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Thread: How hard?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    How hard?

    I have run out of all my scrap lead collected over the years so am buying the good stuff now. I bought Lyman #2 which they list as 90% lead ,5% tin & 5% antimony & is listed as 15 on the scale.I powder coat & gas check my faster rifle loads so want something a little softer. If I smelt it to 1# bars at 2 parts #2 to 1 part pure , my figures come out to 93.3 lead ,3.3 tin & 3.3 antimony. Can someone tell me the hardness of that.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yooper003 View Post
    I have run out of all my scrap lead collected over the years so am buying the good stuff now. I bought Lyman #2 which they list as 90% lead ,5% tin & 5% antimony & is listed as 15 on the scale.I powder coat & gas check my faster rifle loads so want something a little softer. If I smelt it to 1# bars at 2 parts #2 to 1 part pure , my figures come out to 93.3 lead ,3.3 tin & 3.3 antimony. Can someone tell me the hardness of that.
    Here is a link to a useful calculator that will give you your answer:

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...oy-calculators
    1A - 2A = -1A

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master fredj338's Avatar
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    If you want it a little softer, go 3-1 #2/lead. Exact bhn is over thought imo.
    EVERY GOOD SHOOTER NEEDS TO BE A HANDLOADER.
    NRA Cert. Inst. Met. Reloading & Basic Pistol

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by fredj338 View Post
    If you want it a little softer, go 3-1 #2/lead. Exact bhn is over thought imo.
    Yes I could, did a 4 to 1. Just thinking about jumping a step.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Mix it for 9-10 (using the calculator) and PC it. You can save lots of money with PC and get excellent results! It allow you to shoot much softer alloys with NO leading or greasy mess.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have tried several times to use the “calculator “ my I-pad air out here in the sticks doesn’t seem to be able to handle that.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yooper003 View Post
    I have tried several times to use the “calculator “ my I-pad air out here in the sticks doesn’t seem to be able to handle that.
    Sorry about that.

    There are disadvantages to living in the sticks! I have been there! Never again.

    The calculator is simply an eloquent MS EXCEL spreadsheet. Small file, but you need MS Excel or the equivalent OpenOffice engine to run it.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check