Lyman #2 BHN

Sorry folks for a silly question I'm sure to some. I bought some Lyman #2 from a reputable supplier the other day as I wanted something with a known alloy, I intended to mix it 50/50 with pure and use it for hunting in my 44 magnum 1894, on the list is Black Bear and Deer.

I have some ww that I sorced a few years ago and is of unknown hardness. I bought the art pencil set to see if I could figure out that BHN. I decided to check the #2 and it scratches with a 3B.

Am I doing something wrong, being that #2 should be in the 16 BHN ballpark?

Jeff

My own #2 alloy [90/5/5] cast bullets run 15 - 16 BHN after 10 - 14 days aging. WQ'd out of the mould they run 20 +/- BHN after 48 hours.

I would use the #2 as is. Test with my thumb nail. If i can mark the bullets, its to soft.

Never tested BHN. WW or scrap gets 2" of Rotometals linotype bar added to 10 lb pot.

Air cooled Lyman No 2 I alloy is around 15 the best I can tell. It is about perfect for the hunting Bullets you plan to cast.
Willie

I can scratch the ingot with my thumb nail, should I be able to scratch Lyman #2 with my thumb nail?
This is from a commercial supplier.

Jeff

#2, No. Is my guess? But i dont check BHN.

Thank you folks.

Jeff

Powder coat young man
Makes alloy hardness less critical and adds a thousandth or two to boolit diameter

Got to love #2 -

I'm going to cast with it and see how it goes, thanks everyone.

Jeff

Well I suppose I was worried over nothing. I cast a few boolits and now I can't gouge them with my thumb nail as I could the ingots. I mixed 50/50 lead/Lyman #2.

Jeff

Attachment 308747

Attachment 308748

They are frosty, I'll work on mold temp, tempo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wvmedic

I can scratch the ingot with my thumb nail, should I be able to scratch Lyman #2 with my thumb nail?
This is from a commercial supplier.

Jeff

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My memory -- don't test ingots and expect same hardness on a cast bullet.

The cooling rate on an ingot can be distinctly different than on a bullet, and cooling rate affects hardness.

I don't know your supplier (no need to either), but I wouldn't be surprised if they do not have a spec for hardness of an ingot as shipped. There really is no need.

Gotcha TurnipEaterDown, thank you. I'm a very novice amateur caster and didn't know or understand that until now. Now I know, I have learned a lot from here and continue to do so. I appreciate everyone who shares their knowledge here.

Jeff