JeffinNZ
09-03-2007, 05:17 AM
Hi team.
I have been playing with heat treating lead alloy for some time but only at either end of the scale. IE: as cast or HARD. I have treated clip on wheel weight alloy up to 33 BHN with very good target success.
Over the weekend I had a crack at what I shall refer to as 'partial' heat treating and after a bit of trial and error managed to get my clip on wheel weight alloy with approx 2% babbitt metal to 16 BHN; basically duplicating Lyman No.2. Cooked the bullets (.31 cal for .303 Brit) for an hour at 430F.
Took a bit of playing around with my bench top oven but by slowly increasing the temp increments, quenching, WAITING for the mandatory periods, I got there.
The 16 BHN is after 24 hours so it may even go 17 BHN. I hope this is going to work for me with some current loads where the 'as cast' WW alloy appears to be border line on tensile strength.
Just thought I would share.
I have been playing with heat treating lead alloy for some time but only at either end of the scale. IE: as cast or HARD. I have treated clip on wheel weight alloy up to 33 BHN with very good target success.
Over the weekend I had a crack at what I shall refer to as 'partial' heat treating and after a bit of trial and error managed to get my clip on wheel weight alloy with approx 2% babbitt metal to 16 BHN; basically duplicating Lyman No.2. Cooked the bullets (.31 cal for .303 Brit) for an hour at 430F.
Took a bit of playing around with my bench top oven but by slowly increasing the temp increments, quenching, WAITING for the mandatory periods, I got there.
The 16 BHN is after 24 hours so it may even go 17 BHN. I hope this is going to work for me with some current loads where the 'as cast' WW alloy appears to be border line on tensile strength.
Just thought I would share.