Calculating bullet composition

[mustanggt]

Since I am mathematically challenged I had my boy figure up a recipe of bullet metal composition. I thought that 93% Pb and 2% Antimony and 1% tin would be a good mix for shooting 38 spl wad cutters in low pressure loads. Does that sound reasonable? That would be 2-6lb lead ingots and 15 lino spacer strips gives me that percentage breakdown. What would the bhn be? 10-11?

[Defcon-One]

93% Pb and 2% Antimony and 1% Tin does not add up to 100%. I think that you meant 97% Pb? Also, every Linotype spacer that I ever saw weighed differently. Probably better to say X pounds of this and X pounds of that!

If you take 12 pounds of Pure Lead and add 2.4 pounds of Linotype you'll get 2% Antimony, but your Tin will only be at 0.67%. You'll need to add 0.1 pounds (1.6 ounces) of 50/50 Solder to hit your target of 1% Tin, 2% Antimony, 97% Lead.

That alloy should work fine in your .38 if sized and lubed appropriately! The BHN will be about 10.7! Right where you thought.

Hope that helps!

DC-1

[mustanggt]

Sorry about the 93 vs. 97 typo. See I can't do numbers. Ha ha. I happen to have some 60/40 tin/lead which should get me in the ball park enough. The lino strips weighed 20 oz. to 12lbs lead in the above formula. Thanks for your help.

[williamwaco]

Lino spacers are not linotype.
They are much softer.

More like wheel weights.

[mustanggt]

Thanks William, that's good to know. That makes my whole formula fly out the window.