add tin, does the bullet get bigger or smaller

[Irascible]

I have always thought that % of antimony was the biggest factor in controlling the bullet dia. Then some one here said tin had as much affect. Now I read on Mountain Moulds web sight that adding tin to wheel weights makes the bullets smaller!! What IS the real story?

[runfiverun]

the way i have it is every step away from pure lead makes a bigger boolit.
now i have gotten some information that a small amount of tin [@.25%] will act like a grain refiner,causing the alloy to pack into a tighter area like sulpher or arsenic.

[Larry Gibson]

the way i have it is every step away from pure lead makes a bigger boolit.
now i have gotten some information that a small amount of tin [@.25%] will act like a grain refiner,causing the alloy to pack into a tighter area like sulpher or arsenic.

+1 on what runfiverun says.

Too much antimony actually can cause pockets to form which most often cause smaller diameter spots on the bullet. Best to have a compatable amout of tin and lead in the alloy so they mix in solution with the lead. That will give a better alloy than one of too much/little tin or antimony.

Lary Gibson

[ShooterAZ]

This makes sense to me, and is probably why Lyman #2 is 5% tin, 5% antimony.