Ian
Notorious member
Adding more tin than the antimony percentage present gives me the heebeejeebees, most especially when heat treating the part that's most important to the lands and grooves.
Anyway, I set up a little test a minute ago and got the oven going. Three bullets will be tested, each of a different alloy.
1. Lee .458" 500-grain hollow points, COWW plus 1.5% tin
2. Lee .309" 230-grain boat tails, 3 parts SOWW/2 parts COWW
3. ACE .314" 235-grain flat base, 2 parts COWW, one part SOWW, one part pure lead.
I filed flats the length of all the bullets in two places for Brinell testing.
My plan is to heat them at 440F for an hour, grab them in the middle with needlenose pliers, and dip the bottom third of each bullet in cool water until the sizzle stops and then toss them on a dry towel. I don't have any powdered lime but if the bullets were poked into a tray of that nose-first it could be used to prolong the nose cooling.
Anyway, I set up a little test a minute ago and got the oven going. Three bullets will be tested, each of a different alloy.
1. Lee .458" 500-grain hollow points, COWW plus 1.5% tin
2. Lee .309" 230-grain boat tails, 3 parts SOWW/2 parts COWW
3. ACE .314" 235-grain flat base, 2 parts COWW, one part SOWW, one part pure lead.
I filed flats the length of all the bullets in two places for Brinell testing.
My plan is to heat them at 440F for an hour, grab them in the middle with needlenose pliers, and dip the bottom third of each bullet in cool water until the sizzle stops and then toss them on a dry towel. I don't have any powdered lime but if the bullets were poked into a tray of that nose-first it could be used to prolong the nose cooling.