Alloy mix ??
- Thread starter johnnyjr
- Start date
Dusty Bannister
Well-Known Member
When I blend soft lead scrap and Lino I use the following numbers to get close to the goal. Soft lead scrap depends upon the source but usually contains at least 1% antimony so start with a BHN of 6 or 7.
6 + 22 =28 Divided by 2 = 14. That will be close, but again you are working with one unknown.
6 + 22 =28 Divided by 2 = 14. That will be close, but again you are working with one unknown.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
THIS^^^
JonB
Halcyon member
50-50 is Hardball alloy, BHN=16
www.rotometals.com
Hardball Bullet Casting Alloy ingot- 5 pounds (2%-Tin,6%-Antimony,and 92%-Lead)
sales@rotometals.com
www.rotometals.com
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Strange thing happened to me yesterday. I had some lead in the pot not sure how hard it was I knew it wasn't as hard as I wanted so I added a couple of pounds of Lino, and then a couple of bars of range scrap and Bar of tin. I cast probably 150 bullets and quit. I weighed the cast. It came in @ 140g. Should have been 147 W COWW, so I assumed it was "pretty hard" and thats perfect.
Knowing that I've got a 10 mm mold coming and I would want a little bit softer alloy. (I had about a half a pot remaining.) I threw in 5 pounds of known soft lead and let it melt.
Just to see what kind of hardness I might have, based solely on weight, I charged them old one last time and weighed the bullets. They weighed 138g!!!! HOW?? Hahaha
Knowing that I've got a 10 mm mold coming and I would want a little bit softer alloy. (I had about a half a pot remaining.) I threw in 5 pounds of known soft lead and let it melt.
Just to see what kind of hardness I might have, based solely on weight, I charged them old one last time and weighed the bullets. They weighed 138g!!!! HOW?? Hahaha
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
That's my go to alloy, when making new, for everything but hunting.
johnnyjr
Well-Known Member
So,what's your hunting alloy. I'm only hunting 50 to 60 yards. 357 revolver.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
20-1 with a gas check...............HP or solid. However, don't hunt deer with a 357 Magnum, when I can opt for either a 44 Magnum or Ruger Only 45 LC.
Ian
Notorious member
Yeah................but.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Not really. Dump them from the mold into ice water (maybe add some salt to it ) is the only way. Fast cooling. That freezes the molecular structure of the alloy. Slow cooling allows the structure to decay and get softer. Any change (increase) in BHN will occur in just a couple days. I did try the freezer trick, didn't work.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Water dropping is akin to heat treating, though not as consistent. Hunting bullets for revolvers/carbines should be relatively soft..............air cooled. IME, air cooled BHN changes/gains over a three week period, will only be 1-2 BHN.............depending on alloy
antimony composition. Not enough to worry about, and softer would be better, anyways. I'd be more concerned on how they shoot\group.
Need higher BHN, for rifles, oven heat treat. They'll be about as hard as their going to get, after water quenching.
Now, I'm referring to conventionally lubed bullets. Powder coating is an entirely different animal.
antimony composition. Not enough to worry about, and softer would be better, anyways. I'd be more concerned on how they shoot\group.
Need higher BHN, for rifles, oven heat treat. They'll be about as hard as their going to get, after water quenching.
Now, I'm referring to conventionally lubed bullets. Powder coating is an entirely different animal.
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