Pig lead hardness?

[ivanfern]

Hello I recently acquired pig lead bars that roto metals sells for $130 per every bar. I have about 400lbs of this lead and only paid $400. I wanted to know if this lead was any good for casting bullets. Below are the stated elements for the bars. I sounds like solid lead when I hit it with a hammer.
ELEMENTS

Lead Remainder
Cadmium 0.00007%
Copper 0.0004%
Bismuth 0.0149%
Silver 0.0064%
Nickel 0.0002%
Zinc 0.0001%
Iron 0.0001%
Other Sn+Sn+As 0.0005%

[StuBach]

Looks like it would be good for soft bullets as it’s essentially pure lead based on those levels. Good find

[Mal Paso]

Rotometals has Superhard 30% antimony and tin as well.

My favorite boolit alloy is has 3% Antimony, 1% Tin and 96% Lead with whatever trace metals, like yours has.

[ivanfern]

Looks like it would be good for soft bullets as it’s essentially pure lead based on those levels. Good find

I hit the bars with a hammer and it sounds just like the wheel weight lead that ive used. I made swordfish sticks with WW lead and it would sound a loud ping when I striked it with a hammer. Hit the corner of it and barely a dent. hard stuff. Ive used sheet lead before and that stuff would make a stick that was soft to the touch

[lightman]

The numbers that you posted indicate that its nearly pure lead. It should have a BHN hardness of 5 to 6. Its good as is for black powder. Its too soft for most center fire but would be perfect for alloying for other calibers. A dollar a pound is a good price

[fredj338]

If you bought lead pigs from roto, its lead. Why would it not be fine for casting bullets? You will need to alloy it for anything but target WC at liw pressure/vel, but its 100% suitable for making bullets.

[rmark]

You might consider trading your soft lead for a harder alloy, blackpowder shooters need soft lead.

[mdi]

Now is a good time to mix up some "Keith Alloy".;) Melt 20 lbs of your pig lead and add one pound of tin. Mr. Keith used this alloy quite a bit during his magnum development...

[murf205]

Hello I recently acquired pig lead bars that roto metals sells for $130 per every bar. I have about 400lbs of this lead and only paid $400. I wanted to know if this lead was any good for casting bullets. Below are the stated elements for the bars. I sounds like solid lead when I hit it with a hammer.
ELEMENTS

Lead Remainder
Cadmium 0.00007%
Copper 0.0004%
Bismuth 0.0149%
Silver 0.0064%
Nickel 0.0002%
Zinc 0.0001%
Iron 0.0001%
Other Sn+Sn+As 0.0005%

Whatcha' going to shoot it in. I have some range lead that I got from a range where they only shoot muzzleloaders, and it is pretty soft. I use 6.5-7.5 OZ. of tin in a 20lb mix and it works fine in my revolvers at speeds of around 1400 fps. I have shot it in a T/C Encore 460 S&W at speeds of over 2000 fps with no leading but they were powder coated.

[fredj338]

Now is a good time to mix up some "Keith Alloy".;) Melt 20 lbs of your pig lead and add one pound of tin. Mr. Keith used this alloy quite a bit during his magnum development...
Yet tin is pretty expensive as a bullet alloy. I have tin but almost never use it.

[Frosty Boolit]

I've had good luck with even 30:1 in the .38 special.