New Caster Lead recipe question?

[MickeyJr]

Hi All,

I am just getting ready to start casting for the first time, have a question regarding my lead recipe, I have lead bars that are 5% Antimony,
If I combine 19 lbs of lead with 5% antimony in it with 1lb 50/50 lead/Tin solder and a 2-3 oz hard bird shot, will this combo have a hardness of about 18-20 BH?
I am casting using a brass NOE 44cal 265 gr ranch dog mold, and a custom made Alum .358 180gr FP mold. Using the bullets for hunting big game.

Thanks In Advance,
MickeyJr.

[John Boy]

Mickey, I don't have a clue but you can download this alloy calculator on the forum and play with the numbers ...
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?105952-Lead-alloy-calculators

[62chevy]

That would give you a hardness of about 10 to 11 bhn as per the Alloy Calculator found here; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?105952-Lead-alloy-calculators

[MickeyJr]

Thanks for the Link, any suggestions how I can bump up the BH for these bullets?

[paralaska]

My mix of 3/3/94 (obtained using the alloy calculator), air drops at about 12.5 BHN and when water dropped, comes in at about 18.5 BHN . . . These BHNs were arrived at using a lee hardness tester. Based on this experience: I think that water dropping your bullets should increase the hardness by 5 or 6 BHN.

[jsizemore]

Ideal/Lyman #2 is 5/5/90 has a BHN 15.
Linotype is 4%Sn/12%Sb/84%Pb has a BHN 22.
Bump your antimony up till you have 8-10% and you should be able to drop air cooled in the range your looking.

[runfiverun]

yep.
cut 10 pounds of that 5% antimony alloy in half with another 10 lbs of pure lead.
then add enough Tin [@ 3-4oz's] to make the alloy about 3/4-1%, and throw in that 3 oz's of magnum bird shot.
drop the boolits directly from the hot mold into some cold tap water.

give them about a month to fully harden and you'll have a bhn of about 20.

[MickeyJr]

Thanks Gentlemen for the great Info.

[cajts]

I use 5 parts soft lead to 1 part monotype. air cooled for 40 and 45acp and water drop for rifle boolits. Seems to work good and have no leading. Just make sure bootlit is sized right for your bore. I also PC everything. It is easier and faster than lubing.