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Short update: After some measurements and thinking (and more measurements), Tom at Accurate Molds drew up two new designs, which have now been ordered. Due to delivery times and traveling, I will...

Hm, yes it is nice to have, but I don't really see the need for copious amounts of tin. One only needs like 1-2%, right, so what I have (including some pewter) would be enough for a ton of lead. I...

Yep, it sure is. Too much for my taste :-)

Right now I have about 60-80 lbs of the stuff, and I figure that I only need something like 2% Sn in my final alloys. Oh well, I guess this is a bit of...

Thanks for the replies, I was a bit surprised by the rather elaborate process described in one of the older threads. I figured it would be more like Rich/WIS described it; i.e. melt the Sb (with a...

Has anyone tried to make their own SuperHard (or similar) by alloying pure antimony with whatever other lead they have? I've seen that Rotometals are selling 99% pure antimony either as small...

And the verdict is back from BNE:

Pb = 74.7%
Sb = 0.8%
Sn = 24.5%

So in short, I probably have a faulty thermometer, as this alloy should be melting at a much higher temp than it indicated....

I must ask what velocities you're getting from your 416 Taylor loads. (I'm assuming 50/50 means COWW/pure lead). Isn't that on the soft side for full/almost full power rifle loads?

I'm very new to...

Maybe. But tin is not so hard to come by, at least not in the form of pewter. Which should be high enough in tin to treat it as pure AFAIK. Isn't it normally 85+ % tin, with some lead and/or antimony...

Nice picture - but I'll have to postpone further ingot-making for a later date, at least for a couple of weeks, and by that time I might already have the answer.

thanks,

Yeah I've seen that chart before, and the only things that make sense from a temperature perspective is either 65% tin 35%lead, OR something 40% bismuth, 60% lead.

Neither of those would really...

I believe the thermometer to be reasonably accurate. It is not really intended for lead pots, but rather for measuring the heat of smoke in chimneys. Ranges from 50C (122F) up to 500C (932F)

Did...

Thanks, sent a PM.

I've read stickies, and tried a bit of googling, but there are just too many possible varieties, so I thought it prudent to ask.

Before even getting ANY casting gear, I came across a guy who was...

Thank you Tom, those drawings look fantastic.

I had indeed found your "pound cast" impression guide - a very good one at that - and tried to follow it as well. That is where I got my measurements...

Btw, would really appreciate any comments on whether I need to take any more measurements. The picture is a bit misleading, as the rifling actually goes almost all the way towards the end of the...

Tried the the "pounding" method to get some chamber measurements, I'm guessing that the .427 boolit idea I had before just won't work...

Perhaps I can only go as wide as .425 to be able to...

Thanks for those kind words. For any given subject, I try to read up en the basics before asking questions. I discovered however that bullet casting is sport with many world champions ;) , i.e. once...

Thanks. That is the plan anyway

Thank you very much for your lengthy and detailed answer.



Thanks for clarifying that safety aspect. As for the alloy to use, that (and the lubing/PC alternatives) is also for the future. One...

Thanks for your replies Bigslug,



"Works" in this case means - little/no leading, not stripping the boolit over the lands, enters the target head-on, reasonable accuracy, preferably at similar...

Actually, I haven't really started casting yet, just done a little bit of lead hoarding and some initial smelting/cleaning. But I have been reloading jacketed bullets for a few years, and this seemed...

Reviving an older thread. Does anybody who owns either the Lee or Redding bulge fixer kit tell me the dimensions of the case (at its widest) after being run through the tool.

I'm investigating if...