hardball bullet casting alloy

[castrookie]

hi hope someone can help me im looking to cast bullets for hunting cal. 30 30 so im looking into the hardball alloy which is better than lyman #2 thay state that the bhn is 16 im looking to do around bhn 18 i think with out the bullet being brittle now i have read that lead gets hard with age so is water quenching necessary for this alloy or let it cool on its own and its okay to use this way i have read that alloy with antimony of 6 or higher gets hard fast what you guys think thank you.

[Mal Paso]

Hardball is a Cheaper alloy than Lyman #2 as it has Less Tin.

It was intended to replace #2 at a lower cost replacing 3% of the tin with 1% more antimony. #2 would be the better alloy although many use less antimony than that. 95/3/2 Lead/Antimony/Tin water dropped will get BHN well into the 20s and still be ductile. Soft enough for a good gas seal and hard enough not to strip the rifling.

[jmort]

Get more information.
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

[mdi]

I've fired lead outta my 30-30 for a few years and haven't any idea what the BHN is. Wheel weights, range scrap, and "mystery metal" all mixed up with a Lee 309-160-R. I don't get leading 'cause the bullets fit my gun and I use a decent lube. Don't overthink BHN importance. (I've read fellers saying nothing less than 22 goes through their rifles and other fellers saying 12 works great...)

[Cowboy_Dan]

I use straight clippy weights in my .30-30 with NRA 50/50 lube and get no leading. Boolit is a 311041 and initial testing looks promising.

[jmort]

Not sure what use 22 BHN would be in a .30-30 unless you were facing dangerous game which is not the .30-30's long suit. I like 94/3/3 as is but it can be heat treated to around 24 BHN and will not be brittle. As noted it is fit, rather than hardness that should be the primary focus. I also like 20 to 1 which is soft, but will not break up.

[gwpercle]

You don't want a hard boolit in 30-30 hunting load.
A 50/50 mix of wheel weight metal and pure lead, throw in a small amount of tin, optional just for for casting ease but not necessary . Air cool (don't water drop) put on a gas check...it prevents any leading issues and size .001 or .002 over bore diameter. .309 or .310 is a good place to start if you haven't slugged your bore. I shoot .309 in a Winchester Model 94 and have had no leading problems.
Gary

[castrookie]

Thanks gary i will do that i was a little nervous about leading thanks for the help

[runfiverun]

well if your looking for some leading going with a super hard alloy and improperly sizing the boolit will surely get you there.