Heat treating in the oven.....

waco

Springfield, Oregon
Pistol bullets are easy enough to stand up in a small wire basket and then remove from the oven in Quench in ice water I guess this question is more related to let's say 30 caliber rifle bullets. Could I get away with laying them on their sides when they heat treat and then Quench or do they need to be stood up on end as well?
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I suppose ya could lay them down. I always stand them up, all bullets. I also size and check before heat treat, lube in a die .001" larger than the size die to lube.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
Thanks Rick. I guess I should have just went and read the good info you have on the LASC page.
I just remembered this.....:oops:
 

Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
To each their own, but I prefer to apply gas checks after HT/Q because if too close to slump temp, the copper gas check will transfer heat to the base of the bullet and a little deforming might result. I will lube and size and apply checks without delay after quenching so as to not interrupt the hardening process. Rather than have the standing bullets tip and deform, I always lay them in a shallow layer to bake, and then plunge quickly into the water when quenching. My demands on the bullets are not all that critical though.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Yep to each their own is right. Never have had problem with bullets falling over and or deforming. Max temp, enough to cause the bases to melt with a 2% Sb alloy will yield right about 30 BHN, I have no need of diamonds. Reasonable temps will prevent melted bullets. The copper check gets no hotter than the lead anyway. I also prefer to not lube wet bullets.
 

Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
Well shucks, I dry them first. It really does not take that long, and the shanks easily accept the checks at that point. I have never taken the time to hardness test a rifle bullet. I would hesitate to try to test anything smaller than 30 with my cabin tree tester anyway. Just punching paper and would not HT/Q if I were a hunter anyway.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Well shucks, I dry them first. It really does not take that long, and the shanks easily accept the checks at that point. I have never taken the time to hardness test a rifle bullet. I would hesitate to try to test anything smaller than 30 with my cabin tree tester anyway. Just punching paper and would not HT/Q if I were a hunter anyway.

That is why it's to each their own, since you are happy with that you are certainly doing it right for you. I was simply splainin how I do it which is perfect for me.
.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I do mine, pretty much, like Rick.....I wonder why?;)

However, I stand mine up in small tins. Get about 78 thirty caliber bullets per Altoid tin, lid and paint removed. Tins go into oven in an old adjustable grilling basket, so they can be quenched, simultaneously.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have a perforated pot that fits in my over I can use to stack bullets. Most of my heat treating has been with bullets on their side on a meat tray that I roll the bullet off of and into the water.