Base Alloy

[Tony]

I've been thinking about having a foundry put together some alloy to use as a base alloy that would work for most of my casting and shooting. I could blend this alloy with other alloy for more specialized requirements such as Cu enhanced alloy.

Would you guys recommend 96/2/2, 96/3/1 or something else as a base alloy? Would any of you replace .1 to .2 % of the Pb with As?

 

[Brad]

Either of the alloys mentioned would work well. Ignore the As, it doesn't do anything except speed up the hardening process. If you want some in the alloy at times just add shot, it has plenty.

 

[Rick]

You may not find a foundry to add As, pretty sure Roto won't. Either of the two alloys you mentioned would work well and you could easily blend that yourself with pure, Super Hard and Sn from Roto.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

I have considered just getting the more common 2-6-92. Sorry, a habit since we always note the tin first in a solder. I have easy access to nearly pure lead scrap so a blend of 50/50 would give the 1-3-96. A little added tin would produce 2-3-95 which should be a good hunting alloy. And that still leaves the option of HT/Q if felt necessary. I do not think there is really any bad answer as long as you can keep the alloys identified and available when you want them.

You would still retain the option of added arsenic with shot, or copper. I just like to have more options. Are we to assume that the foundry is nearby so shipping is not a real factor? 500 pounds of 2-6-92 would be easier to handle than 1000 pounds of 1-3-96.

 

[Tony]

I live in Houston, TX and am not aware of a foundry near me. I have thought about buying Hardball (92/6/2) and Pb and mixing 50/50 to get 96/3/1. It would be somewhat simpler if I did not have to mix them.

 

[Ian]

From another perspective, it might be simpler if you did. It all depends on what kind of deal you can get on a custom foundry order and freight. I have participated in foundry buys before and likely won't again, it's just too much hassle and the only one who came out ahead was the foundry.

 

[fiver]

if you buy a bit over 4-K from them they give you a pretty good price break.
I used to drive to Denver and buy 4-k of both 2/6 and pure lead then cut them together for the business.
I would go around and get ww's all over the SLC valley and cut the 1/3 and ww's 50-50 to save alloy money.

the 2/6 with 2% more tin added makes up much of my rifle alloy for the things that count.
alas I'm down to about 350 lbs of the 4/6 alloy and about 3-k of the 1/3 and ww mix. [about enough to do another 100-k 200gr boolits]