Best use for linotype?

[Mark Daiute]

do I use Linotype straight or should I alloy it with lead?

Let me re-ohrase: what's the best way for me to use Linotype?

Thanks,

mark

[btroj]

Depends on what you want to do.

For 22 cal projectiles you could use it straight. For handguns you could go 80 lead 20 Lino for slow, low pressure stuff.

For most rifle shooting 50/50 with pure would be ok.

Like I said, it all depends upon what you want to do.

[Mark Daiute]

Depends on what you want to do.

For 22 cal projectiles you could use it straight. For handguns you could go 80 lead 20 Lino for slow, low pressure stuff.

For most rifle shooting 50/50 with pure would be ok.

Like I said, it all depends upon what you want to do.

thanks for the response... 30 cal rifles, my Krags and 03's and my Model 1917.

[btroj]

I would start in the 50/50 range, maybe even 40 line to 60 lead. That will give you a good start point.

[Lizard333]

For my 30 cal and 22 cal I use Lino 10:1. 10 pounds COWW to one pound of Lino, water dropped. Never had a problem yet. Good luck!

[bobthenailer]

use it only for alloying up a softer mixture to desired hardness, using straight lino is a waste of expensive and hard to get alloy with no real advantage in using straight ! 50/50 at the highest use percentages but usually alot less.

[WILCO]

use it only for alloying up a softer mixture to desired hardness, using straight lino is a waste of expensive and hard to get alloy with no real advantage in using straight ! 50/50 at the highest use percentages but usually alot less.

Yeah! What Bob said. :smile:

[Mark Daiute]

ok- so I just loaded the lead pot with 50/50. Is this stuff simply suitable for target shooting or will it be good for hunting as well?

Next batch will reduce the lino.

[Lizard333]

Little hard for hunting IMO.

[sqlbullet]

No one has yet given you the obvious warning. Linotype contains lead, which is toxic. You best not use it at all. I will be a good friend and dispose of it for you.

Best use is to sparingly use it to increase the hardness of softer alloys.

[Mark Daiute]

Well, I've cast up a bunch of 311299's and if beauty is a measure of how well they will shoot then this should be the best batch of boolits I've ever cast. These look as good as the ones in the photos of boolits on the NOE page.

[sqlbullet]

Pretty boolit pics may well be the very best use of linotype, now that you mention it.

[ColColt]

Back in my early casting days I used 50/50 exclusively because plumbers lead was easily found and I had access to all the Linotyope I needed from a print shop for $.25/lb back then. It almost always gives a BHN 15.

[fredj338]

I used to get lino cheap, like 25c/# back in the day too. It cast so nicely I used it for everything. Now I use it to harden pure lead.

[Mark Daiute]

I used to get lino cheap, like 25c/# back in the day too. It cast so nicely I used it for everything. Now I use it to harden pure lead.

My boolits came out so nice I was astounded and I got the best test groups I've ever had, the second 5-shot group produced a single hole at 50 yards about 1/2" wide and 1" tall. This was with my NOE 311284 mold and Lars' BAC lube over 16.5 grains of 4679. I was shooting my Krag.

I'm wondering if I use 1lb lino to 9 pounds lead if I will still get such nice boolits but be able to use them hunting. Basically put a pound of lino in the lead pot and then fill it with lead.

Thanks for all the help.

Mark

[FISH4BUGS]

For all handguns. Supposed to mimic Lyman #2 alloy. Never had a leading issue in all my years of casting. I am now working on seeing how hard I can drive a plain based 357 and 44 mag bullet before it starts to lead. I can load up to that level for plinking, then go gas checks for higher if needed.
I use that in all the submachine guns too. 380, 9mm, 45. Works like a charm with no leading.
I still have 1000 each of 38 125gr JHP and 44 240gr jhp put away in ammo cans.....because you never know.......

[ShooterAZ]

A while back I scored several hundred pounds of sheet roofing lead, and I mixed it 3/1 with linotype. This alloy has served me very well in all of my handgun loads. I'm still using #2 in my rifles.