Needing guidance

[chuck40219]

Good evening everyone

Loading and gun:

45-70 black powder, shot out of a 1885, probably at or a little below 1200 fps. Have not run any over the chronograph yet, just looking at some charts.

I am looking for advice. And your thoughts why you suggest this mix.

lead type: ww, Lyman #2, 99% pure, or some mix that would be best for the above noted load and gun.

chuck40219

[wills]

https://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-results_schedules/documents/bp_cartridge_reloading_dick_trenk.htm

[mdatlanta]

https://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-results_schedules/documents/bp_cartridge_reloading_dick_trenk.htm

Wills, thanks for posting that link!

[chuck40219]

A thanks from me also. Stayed up late reading most of it. Will finish later today.

chuck40219

[Captain*Kirk]

https://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-results_schedules/documents/bp_cartridge_reloading_dick_trenk.htm

Excellent link! Thanks for sharing!

[EDG]

To answer your question a little more directly:
You will find that the bullets for 1300 FPS and down does not require a hard alloy.
Clip on wheel weights used as is or with 1% tin added will be around 12 to 13 Brinell.
Another alloy is 20 parts pure lead plus 1 part tin added. This alloy is about 10 Brinell.
Either alloy is about right for your velocity. If you have a tough thumb nail it will barely cut wheel weight metal assuming reasonably strong fingers. Your thumb will cut a bit of a groove in 10 Brinell (20 to 1) alloy. Use which ever alloy you are happy casting with.
The key is: ease of casting good bullets.
I like to use the 20-1 alloy. It is easy to find pure lead and pure tin (I use 63/37 or 50-50 solder) so you can exactly duplicate the metal every time using one of the spreadsheets.

If you use a long pointy nose bullet you might need a 16 to 1 alloy. This is a little stronger alloy and it will prevent a long unsupported nose from slumping to one side when fired.
If you use a bullet with a short nose a softer alloy can be used if you can get it to cast well.
A softer alloy would be 25 to 1, 30 to 1 or even 40 to 1 (lead to tin). These last 3 alloys are cheaper due to less tin.


Good evening everyone

Loading and gun:

45-70 black powder, shot out of a 1885, probably at or a little below 1200 fps. Have not run any over the chronograph yet, just looking at some charts.

I am looking for advice. And your thoughts why you suggest this mix.

lead type: ww, Lyman #2, 99% pure, or some mix that would be best for the above noted load and gun.

chuck40219

[chuck40219]

So much knowledge, so little time.

Thanks guys.

chuck40219

[EDG]

Tons of cast bullet info at this site

http://www.lasc.us/ArticleIndex.htm

[chuck40219]

Tons of cast bullet info at this site

http://www.lasc.us/ArticleIndex.htm

Been there. Soaking up all the knowledge my pea sized brain can.

chuck40219