New to casting...what lead mix for 45 colt loads at 1200 fps?

[45coltnut]

Hello,

I'm new to casting (been reloading for 20+ years) and I want to cast for my 45 colt and eventually by 30-30. Also, I just bought my first batch of lead from here. It's not pure and mostly wheel weights. So, my question is what mixture should I use to get a mix that is hard enough for a 1200 fps load? What hardness should I strive for? I don't plan on using gas checks and I plan on pan lubing the boolits.

Thanks for the help.

[btroj]

Revolver or rifle? Big difference is pressure required.

For revolver a mix of 50/50 WW and pure will work. For rifle at those speeds you could even go softer.

Don't get hung up on "hard" bullets.

[1Shirt]

Sound advice. That said, regardless of hardness, proper size of bullet and type of lube will be a major determining factor in accuracy and minimal cleaning.
1Shirt!

[runfiverun]

well since you got mostly WW's that's what I'd start with.
throw some tin in the mix if you have any try it without it if you don't.

[zxcvbob]

Just about anything harder than pure lead ought to work -- including relatively soft alloys that have a lot of tin in them.

Whatever you have already, try it and see how it works. Fit is more important than hardness, unless the hardness is just totally wrong.

[USSR]

Hard to argue with 50/50 WW/pure with a little tin thrown in there.

Don

[olereb]

If you just have WW use that,it should work fine if sized right. I have been using water quenched WW in my 45lc pistols and rifles with no leading issues,slug that barrel.

[45coltnut]

Thanks for the advice. I'll start out with just the ww lead and see how it does. From what I've read, they should cast around 9-12 BHN. Then, if I water quench or heat treat them I should be able to get 16-20 BHN fairly easy. I think this hardness should be fine for use in a 44mag at 310 grains with a low load (lowest in book due to pressures) of H110.

The mold design will be for a gas check, so if needed I can use them too.

[olereb]

Thanks for the advice. I'll start out with just the ww lead and see how it does. From what I've read, they should cast around 9-12 BHN. Then, if I water quench or heat treat them I should be able to get 16-20 BHN fairly easy. I think this hardness should be fine for use in a 44mag at 310 grains with a low load (lowest in book due to pressures) of H110.

The mold design will be for a gas check, so if needed I can use them too.

I haven't used GC boolits without a GC so I cant comment on that but I have been casting my 45colt and 44mag boolits out of the same pot with no leading in either. Its WW lead that's water dropped and is shot out of revolvers and rifles,if its under 1500fps I haven't had any need for GC's so far in 44mag and 45colt. I did slug all my barrels though which I'm guessing is why I haven't had any issues.