45 acp alloy

[fishnnut]

Hello Gents,

I just finished casting up a few hundred 45acp bullets using the Lyman 452374 mold. I like to size them to .452. I measured several after casting with WW and found all of them small ranging from .449 to .451. I powder coat so I increase the size a bit over.001. My question is, what is the best combination of alloy does everyone use? I also have some #2 laying around to use but I prefer to use that for my magnum boolits + some tin.

fishnnut

[GRUMPA]

For mine I'm using range lead. So far so good since they aren't really going all that fast and PC'ing them gives them that hard outer shell. I used to use WW back in the day, but I figured why waste WW lead when what's going down the pipe isn't going that fast.

[Budzilla 19]

50/50 WW -PB, 2% SN, works for me. Powder coat or BLL, they work good. Good luck.

[fishnnut]

Thanks guys! I have some range lead and some pure lead so i will give both a shot and see what happens.

[Jal5]

For mine I'm using range lead. So far so good since they aren't really going all that fast and PC'ing them gives them that hard outer shell. I used to use WW back in the day, but I figured why waste WW lead when what's going down the pipe isn't going that fast.

What he said!

[fishnnut]

I like this Budzilla 19!

"I firmly believe that you should only get treated by how you act, not by who or what you are!!"

fishnnut

[jsizemore]

I'm with Budzilla. I've cut my Sn back to 1% and raised my casting temp 25degF. Boolits still look good.

[243winxb]

all of them small ranging from .449 to .451. More antimony content is needed to increase as cast bullet diameters.

[lightman]

I just use plain old clip-on wheelweights. They are still plentiful here and thats what I have the most of. I find them to be pretty consistent and I good good fillout.

[spfd1903]

Fishnut
Just for information, are you measuring the diameter with calipers or a micrometer?

[Scharfschuetze]

I've always just used COWWs for the 45 ACP. At its pedestrian velocity that has always proven to be more than adequate, even in the 1917 revolvers.

I'm down to two 5 gal buckets of very old WWs though. When those are gone, I guess I'll have to figure out something else.

[w5pv]

I have about 1.75 5gallon buckets of ww that I have got to smelt down into ingots,looks like the wx is going to fine for it.

[fishnnut]

I have been using the micrometer,


Fishnut
Just for information, are you measuring the diameter with calipers or a micrometer?

[NoAngel]

I powder coat too, and for 45 I use Crapaloy. That's whatever I have laying around. Mostly dead soft. At speeds of 800-900 fps you don't need anything special.

[edler7]

50/50 WW -PB, 2% SN, works for me. Powder coat or BLL, they work good. Good luck.

Yep. Works great and allows me to stretch both WW and PB stash a little further.

[fishnnut]

I'm with Budzilla. I've cut my Sn back to 1% and raised my casting temp 25degF. Boolits still look good.

What temperature are you casting at?

[Ed_Shot]

Do a search here for "beageling a mold". I just got a 452374 off ebay this week that cast .451~.452 with my hardball alloy. Beageling with aluminium tape brought it to .453+......pretty quick and easy.

[gwpercle]

When I had a free unlimited supply of wheel weights I used that. Now I cut the wheel weights 50/50 or 50/60 and add 1 % tin to the mix. These being Clip-On of course . Air cooled, this mix works just fine for all my handguns boolits.
Gary

[jsizemore]

What temperature are you casting at?

700degF

[tinsnips]

I was going to try 2 pure lead to 1 ww plus a little tin in hopes to save some of my ww. Does anyone see a problem with this are far as to being too soft.

[MattN]

Lately I've cast my 45 acp and 38's 2-1. I pc everything. No issues. I started the same with 9mm. No problems with those either. It's amazing how far your cww will go then. I do cast pretty hot though.

[teg2658]

50/50, range scrap/linotype for 45 ACP bullseye loads, size .452 with 0ld NRA lube formula, 50/50 2138f/beeswax, H&G 68.
Tom