Need Alloying Advise

[LubeckTech]

Up till now I have been casting .38, 9mm .40S&W, 45 acp and .303 Brit (2200 fps) from wheel weights with good results. I just bought 65lbs of lead lyman ingots cast from soft sheet lead which will be here late this week. I have never alloyed lead before and am not sure how to proceed. I want to make it like the wheel weights (from various vendors) I have been using - probably 12-14 bhn. I am considering using linotype or Rotometals super hard. How much of either one of these would I need to make a decent alloy?? Any other suggestions?

[cbrick]

Check this out. Should give you a few ideas.

Alloying with Super Hard (http://www.lasc.us/Kelter_Super_Hard1.pdf)

Rick

[bumpo628]

Linotype = 4% tin, 12% antimony
Superhard = 30% antimony
Clip-on WW = 0.5% tin, 3% antimony (approximate composition)

If you mix Linotype and pure lead:
3 lbs of pure lead + 1 lb of linotype = 1.00% tin, 3.00% antimony
4 lbs of pure lead + 1 lb of linotype = 0.80% tin, 2.40% antimony
5 lbs of pure lead + 1 lb of linotype = 0.67% tin, 2.00% antimony
6 lbs of pure lead + 1 lb of linotype = 0.57% tin, 1.71% antimony

If you mix Superhard, pure Tin, and pure lead:
10 lbs of pure lead + 1 oz or pure tin + 1 lb of superhard = 0.56% tin, 2.71% antimony

I made an alloy calculator in excel that you can download here (6/28/11 version is the latest):
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=105952

[cajun shooter]

You may also read the postings by Glen Fryxell in the sticky section of this site. Glen has posted his entire book on alloys which is a must read for any one who cast bullets.

[randyrat]

Here is an easy way to do it with using almost no brains.

Weigh your WW boolits (or whatever alloy you normally use) out of each mold you use and log it down.

Now using some of your new alloy and some hard alloy guess at how much as close as you can. Cast them as usual and weigh a few boolits.
**Are they lighter than normal= add some soft alloy to make them heavier
**Are they heavier than your normal alloy= add some hard alloy

Keep your mold temps consistent, don't try to weigh a boolit from a cold mold

This method will give you very close results. Keep good records of how much of this and that you added.