If I mix 8 lbs of pure lead with a pound of 50/50 will that give me about a 1:10 ratio with about a 10-12 bhn? Thanks

AUW,

What are you casting for? I suggest you buy and read the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook which clearly sets for mixes and the proper bullet alloys. If you are casting for muzzleloaders, you have no need for 50/50. If you are casting for handguns, you will need to get some antimony into the mix. If you are casting for rifles, you have a way to go or you will have a leading problem. After you fill in the blanks, we can be more helpful.

Webley

Its for 44 special and 45 acp

17-1 would be my guess. Lyman #2 alloy is harder than needed.

Thanks! Those charts are very helpful.

Webley - I have that book but some how looked over the chart that showed the percentages

8 lbs lead + 1 lb 50/50 solder=
8.5 lbs lead + 1/2 lb tin=
8.5 lbs lead / .5 = 17/1 as 243winxb indicated

Elmer Keith liked 16/1 alloy for all his sixgun loads so I would say that you are in good company.

John

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Seems like I added about a pound of 50/50 to wheel weights many years ago and had some darn fine bullets.I think my bullets were a bit heavier than the mold was designed for so I believe they were not quite as hard as the No.2 alloy.

Unless casting for BP bullets, I use wheel weights instead of pure lead for all my handgun bullets.

Looks like the pure wheelweight bullets I cast for my 44 are only 9 BHN. Good thing they have a gas check!

If I mix half pound pure lead, half pound tin, to nine pounds wheel weights that should give me #2 alloy correct? Thanks.

Hello, AUW..It depends..on how old the WW are. The amount of antimony has decreased in recent years.
I have found for most of my target shooting, both revolver & rifle use, a softer alloy is adequate.

These are pretty old weights probably 15 yrs old.
I want to shoot these out of a 444 marlin.

Sorry for quoting my own comment but I have a related question. When I dropped these bullets from the mould, I dropped them into cold water and doing that hardens them some right? If so, how much?

If I remember correctly quenching only hardens the bullet a few thousandths deep. Seems I remember there being mentioned that sizing the bullets may remove the shallow hardening derived from quenching. I would think that depends on how much they are sized. I tried it years ago for handgun bullets and honestly couldn't tell enough difference to make it worth the effort.

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These were 310 gr 44FN from a Lee mould and I sized them to .430 and put a gas check on. With the gas check, I'm not worried about leading but just wondered how much harder water quenching made them over "natural" air cooling.

It's not an easy answer because it depend what "else" was in your alloy. Arsenic, I believe, is needed in trace amounts for the hardening effect.

You'd have to test them, and then test again over time. The effects can fade. It's quite a complicated subject....

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MikeG

I'm not really concerned about it, just wondering. Thanks 4 the replies.