How do I make 1:25 lead alloy ?

[commando223]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum looking for some info on making bullets. I recently acquired these two .43 Spanish Rolling block rifles and I'm anxious to get them out to the range. I've been gathering everything I need to make ammo for them however, I'm stuck at the bullet alloy. From the book I've been reading it recommends a 1:25 tin/lead alloy for this .43 caliber bullet. I have about 25lbs of pure lead I purchased on eBay but I don't know how much tin I will need to buy or how much to mix with the lead.

Here is a quick picture I took of both rifles in my shop.

[sqlbullet]

1 lb of tin + 25 lbs of lead = 26 lbs of 1:25.

[commando223]

1 lb of tin + 25 lbs of lead = 26 lbs of 1:25.

Excellent thank you I would have to make less though since my Lee pot is only 20lbs

[runfiverun]

actually it's more like 17 or there abouts.
weigh your stuff out in 2 batches and mix 2 pots worth.
then add in an ingot from each batch to re-fill the pot.

[jdfoxinc]

1:25 one pound tin + 24 pounds of lead = 1 in 25.

[rwadley]

1:25 one pound tin + 24 pounds of lead = 1 in 25.

In all respect, you are mistaken. Ratios and fractions are different. 1:25 means 1 part tin TO 25 parts lead, not 1 part tin IN 25 parts lead.

[bumpo628]

In all respect, you are mistaken. Ratios and fractions are different. 1:25 means 1 part tin TO 25 parts lead, not 1 part tin IN 25 parts lead.

Yes, it is 1 lb tin mixed with 25 lbs pure lead.
If it were as jdfoxinc said, ratios like 2:1 or 1:1 would not make sense.

[eagle27]

Yes same as fuel mix ratios where 50:1 two stroke fuel is 100mls oil in 5 litres petrol i.e. 5.1 litres 2 stroke mix

Casting lead mix can also be expressed in percentages such as Lyman #2 which is 90/5/5 - 9lbs lead + 1/2lb tin + 1/2lb antimony to make 10lb #2 alloy

[rwadley]

Lyman #2 alloy can also be expressed as 90:5:5 or 18:1:1.
25:1 alloy is about 96.15% lead and 3.85% tin.

[montana_charlie]

The confusion comes from the various ways we say it.

Common terms are:

(twenty-one pounds of alloy)
20-1 or 20:1 - which is 20 pounds of lead 'to' one pound of tin.

(twenty pounds of alloy)
1 in 20 - which is one pound of tin in a mixture that weighs 20 pounds.
95/5 - which is a mixture in which a total of twenty pounds would contain one pound of tin.
When using ratio terminology, these last two would be called '19 to 1'.

The actual difference between the two possibilities is truly small, and it's probably impossible to detect any difference in performance.

[jam047]

Hello, I am new to casting also. Can anyone tell me the proper proportion of lead to tin in casting handgun loads; 45, 40, and 9mm?

[OS OK]

Hello, I am new to casting also. Can anyone tell me the proper proportion of lead to tin in casting handgun loads; 45, 40, and 9mm?

Lead alloy calculators

Here's another source for the newbie...really for all of us to read and reference...

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm > From Ingot to Target...Glen Fryxell