Lead Ingots

[christopher1343]

Well i just got into casting and i have an uncle with a large amout of lead ingots and he told me that it was pure lead that he had melted down from thin lead plates. I was wondering if there was a way to add solder or anyother additive to make them cast harder? They are in 5 lb ingots. Im casting .45 acp any sudgestions are welcome

[Echo]

Five pounds equals 80 ounces - add two ounces of lead-free solder to each ingot in the pot, and come up with an alloy that has about 2.5% tin - it will cast like a champ, filling out the mold nice and crisp.

If you need harder, then mix the above 50/50 w/WW to get the Antimony for hardness. But since you are loading for the .45 ACP, you really don't need much harder than simply adding tin.

[runfiverun]

i think i would mix them 50-50 with ww's.
or at least start with 30-1 lead to tin and work towards 20-1if needed, if 20-1 wont do it ,i would stop and get some other stuff [antimony] to mix in.
or just swap the lead for some ww's and just use those.