Mixing 50/50 hardball alloy and pure lead in that ratio

[Kjeksen]

Mixing 50/50 hardball alloy and pure lead in that ratio - have anybody tried this? Looking for a BHN 12 alloy for my .45acp
and have pure lead and certified hardball alloy at my disposal. The calculations I have done
I should be around 12BHN. Anyone tried it? How was fillout? Too little tin?

[runfiverun]

that is the alloy I shoot for with all my mixes.
you'll be around 12 bhn.
more bhn than needed for a 45 acp, but it is a good alloy for lots of stuff.

[Kjeksen]

Thanks. Fillout is ok?
I see that many Commercial is doing 12bhn.

[runfiverun]

no problems with fill out.
your mold temperature dictates fill out more than anything else anyway.
all your doing is pouring heat into it from the pot.

Tin acts as a wetting agent allowing antimony and lead to flow easier within the mold.
but it isn't necessary if the alloy flows well and the mold has enough retained heat to keep it flowing inside the cavity's.
if you look at a wheel weight you'll see little numbers and letters on them, they do that with about 0.5% tin.

[DerekP Houston]

wayyy back when I ordered my first batch from midway with all my lee accessories I had a bunch of hardball foundry that I overpaid for. After reading here I determined it was way too expensive for what i was using and mixed it 50/50 with range scrap. For 45acp I don't even both modifying the range scrap anymore if fill out is decent. At most I'll toss in a chunk of tin.

[Cowboy_Dan]

As I recall, 1:1 Hardball and pure gives you the equivalent of wheel weights with a smidge of tin added. Plenty for about any pistol round.

[quilbilly]

Sounds like a good starting point to see what your various firearms will like. I ended up at about a 65% pure and 35% hard with a smidgeon of extra tin added. Casting is all about experimenting.

[mdi]

I haven't bought pre-made alloy, so what is "certified hardball alloy"?

[DerekP Houston]

I haven't bought pre-made alloy, so what is "certified hardball alloy"?

92/6/2 blend from foundry. I bought mine from rotometals.

http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/hardball.htm

When i first started casting I wanted to eliminate as many variables as possible so I spent more than needed. Now that I am more familiar and comfortable with the process I experiment with what works.

[870TC]

I mix 92/6/2 with pure lead all the time. Makes a nice all around alloy for handgun, I've also started using it in most all my rifle loads too. Comes out around 12 BHN on a LBT brand tester. No problems with fill out.

[runfiverun]

'certified' is from a foundry.
'hardball' is 2/6/92 it's also known as teracorp magnum alloy.
it's basically lino-type cut in half with pure lead.
most commercial casters use this alloy and it has a bhn of 15.
the amazing part is cutting it in half with soft lead only drops the bhn about 3 points.