linotype?

[olfarmer]

Hi guys, I have a chance to pick up a couple 100 pounds of linotype, how would this do for casting 45-70 boolits for my pedersoli sharps? I know that 20 to 1 is generally thought of a best for this type of bullet how would linotype compare? Thanks for any comments!

[Bazoo]

Howdy, welcome to the forum. I dont have any experience with that cartridge. But I personally would think the lino would be better suited as an ingredient to make lyman 2.

[lightman]

Linotype alone may be a little hard straight up. You might do better to cut it with some soft lead. The bullets will also be brittle and they will fill out so well and shrink so little that they may be hard to shake out of the mold. Size is more important than hardness.

[Outer Rondacker]

Welcome to the forum. Always buy any lead you can. But you should soften it a bit with soft lead like others have said. I find it is harder to find lynotype these days but easy to find soft lead.

[olfarmer]

Welcome to the forum. Always buy any lead you can. But you should soften it a bit with soft lead like others have said. I find it is harder to find lynotype these days but easy to find soft lead.
Yup, got this (approx)200 lbs for 80 bucks so I grabbed it, guy just wanted it out of his garage. I have quite a bit of pure lead and thought of mixing it in as linotype I read somewhere is 22 bhn hardness? Any idea how much pure lead to linotype might bring the mixture closer to 20 to one? Thanks for the comments so far!

[Grmps]

olfarmer - welcome to CB If you decided to start casting to save money, forget it. You won't, you'll just shoot more.

Linotype is around 19 BHN (hardness) with the 45/70 you are looking at closer to 10-12 BHN
You can go 10 # pure, 2# linotype and 1.5 OZ tin for 10.6 BHN. 20-1 is 10BHN

Casting boolits (lead bullets) properly is a science, once you know the basics, not a hard science.
There is a lot of good information here
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm
1. Boolits need to be cast .0005 to .003 over the slugged diameter of your barrel for accuracy and to avoid leading. If the fit is wrong nothing else will work right.
a. slugging a barrel (it is safer to use a brass rod or a steel rod with a couple of coats of tape to avoid damaging your barrel http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm
b. chamber casting https://www.brownells.com/guntech/cerrosafe/detail.htm?lid=10614
or pound casting http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356251-Pound-Cast-instructions-(for-rifle-chamber)
2. the right alloy needs to be used for the velocity and purpose of the boolit (don’t fall into the trap of going with to hard an alloy
Economical way to easily test lead hardness
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?355056-Easier-pencil-lead-hardness-testing
https://i.imgur.com/TGUQsIe.jpg
Some alloys harden over time
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_3_alloySelectionMetallurgy.ht m
different alloy’s different end sizes
https://i.imgur.com/emuBC2T.png?1
Lead alloy calculator
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45784&d=1341560870
3. velocity the bullet needs to be pushed hard/fast enough to get the proper spin, have the proper velocity to accurately reach the target but not so hard as to be dangerous or strip the lead off in the grooves instead of spinning the boolit..
Powders range from fast to slow, you need to choose the right powder for your application.
Loading manuals list the best powders for certain calibers and boolit weights.
Link to free online load data
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?337910-CB-load-data-online-sources

[olfarmer]

olfarmer - welcome to CB If you decided to start casting to save money, forget it. You won't, you'll just shoot more.

Linotype is around 19 BHN (hardness) with the 45/70 you are looking at closer to 10-12 BHN
You can go 10 # pure, 2# linotype and 1.5 OZ tin for 10.6 BHN. 20-1 is 10BHN

Casting boolits (lead bullets) properly is a science, once you know the basics, not a hard science.
There is a lot of good information here
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm
1. Boolits need to be cast .0005 to .003 over the slugged diameter of your barrel for accuracy and to avoid leading. If the fit is wrong nothing else will work right.
a. slugging a barrel (it is safer to use a brass rod or a steel rod with a couple of coats of tape to avoid damaging your barrel http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm
b. chamber casting https://www.brownells.com/guntech/cerrosafe/detail.htm?lid=10614
or pound casting http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356251-Pound-Cast-instructions-(for-rifle-chamber)
2. the right alloy needs to be used for the velocity and purpose of the boolit (don’t fall into the trap of going with to hard an alloy
Economical way to easily test lead hardness
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?355056-Easier-pencil-lead-hardness-testing
https://i.imgur.com/TGUQsIe.jpg
Some alloys harden over time
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_3_alloySelectionMetallurgy.ht m
different alloy’s different end sizes
https://i.imgur.com/emuBC2T.png?1
Lead alloy calculator
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45784&d=1341560870
3. velocity the bullet needs to be pushed hard/fast enough to get the proper spin, have the proper velocity to accurately reach the target but not so hard as to be dangerous or strip the lead off in the grooves instead of spinning the boolit..
Powders range from fast to slow, you need to choose the right powder for your application.
Loading manuals list the best powders for certain calibers and boolit weights.
Link to free online load data
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?337910-CB-load-data-online-sources
Lots of great information here thank you I appreciate it!

[Grmps]

If this information doesn't get you there just ask and someone will be glad to help you.

[olfarmer]

Bet it does, Thanks again Grmps!

[MaryB]

I run Lyman #2 in everything... makes life simpler!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm not sure what pressure you are loading to, but if your 20:1 has been working good for you, Then you will probably want to mix about 6 lbs of your pure lead to 1 lb of linotype, that will bring the antimony down to about 2%, but tin will be well below 1%...if you have fillout problems during casting, you will probably want to add some tin...1% should be enough.

that's my 2¢

[olfarmer]

Thanks for the help guys! Olfarmer

[Outer Rondacker]

When you ask for help here you do not get a simple answer. Loads of info from these guys so if you get a bit confused ask another question. We are all still learning and when we stop its over anyway.

[redhawk0]

I load for the 45-70. I have Linotype from a print shop that closed down years ago. But I don't have any pure lead. I mix COWW with my Linotype 2# WW to 1# lino. This gives me ~92:2:6 (Pb:Sn:Sb) for a BNH of ~15. Its a little light on Tin but they fill out ok. I was more interested in getting close to matching #2 for BNH. I've shot up to 1600fps with LEE cast bullets (no GC) using Felix World Famous Lube. I get little to no leading.

redhawk

[jcourson]

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook suggests #2 for 350gr and 20:1 for 405gr for Win86 and 1985 loads. #2 for all trapdoor loads. #2 for all Ruger loads except for the 450gr, which gets a 10:1.