Wanting to take the "big jump"

[TCTex]

It is about time for me to start buying lead again and I was wondering where a good place to by tin and antimony would be. I can buy pure lead from the salvage yard without a problem. (They have a BUNCH of it!) Last year I bought 150lbs of WW’s. I still have 20lbs of slag and probably 25lbs of pure lead. So, I am wondering if it wouldn’t actually be easier and cheaper just to mix the Lyman #2 this time.

Thanks

Duane

[bumpo628]

I would check the swapping & selling page as well as the vendor sponsors page. They both have deals on high tin and/or antimony alloys from time to time. You should look for linotype, monotype, or foundrytype. Another source is one of our sponsors, Rotometals. You can get the rotometals superhard, which is 30% antimony and 70% lead. They also have linotype, tin, solder, etc.

If you want to make your own Lyman #2, it would be cheaper than buying it if you can get a decent price on the pure lead. At $1 / pound for the pure and buying the superhard and tin from rotometals, you could make Lyman #2 for about $2.30 per pound. At $0.50 per pound for the pure lead, you would be around $1.90 for the Lyman #2.

Use the following ratio for Lyman #2:
23.5 pure lead + 1.5 lbs pure tin + 5 lbs Superhard = alloy with 5% tin, 5% antimony

[gunoil]

i no nothing, but bought tin from ebay. and some bismuth.

[TCTex]

Is there another casting mixture that I should consider?

I am open to recommendations and suggestions!!

Duane

[bumpo628]

I think a good all-around alloy is 1% tin, 3% antimony, 96% lead (at least for pistols).

You can make it easily with Linotype and pure lead. Lino has 4% tin, 12% antimony, 84% lead, or 4/12/84. So you just mix them 50/50 to make Hardball (a Lyman #2 alternative) that has 2/6/92. Then mix Hardball and pure 50/50 again to make the 1/3/96.

You can use Hardball for rifle applications and it will perform similarly to Lyman #2.

[DrBill33]

I go to a salvage company, and purchase lead ingots (fluxed and cleaned, and 99+) for 67 cents per pound.

Then Merit Babbit metal from Rotometals.

BHN ca 13...with my homemade checks, good for my firearms.

[Defcon-One]

I sell my REAL Lyman #2 at $2.50 per pound in 50-60 pound lots. Rotometals is at $2.89 per pound. If you can make it for less than $2.50 per pound, it is worth the effort.

One additional point: You have to know exactly what you are starting with in order to make true Lyman #2. Most of what I see out there is a guess based on assumptions about the content of unknown scrap metals. It still casts and shoots, but it is not REAL Lyman #2 and it will be a bit different every time that you/they make it.

I use Large Isotope cores (1, 3, 96), strip Linotype (4, 12, 84) and factory Solder bars (50/50 or 60/40) to make my Lyman #2. It is pretty obvious that good product in equals good product out!

[TCTex]

I REALLY appreciated all the comments!!!!!!!!!



DO, I will absolutely give you a PM if i buy a Lyman clone pre mixed!



Duane

[TCTex]

What do shooters think about shooting a straight 1:10 (tin&lead) mix?


Duane

[Wayne Smith]

What do shooters think about shooting a straight 1:10 (tin&lead) mix?


Duane

Too much tin. The buffalo were killed with 20-1 (Remington) and 16-1 (Sharps) formulas. For pistols and up to say a 30-30 or 45-70 at BP velocities these are all you need. When you get to high velocity applications you typically want a three metal alloy.

[rintinglen]

Elmer used to tout 10-1 for magnum velocities, but that is sure expensive metal. Scrap lead at a dollar a pound, tin at 15, works out to around 2.30 a pound--a bit much if you ask me. I seldom go over 30-1 in binary mixes, which are only used in handgun applications at low velocity. Most of my shooting is tin-antimony-lead alloys, using Linotype metal at a 1-4 ratio with reclaimed range lead. Usually runs in the 10-11 BHN range and casts well.