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Doc - J
04-05-2006, 10:42 PM
Quick question... I have some 5 lb. ingots of plumers lead. How much solder and and what kind would I need to add to it? Will be casting 200 gr. 45's

Or is there something else I could add like ww
buck1
04-05-2006, 10:56 PM
Quick question... I have some 5 lb. ingots of plumers lead. How much solder and and what kind would I need to add to it? Will be casting 200 gr. 45's

Or is there something else I could add like ww

WELCOME!!!!
Plumers lead should be mostly pure lead, I would recomend wheel weights +2% lead free solder (tin) & water droped. I think that would be easier and cheeper than starting from scratch.
If I remember the OLD 45 Keith recipe was 1 part tin / 10 parts lead. Too much $$$ in tin for my taste. FWIW........Buck
NVcurmudgeon
04-05-2006, 11:01 PM
Doc, there are formulas in the Lyman cast bullet manual to make allloys, but starting with pure lead you might be better off to trade for something more widely useful. Your plumber's lead would be prime trading material for muzzle loader shooters.
357tex
04-05-2006, 11:25 PM
Doc-j
I mix 7lbs of pure lead to 3 lbs of ww.It makes a good bollit for my 357 up to 1200fps.I tumble lube with Lee ear wax.Works well.No leading in any thing I have.
454PB
04-06-2006, 12:14 AM
Linotype mixed 50/50 with pure lead yields an alloy very close to wheelweights enrichened with tin.
rusty marlin
04-06-2006, 09:52 AM
My question is what do you want to cast?

If you are casting for Blackpowder Cartridges you will wnat somthing like 20:1 or 30:1 lead:tin.
If you are loading for smokless powder everybody says wheel wieghts are great; but if you have seen my thread, you know my current problems with WW's.
Bucks Owin
04-06-2006, 09:56 AM
If you have a good supply of nice soft plumber's lead, you better keep it secret from your muzzleloader pals! :-D

Dennis
Springfield
04-06-2006, 06:49 PM
I shoot Black powder cartridge and I prefer a 60/1 mix lead and tin. I only need enough tin to fill out the mould. Any more is just a waste. Wheelweights are only 1/2% tin, and they fill out fine, but are harder than I need. If you don't have any tin just get some lead/tin solder at the hardware store. I get mine from the scrapyard.