stupid question, common stuff to make #2

[ENFIELD303]

I am brand new to casting, as a matter of fact i haven't got past making ingots. I got the lyman master casting kit and maybe i am just dumb but the way they describe how to make #2 doesn't register in my brain.

what types of common materials can I use to make #2 alloy?

I have wheel weights to start with but lyman says i need this and that, all of which I probably wouldn't know what it was if it hit me in my face.

so I come to the pro's for this one, don't worry there will be many more.:drinks:

Thanks,
ENFIELD303

[runfiverun]

unless you can get lino-type or add antimony you cant make 5/5 mix with .5/3 mix.
you really don't need the #2 mix.
plain ole ww's will get you 1400 easily and up to 1600 with a good lube.
heat treating of some sort, water dropping or oven baking will get you plenty hard.
for even rifle velocities as fast as your rifle will hold accuracy.

[ENFIELD303]

unless you can get lino-type or add antimony you cant make 5/5 mix with .5/3 mix.
you really don't need the #2 mix.
plain ole ww's will get you 1400 easily and up to 1600 with a good lube.
heat treating of some sort, water dropping or oven baking will get you plenty hard.
for even rifle velocities as fast as your rifle will hold accuracy.

so wheel weights will do the job alone w/ good lube?

oven baking? really? where can one learn more about this?

[stubert]

What are you going to be shooting? How fast? That would dictate the hardness. 9 lbs ww and 1 lb 50/50 solder will make you #2.

[Gunslinger]

There are a truckload of threads on everything you ask about :)

Happy reading, and welcome to the board.... you'll be an addict like the rest of us before you know it [smilie=1:

[Hardatwork]

This will help a lot.
www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

[sniper]

What are you going to be shooting? How fast? That would dictate the hardness. 9 lbs ww and 1 lb 50/50 solder will make you #2.

The EASIEST way! Actually, the fact sheet where that recipe is listed says "close to" #2. Good enough for me, and probably 98% of casters. Straight WW is good, too. :-D

Now, lube...what shall we say about lube? :mrgreen: Seems like it all works pretty good!

[ENFIELD303]

i am going to use my casts as all purpose deer, target and zombies

[glicerin]

Stubert: in last decade ww have only about 3.5% antimony, and 1 lb of 50/50 dilutes that. If this caster wants to hunt, 5% antimony might not expand at all.

[jhrosier]

My experiences casting with WW suggests that adding a couple of percent of tin makes the boolits much easier to cast and is well worth the extra expense.

I water drop for paper punching but would seriously consider dropping them on a towel to air cool for hunting, if expansion was required.

A good lube is always best for either hard or soft boolits. I had been using Lars 2500+ with good results but I'm going to try his Carnuba Red shortly. If you buy the Lars lubes, the very best costs nothing extra.:drinks:

Jack

[Johnch]

For hunting
I can highly recomend a 50/50 mix of WW and pure lead ....Oh I do add 1% tin to the mix
Then Water drop them

It makes bullet hard enough to be pushed pretty fast , like 1600 fps and faster with the right lube

But it will still expand
John