Water Quenching

[jethunter]

I need to water quench some 45-70 bullets. The bullets are 15-16 BHN as cast and I'd like to gain a couple BHN. I'm heating the bullets in a 500F oven for 20 minutes and then dropping in the water bucket. Is that enough heat and time?
Thanks

[44MAG#1]

Yes it is.
I generally use 440 at 40 minutes.

[huntrick64]

Be careful or you might end up with BHN 25! There is a really good article on the LASC site that has a table of heat quenching time and temps. I have used it many, many times and it was very accurate. You also don't want to start any slumping with too much heat. Using that table and wheel weight alloy, you will be able to predict and replicate the BHN you need.

[jethunter]

Thanks guys.

[RobS]

You need an accurate thermometer unless you know for sure about your oven temps. Additionally, if you have hot spots in your oven you could have boolit slump (melting) at the higher temps. As been mentioned there is a good read over on the LASC site:
http://www.lasc.us/heattreat.htm

[olafhardt]

Another reason to water quench is because it sounds so cool when you do it.