new to casting

[nsdread07]

I've just started casting and am curious about whether I can just cast bullets using ww lead without adding tin or 50/50 solder. Also, about how many .357's 158 gr. from a pound of lead?

[cbrick]

Welcome to Castboolits nsdread07,

How many boolits from a pound of lead is very easy to figure. There are 7,000 grains in a pound (of lead or anything else). simply divide 7,000 by 158 gr and you get 44.3

Yes, you can cast from straight WW and not add any tin. How well this will work depends on how well your mould fills out without the extra tin (assuming proper alloy and mould temps).

Rick

[prs]

Welcome!

It also depends on how good your technique is for smelting the wheelweights without losing your tin. Other than getting rid of possible zinc weights early on, do not get into a big rush to skim off the clips and debris. I bring my smelt pot up to molten and begin looking for any zinc strays I missed -- they take longer/hotter to melt. Once cleared of them, I bring the temp up to where a bit of candle wax flames off when dropped into the just stirred pot and hold that temp for 15 minutes or so before fluxing well and then skimming. You don't want to toss your tin out with the slag dross.

prs

[.357]

you asked " about how many .357's 158 gr. from a pound of lead?"


1 pound of lead = 7000 grains

7000 grains (lead)/158 grains(boolits)= 44.303797

So 44 or so.

[fredj338]

It's about all I cast w/ ww or 50/50 (lead/ww) which is about the same as range scrap. Technique will get you good mold fill out.

[chris in va]

On a side note, you need to figure out if the pistol likes water dropped or air cooled boolits.