50/50 Lead WW????

[161]

I scored a about 500lbs of pure lead this week and I'm not sure what to do with it. I thought I read somewhere that If I mix it 50/50 with WW and water drop. The boolits would be hard enough for non mag pistol rnd. But now I can't find where I read that and I'm starting to question if I did. Can I? Also I really had no intentions of mixing alloys but it looks like I have a need to now and should learn how to figure tin %. How do I do this? Last night I tried to figure adding 2% tin to a 10lbs pot. This is what I did tell me if I'm right or if again I found the most difficult way to do something. I broke 10lbs into oz. 160 oz in 10lbs. 160X.02=3.2. Does that mean in a 10lbs pot I would need 3.2 oz of a 95/5 solder? 6.4oz in 20lbs pot? I'm confused and not afraid to admit it.
Thanks
Warren

[357shooter]

Congrats on the pure lead. It's is getting harder to find around here.

50/50 with WW and water dropped is plenty hard even for magnum rounds, at least in a 357. I don't shoot 44 mag (sorry, there's others out there too) and suspect it's a bit different, but you didn't mention what you will be casting for.

In 357 I use 98% pure lead and 2% of the 95/5 solder in all loads. Non-magnum and magnum, the bullets fit the revolver and the carbine really well and that helps, depends on gun a bit (depth of rifling etc...), but it's worth a try as it can work well. The soft bullets are actually more accurate, again, that's in my 357 magnum.

Your calculations are right on the money, or close enough. The idea is to have 2% of the final weight be the tin/solder. In this case it's so close it doesn't matter.

What I mean is that first figure out that 160 is 98% of what total weight. So, 160/.98 gives the a final weight of 163.26. Subtract the weight of the lead 163.26-160=3.26 of tin/solder needed. The result is very close in this case, but sometimes it can matter. At least that's how I figure it out.

[DukeInFlorida]

For me, anything under 1000 fps, I use 50-50 alloy, with about 6-8 ounces of lino tossed in for good measure, and air cool. Lubed with Felix Lube, and sized right for my guns, it shoots wonderfully with no leading. I once ran 1000 rounds of 500 S&W Magnum down the pipe, with out cleaning the gun, cast in the manner suggested above, and it went perfectly (no leading).

I don't tend to get overly scientific about the exact percentages until I get in the realm of 2000 fps+ for rifles. Then I get fussier.

Enjoy your pure lead, and use it 50-50 with some wheel weights to get more pistol boolits!!! If you like shinier bullets. you can toss in some extra tin.

[161]

Sorry, I'll be shooting them in a 357 Marlin mostly 38sp 158 TL some Lee 158 gas check 357 not many. .40S&W in a Glock 175 Lee TL. And a Marlin .44 right now I have a 2 cavity 240 Gas check Lee mold. Most likely going to get a RD TL for the .44. So no real need to add tin then? Also I have a bunch of 50/50 pure lead Linotype. Will that work 50/50 with the WW, or should I use that with the lead? Whats the best use for that? Thanks for the quick response.
Warren

[357shooter]

In the 38 spcl and 357, the lead with 2% tin works great. I like the tin primarliy for better fillout of the mould, it does add a bit of hardness too.

Others can help with the rest of the guns mentioned. I understand the 40's tend to have shallow rifling and need something a bit harder. But I don't know if that means BHN 11 or BHN 16.

No experience with the Marlin, 44's or lino.

[crash87]

I thought I read somewhere that If I mix it 50/50 with WW and water drop. The boolits would be hard enough for non mag pistol rnd. But now I can't find where I read that and I'm starting to question if I did.
Warren

No you read it here;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=105067
Good information, in fact I alloyed some yesterday, now I need to get casting ;-)
crash87

[white eagle]

50/50 lead /lino is what they call hardball alloy
rite around 16 bhn
I would not mix that up use it in magnum pistol and rifles
although if you did have a bunch ...you could experiment a bit

[fredj338]

FOr low pressure bullets; 38sp, 45acp, 50/50 lead/ww works fine air cooled. Water drop for 9mm, 40 & magnum rounds, also works great. I even use them in 45-70 rounds.

[pls1911]

I have a continuous source for roofing take off material
The analysis on this stuff is better than you think... while it only has 1% tin, it also has up to 2% antimony. Alone, it makes much better bullets than pure lead, with a little tin added, better still. Mixed 70pb-30WW, it's great as is for pistol fodder, and heat treates to 25+ for rifles and maintains maleability so it does not shatter on impact like linotype.

Even if you cannot render the scrap down for awhile, get all of it you can...while you can.

[bobthenailer]

50% WW and 50% pb will water drop from the mould to around 16 bhn.

[161]

Thanks for the help.
Warren

[lylejb]

I've used 2/3 WW, 1/3 pure, +2% tin air cooled, in 357 pistol upto 1200 fps with no problems at all. Could have gone higher if I wanted to.

The only reason I used 2/3 - 1/3 was because I was short on pure. 1/2 and 1/2 would work just as well.

1/2 WW 1/2 pure, air cooled, should be fine for most of your loads. You may or may not need to add 1 or 2% tin to help mould fill out. The 40 may need more hardness, and if so, water drop them. Try it, do some testing. DR. gun will show you the answer.

If your going to load full tilt in the 44, it would be a good canidate for water drop as well. Mid range loads may not need it.

I always try to start with easy. I don't like to do more than is needed. Start with air cooled, keep it simple. try it. If that does what you need, great. If that doesn't do what you need, then try the water drop.

I would save the lino for when you really need it. It's getting harder to find all the time.