View Full Version : Pure lead...now what
exdxgxe4life
08-23-2011, 03:07 PM
Hello all,
I was lucky enough to stumble across about 60 lbs of pure lead in 8-10 inch rods for free. Of course not able to say no, I took them.
I've only melted down ww before.
Who/what/when/why/where/how can I do to make this usable. I'm assuming I need to ad some tin and linotype but you know what happens when you assume.
It's for my marlin 1894 in .44 mag. I currently am using a 300 grain GC mold from ranch dog outdoors.
Try Bumpo's alloy calculator and see if you can find a mix that meets your requirements. It's just an Excel spread-sheet, and you plug in differing amounts of materials to get a final mix percentage and estimated hardness. I like it. It should be a sticky here someplace.
Wayne Smith
08-23-2011, 03:25 PM
And read at least a good part of the Gold and Purple and Blue stickie.
BABore
08-23-2011, 04:30 PM
Mix it 50/50 with sorted, clip-on WW's. Add no more than 1/2% tin if you absolutely need it. Cast at 650 to 700 F from a hot mold and water drop the boolits. Size right away if needed and let sit for 1-2 weeks before shooting. It will do everything you need.
catmasher
08-23-2011, 07:16 PM
Send it to me, that stuff is't any good...:bigsmyl2:
van
bumpo628
08-23-2011, 10:33 PM
Hello all,
I was lucky enough to stumble across about 60 lbs of pure lead in 8-10 inch rods for free. Of course not able to say no, I took them.
I've only melted down ww before.
Who/what/when/why/where/how can I do to make this usable. I'm assuming I need to ad some tin and linotype but you know what happens when you assume.
It's for my marlin 1894 in .44 mag. I currently am using a 300 grain GC mold from ranch dog outdoors.
If you've got a GC mold, then you should be able to get away with mixing the pure lead and WW in a 50-50 ratio as mentioned above.
With 5 lbs of each: adding 1 oz of 50/50 solder will bump the tin up to 0.56% and 2 ozs will make it 0.86%.
I just updated my alloy calculator and saved it on the last example. Let me know if you have any questions.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=105952
/Thanks for the good word, R.M.
Hardcast416taylor
08-23-2011, 10:53 PM
Mix it 50/50 with sorted, clip-on WW's. Add no more than 1/2% tin if you absolutely need it. Cast at 650 to 700 F from a hot mold and water drop the boolits. Size right away if needed and let sit for 1-2 weeks before shooting. It will do everything you need.
YEAH BRUCE!!! Ya beat me to saying 50/50 + some tin.Robert
badbob454
08-24-2011, 02:05 AM
i would go for a harder alloy ,33/33/33 of pure lead/ clip on ww/linotype and a touch of solder to finish it off water drop and go ... and ba bore said it well wait a few weeks for the bullet to harden . and check it for max velocity's and unchecked for mild ( under 1500 fps ). i just dont think 50/50 lead /coww's, will hold up to magnum velocity without some accuracy issues... in my humble opinion
BABore
08-24-2011, 10:28 AM
i would go for a harder alloy ,33/33/33 of pure lead/ clip on ww/linotype and a touch of solder to finish it off water drop and go ... and ba bore said it well wait a few weeks for the bullet to harden . and check it for max velocity's and unchecked for mild ( under 1500 fps ). i just dont think 50/50 lead /coww's, will hold up to magnum velocity without some accuracy issues... in my humble opinion
It holds up very nice indeed. In fact it's all I use for full house 45-70 load as well as HV 338 & 375 H&H loads. In my magnum handguns, I use it both air cooled and water dropped depending on the gun's wants. It's not always about hardness. Cutting the antimony level down makes for a tough alloy when water dropped.
fredj338
08-26-2011, 03:51 PM
Mix it 50/50 with sorted, clip-on WW's. Add no more than 1/2% tin if you absolutely need it. Cast at 650 to 700 F from a hot mold and water drop the boolits. Size right away if needed and let sit for 1-2 weeks before shooting. It will do everything you need.
Agree, about all you need for most applications to 1000fps +. You can water drop that mixture to get a bit harder alloy too.
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
08-27-2011, 12:32 PM
Bruce's - BABore - recommendation of 50/50, WW an lead, water quenched right out of the mold is working well for me in my 45/70.
Currently pushing 1700fps with zero problems and the best groups I have seen.
I was surprised that it cast so well with the low percentage of tin, but the alloy did just great. Nice fill out, nice boolits.
And yes, I was running the temp, as Bruce indicated, at 650 - 700 degrees.
Keep em coming!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
Sure wish I had saved some of the huge stash if soft lead I once had!
ColColt
08-27-2011, 02:13 PM
I still haven't gotten the hang of how that calculator works...maybe someday.
DukeInFlorida
08-27-2011, 06:25 PM
IF your Marlin has microgrooved rifling, it really prefers straight linotype. I wouldn't use any pure lead as an additive for it, since that would make things too soft (without re-adding enough tin and antimony to make it up.)
Hello all,
I was lucky enough to stumble across about 60 lbs of pure lead in 8-10 inch rods for free. Of course not able to say no, I took them.
I've only melted down ww before.
Who/what/when/why/where/how can I do to make this usable. I'm assuming I need to ad some tin and linotype but you know what happens when you assume.
It's for my marlin 1894 in .44 mag. I currently am using a 300 grain GC mold from ranch dog outdoors.
Link23
08-27-2011, 07:20 PM
ill trade you lb for lb of wheel weight if you are interested
badbob454
08-28-2011, 12:42 AM
my 454 has some accuracy issues at magnum pressures with 100% waterdropped wheelweights .. adding a little lino, would be good as stated before so 33/33/33 plus tin would not be an unreasonable mix for magnum loads
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