Alloy Recommendation (one size fits all)

[morme@gte.net]

I would like your recommendation on what all purpose alloy to use.

I use pure lead for my black powder, if only because it is easier to load, and I also cast for just about everything else. I'm tired of having lots of different alloys, and will probably settle on either;

Lyman #2 (90%-Lead,-5%-Tin,-5%-Antimony)
or
Hardball (2%-Tin,-6%-Antimony-And-92%-Lead)

No hardening other than water quenching. Highest percentage use will probably be the two 1911s (45 and 10mm) and 30-06 rifle, unless I can get a good AR-15 load (no need to cycle the action) I wish I could find a 70-80 grain 22 cal mould.

Most often shot

45 ACP
10mm mag
41 mag
380 auto

30-06
303 Lee Enfield
7x57
7mm mag
22.250
.223

Black Powder
.54 T/C Thunderhawk. Minie, R.E.A.L
1860 Army
1858 Remington
1860 Sheriff's model (short barrel 1860 Army)

I shoot .454/.451 ball and .451 conicals in the pistols. BH 5 vs 8 makes a HUGE difference in ease of loading the Sheriff's model with the short loading lever (about 2 1/2 in long)

Not looking for high velocity rifle loads, probably full cases of Trail Boss.

thanks for any input

Matthew Orme

[Bob Krack]

Can't get there from here - but if it has to be one and ONLY one, I rekon hardball would be the one.

[dale2242]

Lyman #2 or a homemade version of it is my choice....dale

[white eagle]

a generic fit ehh ?
why not 50/50 ?
I would also go with hardball

[wiljen]

I'd go with Hardball as it will water quench and provides a good alloy for hardened rifle boolits. For the 45 and the BP stuff - dont water drop or heat treat, leave it as cast and it should do fine. I'd be tempted to mix hardball 50/50 with pure for the BP and 45 loads as it will still be hard enough for those and is kind of a waste to use straight unless it is just cheaper than pure where you are.

[HeavyMetal]

Your "hardball" mix is very close to what I settled on years ago for a general purpose alloy.

Be aware that, as time goes on, your needs my change.

Case in point was a renewed interest in bullseye shooting I got last year this alloy really to hard for target wadcutters and HB wadcutters so I started collecting stick on ww and other soft lead compounds.

As you shoot BP this maynot be an issue for you but the thought is not to make a ton ( pun intended ) of any specific alloy.

[sqlbullet]

96/3/1 is what I use for about everything. I cast and shoot 10mm, 40 S&W, 357/38, 44 mag, 45 acp, 30-06, 300 win mag, 6.5 Carcano and 50 Lee REAL for my muzzle loader.

I use isotope lead for it all. Muddy Creek Sam sells it.

[morme@gte.net]

Thanks

Who is Muddy Creek Sam? I'll google after this.

my title is a bit misleading. I will really be using 2 "alloys". 1 is pure lead, and the 2nd is whatever I settle on after reading these replies (which I really appreciate).

Matthew


96/3/1 is what I use for about everything. I cast and shoot 10mm, 40 S&W, 357/38, 44 mag, 45 acp, 30-06, 300 win mag, 6.5 Carcano and 50 Lee REAL for my muzzle loader.

I use isotope lead for it all. Muddy Creek Sam sells it.

[bumpo628]

Thanks

Who is Muddy Creek Sam? I'll google after this.

my title is a bit misleading. I will really be using 2 "alloys". 1 is pure lead, and the 2nd is whatever I settle on after reading these replies (which I really appreciate).

Matthew

Check the vendor sponsor section under "isotope lead"

[morme@gte.net]

I have been buying mystery lead on ebay because WW are impossible to find in the People's Republic of California. My average cost, including some bars of pure tin from Rotometals is about $1.90 lb. The "recovered range lead" seems pretty good about $1.50 lb. 30 lbs of 99% for $1.40

If I read this correctly
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=86491
Muddy Creek Sam is selling at a buck a pound. Insane (for me) to buy anything else.

Otherwise, I'll settle on a general purpose blend from "The Antimony Man". Roto metals is in CA, so I have to pay almost 10% in tax.

One of my "wheel weight" purchases turned out to have a huge zinc component. Even without researching the zinc cromate yellow color left on the rim of the pot was a dead giveaway. I pulled most of the zinc, wirebrushed the pot several times, and cast the led into one ingot that I use for a weight for my home made hardness tester.

thanks again y'all

matthew



I'd go with Hardball as it will water quench and provides a good alloy for hardened rifle boolits. For the 45 and the BP stuff - dont water drop or heat treat, leave it as cast and it should do fine. I'd be tempted to mix hardball 50/50 with pure for the BP and 45 loads as it will still be hard enough for those and is kind of a waste to use straight unless it is just cheaper than pure where you are.

[Doby45]

You would be mildly retard NOT to purchase from Muddy Creek Sam. He has excellent reviews and has a VERY quality product at a great price. If I ever have to start buying lead it will be from him.

[morme@gte.net]

I resemble that remark!


You would be mildly retard NOT to purchase from Muddy Creek Sam. He has excellent reviews and has a VERY quality product at a great price. If I ever have to start buying lead it will be from him.

[morme@gte.net]

I PM'd Mr Mudd.

any recommendation on which of his 2 alloys to use? I saw one earlier. But more input is always welcome. I am to new at this to know the fine points of lead alloys

Matthew


You would be mildly retard NOT to purchase from Muddy Creek Sam. He has excellent reviews and has a VERY quality product at a great price. If I ever have to start buying lead it will be from him.

[white eagle]

Mr Mudd
sorry Steven that is funny
his product is top shelf
I reserve that for my show boolits................ makes purdy BOOLITS

[morme@gte.net]

Think he sells Tribbles?

it was meant in jest. I was tired of typing and wanted a shortcut


Mr Mudd
sorry Steven that is funny
his product is top shelf
I reserve that for my show boolits................ makes purdy BOOLITS

[Doby45]

You can't go wrong with either of his alloys, both are close to Lyman #2. Do you want to melt cores down and form your own ingots or do you just want to get ingots is the bigger question. I would just get the ingots.

[Charlie Two Tracks]

I have bought isotope from Muddy Creek Sam and was very pleased. Very, very clean lead. Good guy to deal with.

[white eagle]

Think he sells Tribbles?

it was meant in jest. I was tired of typing and wanted a shortcut

Harker fenton Mudd
star trekker ehhh....[smilie=p:

Its the terrilium Scotty ! :holysheep

[bbqncigars]

IIRC, it was Harcourt Fenton Mudd.