HARDENING PURE LEAD

[Snakeoil]

If using scrap lead one shouldn't be surprised if they discover that there is a few percent of antimony in any lead sourced from extrusions, such as lead pipe, and some sheathings or sheetings.

I have used various sources for scrap lead over the years. Been given lead and use to raid the scrap yards before the Obamation put an end to that. Sheet lead, lead pipe and plumber's ingots were always and still are my favorites. Was not aware that that lead might contain antimony. No big deal. Still pretty soft. I use drawing pencils to determine hardness of the lead and then use that to determine what needs to be mixed to get me to the 30:1 or 20:1 alloys I use.

 

[358156 hp]

Small amounts of antimony make pure lead extrude more uniformly. I believe I read somewhere than "pure" lead is really pure unless it comes ordered that way from the foundry. I'll try to remember where I found that tidbit.

 

[fiver]

10-1 is Lee's specified alloy,,, and it's also RCBS's rifle alloy.

 

[CZ93X62]

10-1 is Lee's specified alloy,,, and it's also RCBS's rifle alloy.

And I thought Rotometal's Condor Cuddler Alloy was expensive. Hijo la!

 

[JonB]

Lee's website states, their specified alloy is 95% Lead / 5% Tin, which technically is 19:1
I only know this, as it came up recently at the other forum.

Lead Alloy for Lee Bullet Molds

support.leeprecision.net

 

[fiver]

then they've changed and i didn't pay attention [or care,,shrug]