Alloy mix ?

[Slinger]

I was mixing up 10 lb. of #2 alloy. I used 4 lb of Lino, 1lb. of 50/50 bar solder, and meant to use 5 lb. of LEAD, but picked up 5 lb. of wheelweights instead. Didn't realize it until a couple days ago. It should be around 15 BHN using the lead (according to the recipe). The alloy is four or five days old now and on my LBT tester, I'm registering a needle width over the 15 BHN line, so I figure it's 16 BHN, maybe a tad more. I casted up some slugs using a Lee 2 holer. They came out really shiny like they were polished nickel. Seemd to be filled out ok, and right on the money as far as weight (200 gr. 45 acp). Ran 199.7 or so to just over 200 gr.
My question is should I add some additional wheelweight metal or lead? I hate to have the 50/50 bar solder going to waste by having too much in the melt.

[southpaw]

presumeing that lino is 4%tin 11%antimony and ww is .25% tin and 4% antimony your mix would be 6.7% tin and 6.4% antimony. if you put in another 5# lead you would have 4.5% tin and 4.2% antimony. thats what i would do.

[runfiverun]

i use straight ww's with a tad of tin for my 45's as the acp is a low pressure round anyways.
1 lb of tin will do me a whole 100 lbs of boolits this way.

[Echo]

I would dilute with 20 lbs of WW's, for a final tin amount of ~2-2.5% - all the tin you need.

[randyrat]

IMO- I would save that alloy (label it so you know what it is) and mix in with soft lead until your 200 gr boolits are about 205 or 206 grs.... Just fine for 45 acp loads.
So melt a couple small ingots of it,add some pure lead, pour a few boolits and weigh. If they are too light add more soft. I just can't see wasting an good alloy on 45acp boolits.

[Slinger]

IMO- I would save that alloy (label it so you know what it is) and mix in with soft lead until your 200 gr boolits are about 205 or 206 grs.... Just fine for 45 acp loads.
So melt a couple small ingots of it,add some pure lead, pour a few boolits and weigh. If they are too light add more soft. I just can't see wasting an good alloy on 45acp boolits.

I wasn't going to use the alloy on just 45 ACPs. It was going to be for 357 & 45 Colt as well. I wanted about 15 BHN mix. Like I said it's 16 BHN or a tad more.

[runfiverun]

i hit 1500+ in my 45 colt lever gun with the mix i mentioned above.
fit trumps hardness everytime.

[Slinger]

i hit 1500+ in my 45 colt lever gun with the mix i mentioned above.
fit trumps hardness everytime.

I agree with you on fit. I've got a Blackhawk in 45 Colt, 5-1/2" bbl. Is a shootin' fool with good cast slug @ .452". I use 255 gr. The gun is right in throats, bore, & chambers. Smacked a bowling pin dead center @ 75 yards with it the other day. Load was 1000 fps or under.
What kinda' 45 Colt Rifle do you have??????? I've been thinkin' about gettin' one, but don't know if I'd go Marlin or Uberti .

[RustyFN]

I was mixing up 10 lb. of #2 alloy. I used 4 lb of Lino, 1lb. of 50/50 bar solder, and meant to use 5 lb. of LEAD, but picked up 5 lb. of wheelweights instead. Didn't realize it until a couple days ago. It should be around 15 BHN using the lead (according to the recipe). The alloy is four or five days old now and on my LBT tester, I'm registering a needle width over the 15 BHN line, so I figure it's 16 BHN, maybe a tad more. I casted up some slugs using a Lee 2 holer. They came out really shiny like they were polished nickel. Seemd to be filled out ok, and right on the money as far as weight (200 gr. 45 acp). Ran 199.7 or so to just over 200 gr.
My question is should I add some additional wheelweight metal or lead? I hate to have the 50/50 bar solder going to waste by having too much in the melt.
I use straight WW"s. I add two feet of 95/5 solder to help the lead flow in the mold. I just got a Lee hardness tester and tested a few. They tested at 14 BHN. Mine are comming out like yours, real close to 200 grains.
Rusty

[runfiverun]

navy arms 92 and a rossi carbine.
in 44 the lsi rifle and 357,44-40 rossi carbines.
probably forgot one or two.
but they all shoot cast justfine and i only have one mold with a g/c which i use in the 44 mag occasionally the main reason i got it was my rnfp mold doesn't hold enough lube for h/vels in the longer bbl.
the marlin actions are good but their bbls can humble a cast shooter or make him look like the man.
and the uberti's are usually spensive and in the 73 persuasion which won't take the pressures for the higher vel stuff but are fun to shoot.
main reason i like the 92's they carry easy have enough oomph for hunting and are accurate enough,if i need more reach the 94 goes.
if i am gonna shoot across the canyons i take a rifle with a scope,might still be shooting cast though.

[Slinger]

I'm really not into the levers that much, but got an itch for a 45 Colt in one. I'll have to look around. Gunshop I frequent has had a Uberti sitting on the wall for at least three years. think he has a price of $800+ on it. I can get him down but how much is the question.
I've got a Marlin in 44 mag. The best I've got thus far with cast is about 3" for 5 shots @ 100 yds. It tells you right away if a load is a little hot. Had a Load of Unique in a test lot. .6 grain under max. and it stuck the ejected case part way out of the chamber. Extractor slipped right off. Does the same with 24.0- 296- 240 grain Jacketed.
Is the Navy Arms lever gun any good? Hard Trigger?