MidSouth Shooters SupplySnyders JerkyLee PrecisionReloading Everything
RepackboxInline FabricationTitan ReloadingLoad Data
RotoMetals2 Wideners
Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Anywhere still alloy and gas checks ?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Wolfdog91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Amite County MS
    Posts
    982

    Anywhere still alloy and gas checks ?

    Trying to find somewhere with some Lyman #2 and 6.5 gas checks in stock but ain't having any luck , anyone know of anywhere right now ? Tryin to buy bitch from one place to save shipping
    A wise man will try to learn as much from a fool as he will from a master, for all have something to teach- Uncle Iroh
    MS Army Guard 2016-2021

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    9,011
    Just something to consider.

    Lyman #2 is 95-5-5 and has a BHN of 15
    "Hardball" alloy is what commercial casters use and it is 94-2-6 (Pb, Sn, Sb) with the same BHN of 15.

    Tin is the expensive component and not the most cost effective way to increase hardness but makes the bullet less brittle and easier to cast. If you are looking for hardness, 2% tin will still provide good casting fill out and Hardball is easier to find and less costly.

    The one advantage of Lyman #2 is if you are cutting it with pure or range lead, (say 1:1) you will still have plenty of tin (Sn) for good fill out. If you are shooting paper and steel, and not mixing alloy, hardball alloy might be a wiser choice. 90% of my alloy is 94-2-6 but I do not hunt with cast bullets.

    #2 alloy may perform better wrt expansion but others will chime in who know.

    Edit to add:
    If you have trouble finding Hardball I can sell you some to get you by. PM me. For others, do not contact me as I am not selling off inventory...just trying to help out Wolf so I can see more of his interesting posts...LOL

    Missouri Bullet Company has some listed on their website:
    https://missouribullet.com/results.php?category=12

    Rotometals has it too:
    https://www.rotometals.com/hardball-...y-and-92-lead/

    I will be at $2/lb plus shipping.
    Last edited by dverna; 03-07-2024 at 03:03 PM.
    Don Verna


  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    SE Pa
    Posts
    133
    There are a number of lead alloy calculators online so you should think about trying to alloy something close to it yourself. To me it doesn't matter if it is exactly 95:5:5 and I doubt you will find any difference with a similar alloy as long as the final hardness is the same. If you can get a good price for pure lead or range lead then look on Ebay for some scrap foundry type that goes for about $2.50 a pound (surprisingly close in price to the scrap Ebay lead). Then start going to thrift stores and look for pewter bowl or plates for cheap to get the extra tin (I can usually get pewter for under $5 a pound).

    Even though you are starting with some unknown alloys the calculators are close enough and I usually end up with a BHN +/- 0.5. And when in doubt throw in another handful of foundry type for BHN 16.

    Gas checks are another story..........

  4. #4
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The Lowcountry
    Posts
    1,120
    Sage gas checks have two sizes for the 6.5.
    I know that doesn't help any, wanting to buy both at the same place.
    But they are in stock.
    Good luck!

    Keep posting those barge and water way pictures!

  5. #5
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,710
    Quote Originally Posted by 45workhorse View Post
    Keep posting those barge and water way pictures!
    I have mixed feeling about them.
    Sure, I like seeing them, but they remind me that one time I had the opportunity to work for one of those companies,,,,
    but got married instead.


    Wolf, I'm almost surprised you're not blending your own alloys and making your own gas checks by now.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2022
    Location
    Middle Tennessee for now. Want to buy land out west, somewhere cool and dry!
    Posts
    350
    https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/rmr-...dness/#reviews

    Here’s another source for clean lead. I’ve never asked if they could make gas checks.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    337
    Was looking for .348 gas checks several years ago. Nobody had them; except Hornady. Yup right out of the factory. Their direct sales policy may have changed, but you ought to give them a call.
    Don't know where your tow boat loads and unloads, but there ought to be a marine scrap yard at one end or the other of your journey. Sailboat keels used to be lead. Didn't matter about the alloy, but you might be able to find some cheap enough to worry about the alloy later. Be careful out there.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    oldblinddog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    964
    USMC 6638

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Modesto, Ca.
    Posts
    1,249
    Wolfdog: Have you checked Sage's Outdoors for gas checks? Try here: https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/gas-ch...er-gas-checks/

  10. #10
    Boolit Master

    Calamity Jake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Okla. City
    Posts
    2,471
    check your PM box
    Calamity Jake

    NRA Life Member
    SASS 15704
    Shoot straight, keepem in the ten ring.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Posts
    598
    Here's a source for Lyman #2 but they don't seem to have gas checks since their main product is ready to load bullets.

    https://missouribullet.com/results.php?category=12

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Wolfdog91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Amite County MS
    Posts
    982
    Thanks everyone,sorry the site has been acting weird for me most of the week and havent been able to post somehow anyhow managed to get some gas checks from sages aaannnd idk about alloy right now think I still have enough in the post for a decent batch of bullets


    Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk
    A wise man will try to learn as much from a fool as he will from a master, for all have something to teach- Uncle Iroh
    MS Army Guard 2016-2021

  13. #13
    Boolit Master Wolfdog91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Amite County MS
    Posts
    982
    Quote Originally Posted by Calamity Jake View Post
    check your PM box
    Tried to respond but won't let me, something about my inbox
    A wise man will try to learn as much from a fool as he will from a master, for all have something to teach- Uncle Iroh
    MS Army Guard 2016-2021

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Modesto, Ca.
    Posts
    1,249
    Apparently you've become notorious.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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