Lead ratio

[jednorris]

I buy roof flashings from a local junk yard and I believe they are all produced locally by the same manufacturer. I melt them down and flux the material three times to get out impurities. I then put 15# in my lead pot along with 1/2# tin from Buffalo arms. I am assuming I get close to a 30:1 ratio and I have shot it successfully in my .40/65 for a while. I WOULD LIKE INPUT.

[centershot]

You are correct, it is 30:1. You state that you have shot it successfully for a while, if it's working well for you what questions do you have?

[Rickf1985]

Double the amounts, there is your answer. 30# lead and 1# tin. 30:1

[Rickf1985]

Just checked out Buffalo Arms, Better prices than Rotometals. Glad you put that in here. Good to have other options for metals.

[Land Owner]

Have you tried 50 to 1 Pb/Sn alloy, as a means of cost reducing your 10X more expensive tin? You WILL save if 50 to 1 alloy works for you.

GIVEN (ymmv)
Lead costs $1.00 per pound.
Tin costs $10.00 per pound.

EXAMPLE 30 to 1
30# of lead and 1# of tin cost $40.00
31#'s of alloy makes (choose your poison) 1,373 each of 158 grain 357 Mag SWC's.
$40.00 divided by 1,373 equals $0.0291 each.

EXAMPLE 50 to 1
50#'s of lead and 1# of tin cost $60.00.
51#'s of alloy makes 2,259 each of 158 grain 357 Mag SWC's.
$60.00 divided by 2,259 equals $0.0266 each

COMPARE
$0.0291 each (30 to 1) divided by $0.0266 each (50 to 1) equals 1.098, which is (for all practical purposes) 10% MORE expensive per boolit at 30 to 1, as that ratio uses more tin!

51#'s of alloy (@30 to 1) divided by $0.0291 each makes 1,751 boolits of 158 grain 357 Mag SWC's

51#'s of alloy (@50 to 1) divided by $0.0266 each makes 1,920 boolits of 158 grain 357 Mag SWC's - 170 MORE boolits!

CONCLUSION
Can the target tell the difference? If you do your part, only your wallet, mold, and handgun or rifle can tell the difference.

[Opinion] - in a LIFETIME of shooting, 10 percent MORE is a BIG DEAL - but ONLY if the alloy works for you!