Bismuth

[RMc]

Has anyone here tried casting buckshot or ball from Bismuth alloy?

It appears that Rotometals is promoting this alloy for home casting:

https://www.rotometals.com/lead-free...ismuth-12-tin/

[Littleton Shot Maker]

Yes we have made many balls, various sizes...and some BILLETS we are going to swage and see what we can do with in a jacket....

the alloy you want needs 30% tin other wise you are going to end up with dust or broken buck shot- unless you want it to fragment on impact??

[bangerjim]

It casts great. Not an environmeltal hazard......the loony greenies (and Ca condors) will love you.

I use a 53% Bi alloy that melts at 140F for reproducing antique trim on clocks and furniture i repair. I can cast it in simple rubber molds. Hot coffee will melt it.

And remember.......Pepto Bismol is mainly Bi. Harmless to the human body unless you are diabetic.

[Littleton Shot Maker]

140F? wow my car gets that hot in the summer, on a hot day in the sun...hate a have a bullet/ slug that temp sitting any where it may get too hot...bullet melts out and the powder goes out??

For tiny model pats and Toy soldiers I have used some thing like that low melt alloy - but the one I use has a melt point about 165-175f-

[bangerjim]

140F? wow my car gets that hot in the summer, on a hot day in the sun...hate a have a bullet/ slug that temp sitting any where it may get too hot...bullet melts out and the powder goes out??

For tiny model pats and Toy soldiers I have used some thing like that low melt alloy - but the one I use has a melt point about 165-175f-

Well........I do NOT waste this alloy casting boolits! NO WAY. I have literally TONS of Pb alloys for that. It is used to cast detailed antique trim for antiques. And not toy soldiers either.

I have cast spoons of this stuff.....given them to friends to stir their “very strong” coffee I give them....and they are shocked to pull it out and the spoon is melted off!!!!!! HA......ha!

[Littleton Shot Maker]

Not knocking what you are doing, just wanted to bring up the temps.
Use vs. Need. ,
he will need it for slugs so LOW melt might be the wrong thing to put in his idea list....

12% tin will come apart in those slugs or bullets...

%5 tin works great for shot
Anything bigger than a .22 ball and you want to shoot it at GUN velocities ( not a sling shot as example) need 30% tin to stay in one piece and do well on game/ targets

I have .36 .32 , small end and some bigger .45 .44 balls in the casting room right now we made with 30% tin

and some we made with 5% tin also - It can break it with a good whack from a very light hammer or drop it real hard...
All that got re-cycled into shot

[missionary5155]

Good morning
This is great information. Have thought about popping a goose when up north with the flinters but lead is all we have had on hand.
Shoot called crows if great flinter fun ! But a Goose would make a fine meal.
Mike in Peru