50/50 mix

[12DMAX]

I acquired 200lbs of pure lead and I am going to mix it 50/50 with coww's (trying to stretch my ww supply). These will be for medium duty (900-1000fps) 45 colts, 30-30 ( 1800 fps) and 45-70 in the near future. Anyone have any pointers to get the best results from this mix? Not a good Mix? or trade it for more ww's?

[shredder]

That is exactly what I use for 90% of my rifle boolits and it is just fine up to about 1800 fps. In fact most of my most accurate loads are right around 1600. I do add about an ounce or two of tin per 10 lbs to the melt as my WW do not seem to have much tin and it really helps fill out the mould.

[DukeInFlorida]

50-50 alloy is good for 90% of what I do, pistols and slow speed rifle boolits.

The only time I bump up to harder alloy is the higher speed rifle boolits, and those also get water dropped. ALL of my 50-50 alloy is air cooled.

Your current inventory should do you well for getting started with your casting.

[joepb]

What hardness is a 50/50 mix?

[kelbro]

My most commonly used alloy. Hardness around 8-9 bhn.

[Calamity Jake]

50/50 is my go to mix for most everything, you may need to add a little tin to help fillout, no more than 2%

[Hardcast416taylor]

My go to alloy. I also add some tin for better fill out in the mold. If I want harder I`ll water drop or add some linotype.Robert

[Roundnoser]

50/50 is my go-to alloy for 45 ACP. Works great.

[bslim]

50-50 for my 45LC &38 spl. Add a bit of tin for fill and you're good to go. With most of the gents using this formula, you are off to a good start.

[12DMAX]

Thanks for all the input, How much hardening do you think actually takes place with such a low sb content of this mix H2O dropped?

[kelbro]

Water drop helps quite a bit but for consistency, I oven heat treat them and they will easily hit 16-18BHN.

[Nocturnal Stumblebutt]

I'd use 50-50, because it is perfect for 38 spl, which I shoot a lot of, but right now I have 5 good sources for cheap/free wheel weights, and not nearly as abundant of a supply of lead, so I shoot straight COWW or 75 COWW/25 PB

[captaint]

I use 50/50 for everything except 9mm. They get the straight WW's. Had a little trouble with the 9's leading a while back, when I was just getting started with the 9mm. Could be I had other issues also, but for now, the 9's get straight WW's. I don't water drop anything. enjoy Mike