Difference while casting?

[S.B.]

Will diameter be affected if I use my existing molds that are made for WWs and now use them with pure lead for muzzle loaders? If so, bigger or smaller?
Steve

[Don McDowell]

The bullets may come out at a smaller diameter, due to the lack of tin, antimony and other assorted stuff found in wheelweights. The only way to know for sure is to cast some up.

[M-Tecs]

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Alloy shrinkage of cast bullets Composition, % Brinell Shrinkage

Type Metal Tin Antimony Lead Hardness Linear, % Linotype 4 12 84 18 .65 Monotype 9 19 72 26 .65 Lead -- -- 100 5 1.13 Tin 100 -- -- 7 .90 Antimony -- 100 -- 50 .47 As an example: the solidification of a nominally .357" diameter bullet cast of Linotype could be expected from the above table to be .0065 X .357" = .0025". In a soft alloy of lead and tin, .01 X .357" = .0035". Shrinkage - Bullet Diameter, Inches Alloy .308 .357 .452 Linotype .002 .0025 .003 Lyman # 2 .0025 .0025 .0035 Soft Lead .0035 .004 .005 From the above two tables it can be seen that the softer the alloy and the larger diameter the bullet that more shrinkage will occur.

[country gent]

Those charts will come in handy Thanks

[doc1876]

that is great, I also was curious about this, but never even thought that there was a chart. thanks for providing

[Don McDowell]

It helps to keep in mind you can vary the diameter of a bullet from the same mould and alloy simply by changing the temperature of the alloy.