I want to make some Lyman #2 alloy

[Jaak]

Like the title says, I would like to make some #2 alloy but only have the following ingredients.

COWW
SOWW
Lead Roof Flashing
Dental Film Lead (only a few pounds)

I have tried using the Alloy Calculator but I have no idea what I am doing...

[Yodogsandman]

You'll need to increase both the antimony and tin content of your COWW. Lyman #2 is 5% antimony, 5% tin and 90% pure lead. COWW is 2 1/2% to 3 % antimony, .5% tin and about 96% PB. Antimony is hard to add in it's raw form, it doesn't want to melt. You could use magnum lead shot at 6% antimony, 94% PB to help add some Sb. Then use any form of tin you want to raise the Sn level.

I've read here that some members prefer to use linotype to make Lyman #2 alloy. You have to cut it with pure lead to dilute the amount of Sb and then add some more Sn.

I use an easier alloy. In a 10 lb pot, I fill about half way with COWW ingots, melt them, add 1/2 lb of bar solder and finish filling to the inner brim with more COWW ingots. This alloy gives me about 13 BHN (guessing) and fills out the molds great. This is a very repeatable alloy without using any scales. The bar solder comes as 1 lb sticks and I measure with a tape measure for a half pound. It's good enough for almost all my shooting. It heat treats real good, too if you want a harder alloy.

[el34]

Yodog, what's your solder tin content?

[Ickisrulz]

Real Lyman #2 is 90% lead, 5% tin and 5% antimony. By using Super Hard alloy and pure tin from Rotometals is one way you can do it. See this link.

http://www.lasc.us/SuperHard.htm

[Yodogsandman]

Yodog, what's your solder tin content?

50/50 lead/tin bar solder available at plumbing supply houses.

[michiganmike]

According to the alloy calculator I use (downloaded from a link on this forum) I am producing Lyman #2 with a 50/50 mix of Linotype from Rotometal and smelted, clean COWW. This alloy produces very nice bullets from the two 7mm moulds I have. I have no means of testing the actual bullets for hardness.

MichiganMike

[Yodogsandman]

Here's some common recipes that might help...

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm#alloyrecipes

[fryboy]

50/50 lino/lead makes a alloy with #2 alloy hardness ( they call it taracorp magnum IIRC ) but isnt quite the same as #2 alloy, but ...it's alot easier to make ( less figuring anyways ;) )

[Defcon-One]

Yep, Hardball Alloy (AKA Terracorp Magnum Alloy) is a 50/50 mix of Pure Lead with Linotype, but he is using COWW with Linotype!

Jaak: You'll need another source of Tin, like Solder or Pewter!

[Twmaster]

Here's some common recipes that might help...

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm#alloyrecipes

The only problem I see with that list of recipes is the use of COWW. That is getting hard hard hard to get at reasonable prices.

[dale2242]

SO, If I mix 5# linotype with 5# soft lead, how much tin will I need to add to get it close to Lyman #2 alloy.
I have lots of 50/50 solder drippings...dale

[Yodogsandman]

4# linotype, 5# soft lead and 1# 50/50 lead/tin solder will get you really close. This is assuming that "soft" lead is "pure" lead. SOWW would probably be close enough to pure.

[Larry Gibson]

SO, If I mix 5# linotype with 5# soft lead, how much tin will I need to add to get it close to Lyman #2 alloy.
I have lots of 50/50 solder drippings...dale

Lyman's classic recipe for #2 alloy is;

4 lbs linotype
5 lbs lead
1 lb 50/50 solder

It is what I use and it makes an excellent alloy which gives AC'd BHN at 10 days of 15-16 and WQ'd BHN at 48 hours of 21 - 22. And it casts beautiful bullets.

Larry Gibson

[dale2242]

Thanks guys.
I still have some WWs but am a lot richer on linotype and pure lead.....dale

[Twmaster]

Lyman's classic recipe for #2 alloy is;

4 lbs linotype
5 lbs lead
1 lb 50/50 solder

It is what I use and it makes an excellent alloy which gives AC'd BHN at 10 days of 15-16 and WQ'd BHN at 48 hours of 21 - 22. And it casts beautiful bullets.

Larry Gibson

That would be easy for me to make in small quantities with a small tweak...

2 lbs Lino
2.75 lbs lead
.25 lbs pewter

I do not have a huge stockpile of lead and alloys yet. I do have big enough quantities to make a few small batches of the above. That would give me about 350 pills for my 32-20 S&W.

[Defcon-One]

That would be easy for me to make in small quantities with a small tweak...

2 lbs Lino
2.75 lbs lead
.25 lbs pewter


Use 0.18 lbs of the pewter and you'll get Lyman #2, dead on! Your mix is high in Tin, same as Larry's classic recipe.

[Twmaster]

Now that's a good bit of info. Thank you D-1.