Anyone add 95/5 solder to thier alloy?

[fatelvis]

I can get a whole bunch of free, new 95/5 solder, and was wondering if anyone can share a good recipe for ww+ 95/5 for rifle bullets. It seems to me that it has to be good for alloying, but I never read about anyone using it. Thanks-

[JohnH]

yeah, it'll work good, but because it has either antimony or copper in it, it will make your bullets harder than the same percentage of straight tin. I made some 20:1 lead/tin with the stuff, got 12 BHN, book says 20:1 should be 10 BHN.

In any case, 2% tin is typically all the tin needed in an alloy for good wetting action, the reason we add tin. It increases the surface tensio of the alloy and thereby aids mold fill out. By the math, (320 x .02), for every 20 pounds of wheel weight add 6.4 ounces of your 95/5. Going to 8 ounces won't hurt a thing, neither will dropping back to 5.

[Johnch]

Just think of it as tin .
I cast most rifle and hoter pistol out of WW + 1 % tin
So I add about 3.2 oz per 20 lb .
But I make up batchs of 99 lb of WW and a roll of 95-5

For pistol ( plinking and target) I use 49% WW +49% range lead and 1% tin or 95-5 solder

Maybe not the best to add to muzzelloader RB or Maxi's it mite add a little to the hardness over pure tin and you want them soft

Johnch

[Lloyd Smale]

I had about 30 lbs of it in one lb rolls once and used to just throw a roll in with a batch of ww when I smelted them. The ww batches were about 70 lbs.

[BCB]

I use it to make #2 Lyman. With these ingots of #2, I blend them into a given number of pounds of WW. That way I get a bit better BHN, plus I get a bullet that I can heat treat and gain some hardness. It seems to work O.K. for me. Good-luck...BCB

[MT Gianni]

I add about 3 feet to a 20 lb pot to improve fillout with molds I have documented to be "stubborn" to fill out. That is usually all it takes. Gianni.

[mooman76]

I also add in 1/4 - 1/3 cup of chilled magnum shot to 10 lb. of melt to help make it harder for rifle bullets. The shot has antimony in it to make it harder.

[Newtire]

I also add in 1/4 - 1/3 cup of chilled magnum shot to 10 lb. of melt to help make it harder for rifle bullets. The shot has antimony in it to make it harder.
Used to use that myself with what a guy gave me one time to make up Lyman #2. Thought it was just 95% lead and 5% tin. Regardless, it made real great bullets. Now that I'm all out of that fine stuff, I just use the wheelweights I get & seem to do just great. That stuff is way too expensive to buy in the stores around here anyway.

[fatelvis]

The 95/5 is comprised of 95 % Tin / 5% Antimony , so I figured it would add add both necessary ingredients to the melting pot. Do you think adding more Antimony (chilled shot) is needed, when casting GC'ed bullets for a rifle (2000 fps)? Im using WW's and 8 OZ 95/5 now, but havent shot them yet! Thanks-