which alloy to use

[fiatmom]

I have a lot of lead that I am going to smelt. If possible I would like one alloy for BP amd smokeless. Is this practical if so what alloy would be good(20-1, 30-1 or lyman)?

[MtGun44]

Not very practical, really. You may do OK with 20:1, but you'll have to try and see.

If by "lyman" you mean Lyman #2 alloy, their most commonly recommended alloy, it is good
but too hard for most BP application.

Bill

[prs]

What kind of BP? Muzzleloader/cap'n ball? Cartridge? Hunting or target or plink? Which smokesless rounds you shoot and what you shoot'n wit it?

prs

[white eagle]

I am with Bill
blackpowder requires a softer alloy
mag pistol and for that matter most pistol rounds need something
with more bhn's(harder)

[fiatmom]

BP cartridge 45=70 and 50-70 I also will shoot these with smokeless. The other rounds will be mil-surp and low velocity pistol.

[mold maker]

What form is the lead that you already have. Most BP boolits are cast of near dead soft pure lead. WWs will do for all but the really fast hand guns. Most rifle rounds require at least WW hardness and many use antimony and tin (linotype) to harden and cast good boolits.
As you smelt, keep different kinds of lead separate till you determine its best use. Plumbers lead, sheet lead, and stick on WWs are soft enough for your BP needs.

[JIMinPHX]

You are probably best off making up two or three master batches & then blending as needed from there. Put all the really soft stuff in one, hold aside really hard lead like linotype, if you have it, for a second batch & put everything else in the other. You can mix them later if you need to, but getting them back apart will be beyond your capability.

[peerlesscowboy]

I use Ly #2 exclusively but OTOH, I don't do much BP. Question to those dedicated BP guys........If I'm loading stuff like .38-55, .45-70 & .45-90 with smokeless and loading to BP'ish velocities and pressures why would there be different alloy requirements between smokeless & black?

John C. Saubak

[grouch]

My guns mostly prefer 20:1.
Grouch

[mpmarty]

If by black powder you mean cartridge black it won't make any difference. Muzzle loaders however prefer pure lead.

[mooman76]

I keep mine in two forms. Soft or near pure lead and the WW lead. That keeps it fairly simple and I can blend from there if needed. You could probably get by with straight WWs or like a 50/50 blend if you don't push too hard.

[JJC]

I smelt and keep seperate, blend when needed. I have given alloy away I thought I would never use. Now I kinda regret it. Never know when your taste might change.

[Tom Herman]

I use 50/50 soft scrap lead to wheel weights, plus 2% Tin for better mould fillout for general purpose handgun bullets to 1000 FPS. I have little to no leading with these alloys, and using my homemade SPG dead ringer bullet lube.
I mainly shoot midrange target loads.
Welcome aboard and Good Luck with your casting & shooting!

-Tom

[stubert]

If you are shooting handgun and black powder, you might get away with pure for both by using a gas check for the smokeless loads.???