Three Questions

[RAK2018]

I melted down some Boolits that I bought awhile ago that I don't use any more. Boolits from MBC. I cast a few Boolits from this and the Boolits I cast are 45-70 405gr. Question 1 the Boolits came out at 385gr. What do I add to get the weight up to or close to 405gr. Question 2 I checked the hardness and that came out at 14 Brinell. I know i could quench in water. How much will that bring up the hardness. Question 3 Is there a way to tell what the different present-ages of tin ,lead, antimony are in these Boolits. Sorry for all the questions just trying to learn all I can.

Thanks

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

According to MBC website, they use 92Pb 6Sb 2Sn

I would think that alloy (air dropped) will be near 16 to 18 BHN after at least two weeks age.
Water quenching that alloy should bring it up to 24 or so, depending on water temp.

Lead is more dense the tin and antimony, so a higher concentration of lead in the alloy means more weight for a specific boolit, but the boolit will be softer.

[dondiego]

I certainly wouldn't want it any harder than it already is for a 45-70. I would add pure lead to bring the hardness down and get closer to the specified weight.

[Smoke4320]

I certainly wouldn't want it any harder than it already is for a 45-70. I would add pure lead to bring the hardness down and get closer to the specified weight.

I would second the above answer ..

[lightman]

Answer #1- add soft lead to your alloy
Answer #2- I think your hardness test may be incorrect
Answer #3- The only way to tell is to have it tested

With everything said and done I would cut that alloy with about 10% soft lead and call it good. Unless you have a large amount of this alloy I would not bother having it tested.

[Bzcraig]

Why the need for that hard of a boolit?

[fredj338]

What mold? A bullet that light would have a decent amount of tin in it & tin doesn't make an alloy much harder. Add lead, 10% as suggested is a good start.

[MaryB]

Some copper can increase toughness... see the sticky thread for copper alloy

[Grmps]

Lee recommends 95-5 or 20 to 1 for its 45/70 molds