMTJager]

Been reloading for rifle and handgun for 35+ years. LOTs of experience with lead. This is will work only if the surface I am describing is not painted. Take a very small, talking eyeglasses small flat head screwdriver and on the wide base of the bullet weight where the weight is supposed to rest on the soft plastic and while holding the bullet weight in your non dominant hand take the screwdriver and see if you can scrape the wide surface of the weight. If you can make absolutely any mark on the bare non painted surface it is lead.

 

[nso123]

Sometimes the tungsten alloy will be magnetic depending on what it is alloyed with. 

[Columbia Craw]

On 4/9/2024 at 4:39 PM, king fisher said:

Bite them.  If you loose a tooth it is tungsten, if you develop lead poisoning they are lead.

That was initial thought. We’re both sick.

[Mike L]

You could tell by just looking at them. 
A lead of the same weight will be larger. 
Thats it 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[fishballer06]

On 6/2/2024 at 6:29 AM, Mike L said:

You could tell by just looking at them. 
A lead of the same weight will be larger. 
Thats it 

 

I was going to suggest putting them on a scale. You'll easily be able to tell whether a 3/8oz weight is lead or tungsten very quickly just by the size.