Tin Vs Lead

[SWANEEDB]

I did find some tin but don't know ratio so I cast some 230 gr boolits with dead soft lead came out to 230 gr's. Used the same mold and cast some tin, boolits came out to 182 gr's, with these figures can someone tell me what percentage I have in this tin---I must say I'm quite happy with this find, ingot weight was about 8lbs.

[badbob454]

i think you will have to cast a pure tin bullet to figure this out.. sounds like @ 60-70% ....60/40is quite common so i would use that in my recipes and call it close enough ... also a hardness tester may help too

[Defcon-One]

Pretty sure that badbobgerman is right and you have 8 pounds of 60/40 solder!

Here's the math:

The density of Lead is 0.409 lb. per cubic inch or (2,863 gr. per cubic inch).
The density of Tin is 0.264 lb. per cubic inch or (1,848 gr. per cubic inch).

It is simple math now:

At 230 gr. your bullet is .0803 cubic inches of pure Lead. (230/2,863)

So, a bullet of pure Tin from your mould would be 1,848 X .0803 = 148.39 gr.

A bullet from your mould of the mystery alloy is 182 grains. That works out to about 60% Tin and 40% Lead per this equation:

(.60 X 148.39 gr.) + (.40 X 230 gr.) = 181.34 grains

So, 60/40 solder would cast a 181.34 grain bullet in your mould and that is close enough to 182 grains for me!

For reference, 50/50 solder would cast a 189.2 grain bullet in your mould per this equation:

(.50 X 148.39 gr.) + (.50 X 230 gr.) = 189.2 grains


I'm sure that your 8 lbs. of mystery alloy is 60/40 solder! There may be a tiny bit of 50/50 thrown in, or the pure lead that you cast your test bullet with may not be quite pure (very close though), but for all practical purposes you have 60/40 solder which is 60% Tin and 40% Lead.

Enjoy the mixing, Great find!


Edited to ad: You can download and use bumpo628's lead alloy calculator to plan your mix for the alloy you want.

[SWANEEDB]

Hey Guys, Thanks for the return, I do have some 90 o/o tin also so will do a cast with that also to make a comparison, Thanks again.

[Defcon-One]

90% Tin 10% Lead from your mould should be about 156 grains. Please post here or let me know if that pans out.

(.90 X 148.39 gr.) + (.10 X 230 gr.) = 156.55 grains

Just curious!

[SWANEEDB]

90% Tin 10% Lead from your mould should be about 156 grains. Please post here or let me know if that pans out.

(.90 X 148.39 gr.) + (.10 X 230 gr.) = 156.55 grains

Just curious!

OK, Thanks.

[lwknight]

I don't think that there would be much wrong with casting tin bullets except that tin costs around $15.00 per pound, they would be light and terminal ballistics would be poor if used for hunting.

[badbob454]

Pretty sure that badbobgerman is right and you have 8 pounds of 60/40 solder!

Here's the math:

The density of Lead is 0.409 lb. per cubic inch or (2,863 gr. per cubic inch).
The density of Tin is 0.264 lb. per cubic inch or (1,848 gr. per cubic inch).

It is simple math now:

At 230 gr. your bullet is .0803 cubic inches of pure Lead. (230/2,863)

So, a bullet of pure Tin from your mould would be 1,848 X .0803 = 148.39 gr.

A bullet from your mould of the mystery alloy is 182 grains. That works out to about 60% Tin and 40% Lead per this equation:

(.60 X 148.39 gr.) + (.40 X 230 gr.) = 181.34 grains

So, 60/40 solder would cast a 181.34 grain bullet in your mould and that is close enough to 182 grains for me!

For reference, 50/50 solder would cast a 189.2 grain bullet in your mould per this equation:

(.50 X 148.39 gr.) + (.50 X 230 gr.) = 189.2 grains


I'm sure that your 8 lbs. of mystery alloy is 60/40 solder! There may be a tiny bit of 50/50 thrown in, or the pure lead that you cast your test bullet with may not be quite pure (very close though), but for all practical purposes you have 60/40 solder which is 60% Tin and 40% Lead.

Enjoy the mixing, Great find!


Edited to ad: You can download and use bumpo628's lead alloy calculator to plan your mix for the alloy you want.

mine was a good guess .. defcon- one must have the brains in this family i didnt do so good in the algebra good someone paid attention ...