Babbit

[Mainiac]

Can anybody explain to me,why to much babbit in ya alloy,causes spout freeze?
I know i use about 1 pound in a full 20 pound batch,max..
Half pound never gives a problem.dummy me,i put in a good handful of drippings today,and fought freezing steady.why does this happen?
Its got something to do with the copper content,im thinking. Thanks

 

[fiver]

copper will do that to ya.
you just like zinc have a very upper limit on how much the alloy can hold in suspension.
more will find it's way to the outside of the alloy and wallah it cools down then it solidifies in the air before you can git it into your mold.
Nickle will give you the same effect.

 

[RicinYakima]

Can anybody explain to me,why to much babbit in ya alloy,causes spout freeze?

There is not an alloy called "Babbitt". There are hundred of formula's for Babbitt and none the same. If you can work with 1/2 pound, that is what I would use.

 

[Mainiac]

I did make some awful pretty bullets though!
It freezes right under the tip of the shut off shaft,have to continually run a piece of wire up the hole.
And they're 14bn,,ww air cooled,so i hit it about where i wanted.

 

[Mainiac]

There is not an alloy called "Babbitt". There are hundred of formula's for Babbitt and none the same. If you can work with 1/2 pound, that is what I would use.

I millwright for a living,,the worn sleeve oil bearing liners,i run a acet torch over them,and melt out the babbit,i never know the composition of it,just know it makes shiney bullets!

 

[RBHarter]

They will swell and get harder , a lot harder , as they age .

 

[Petrol & Powder]

It's hard to say exactly what "Babbitt" material really is. As Rick points out, there were countless different compositions.

 

[Rick]

https://www.artfulbullet.com/documents/Kelter_Cast_Bullet_Alloys2.pdf

As was mentioned, the possible combination of alloys that can be called Babbit is near endless. Every foundry has their own recipes and any customer of these foundries can specify their own recipe for any particular need/use. Over many decades the possible combination of alloys is limitless.

Lead-base bearing alloys, which are called lead-base Babbitt metals, vary widely in composition but can be categorized into two groups:
1> Alloys of lead, tin, antimony, and, in many instances, arsenic.
2> Alloys of lead, calcium, tin, and one or more of the alkaline earth metals

 

[358156 hp]

I can vouch that using too much babbitt in a bullet alloy can lead to bullets fracturing at a taper crimp. I made a batch of .40s too hard once and the bullet noses were breaking off at the taper crimp. The noses from the bullets separated during the feed cycle and jumped out the ejection port of my Beretta and landed on the floor. Fortunately it was a Beretta, so it fed the (now) wadcutter normally, and fired normally.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I can vouch that using too much babbitt in a bullet alloy can lead to bullets fracturing at a taper crimp. I made a batch of .40s too hard once and the bullet noses were breaking off at the taper crimp. The noses from the bullets separated during the feed cycle and jumped out the ejection port of my Beretta and landed on the floor. Fortunately it was a Beretta, so it fed the (now) wadcutter normally, and fired normally.

The Beretta 92/96 series pistols will feed anything that even looks like the intended cartridge. I had a 92 that would consistently feed empty brass.

 

[fiver]

i had the taurus copy that'd feed anything too.
couldn't hit nuthin with it and the POI shifted drastically with every shot, but it never failed to feed.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

i had the taurus copy that'd feed anything too.
couldn't hit nuthin with it and the POI shifted drastically with every shot, but it never failed to feed.

The Beretta's are noticably better.

The open top slide and straight line feeding has a lot to do with the reliable functioning. As long as the magazines presents the top cartridge properly (which the factory Beretta mags do) the gun will just trot along nicely.

 

[RicinYakima]

Not only the 92's but also the 948 22 LR and the Model 81 32 ACP are also very trustworthy.

 

[L Ross]

I keep a propane torch with the trigger ignitor that I use to thaw a frozen pot spout. That and a Lee ingot mould handy to catch the flow when I thaw it out. I open the valve handle, play the torch flame on the spout, and it usually starts to flow right away.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I keep a propane torch with the trigger ignitor that I use to thaw a frozen pot spout. ...........

Ditto, it take 3 seconds and you're back in business.
It's by far the easiest solution.

 

[Mainiac]

I keep a propane torch with the trigger ignitor that I use to thaw a frozen pot spout. That and a Lee ingot mould handy to catch the flow when I thaw it out. I open the valve handle, play the torch flame on the spout, and it usually starts to flow right away.

I hate being cheap,but alas,im still using the old fashion no igniter torch,and thats a pain.
Maybe i should get in the 21st century,but thats painful as well!

 

[popper]

I've cast in the Lee dripper with 2% Cu alloy, no freezes, alloy at 725F.

 

[358156 hp]

The Beretta 92/96 series pistols will feed anything that even looks like the intended cartridge. I had a 92 that would consistently feed empty brass.

I thought I should mention that this was done with a Beretta. Not much else would generally feed well under those circumstances.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

I just use one of the fire place or grill lighters with the extended nozzle. Puts a little smoke on the nozzle and plenty of heat to get the flow going. Not expensive and can be used for other things.

 

[Ian]

And can be used for other things like putting a very light amber coat of soot in the cavities of a new NOE aluminum or any brand brass bullet mould. I keep two or three stuffed in the big ceramic jar of screwdrivers, long Q-tips swiped from the Dr's office, screwdrivers and Allen wrenches for mould screws, bamboo skewers, and other mould maintenance goodies needed within reach of the casting chair.