2-2-96 alloy hardness?

38SPL HV · Mar 30, 2020

Does anyone know the hardness of 2-2-96 alloy? Is it comparable to clip on wheel weights?

GT Bullets use this alloy. Their bullets are excellent and do not lead for me to 1,150 FPS.

rockquarry · Mar 30, 2020

I don't think that is a common mix, but I'm no expert.

That's a high percentage of lead and not much tin but enough for mould fillout; the 2% antimony will harden it a little. My guess would be a BHN of around 9, maybe 10 - fairly soft but a good handgun bullet alloy if it fits, and apparently it does in your gun if your not getting any leading at your velocity. I've found clip on wheelweights are usually around 12 BHN, give or take a one.

Eddietruett · Mar 30, 2020

Not sure what the hardness, but I use the 190gr SWCHP for carry in my 44 Special and it will expand well at 850 fps. Last year I shot a coyote with their 185gr Hard Cast HP Wide Meplat in my 8 3/8" Model 686 at about 40 yards. Not sure if this is cast harder or not, but it took out the front shoulder and passed through leaving a large hole on the far side with a lot of destruction to the internals. I'm pushing this load at about 1300 fps and it will start to show a little leading after 25 rounds or so. Great hunting load. Since I discovered coated bullets I don't shoot much lead any more, but GT makes as good of lead bullets as I've ever found.

Skeet 028 · Mar 30, 2020

That mix should be about like Chilled lead shot which is pretty soft. I have a bunch of ingots made up made from Lawrence magnum lead shot 5-6% antimony with about 5 % tin to make it pour good when making shot. Makes good bullets too. Never did a lead hardness test on that alloy. Makes good shot for my small gauge loading

LoboGunLeather · Mar 31, 2020

I have had very good experiences with GT cast bullets. From what I have read on their website the alloys used are based upon the intended uses of the various bullets. The 2-2-96 should be pretty good for most handgun applications, although I would prefer a harder alloy for serious magnum loads.

I have cast my own for many years, but there have been times when I found it handy to order commercially cast bullets. I found GT a few years ago and have used their products in .45, .38 Spl, .357 mag, and .44 Spl. Very good selection, including some excellent hollow-point designs. They also seem to have the customer service side covered very well.

308 Scout · Mar 31, 2020

38SPL HV said:
Does anyone know the hardness of 2-2-96 alloy? Is it comparable to clip on wheel weights?

GT Bullets use this alloy. Their bullets are excellent and do not lead for me to 1,150 FPS.

Approximately 10.5 Bhn

dhom · Mar 31, 2020

I have used GT bullets for a few years now and have excellent results. I agree the 2-2-96 is in the 10BHN range. My guide line I use is 1000 fps for the large hollow points and 1200 fps for the small hollow points. I am using them in 357 mag,44 mag,45 colt, and 45-70. I shot a 6 point buck in N.C. last year with the 45 colt 250 gr SWCHP [large] at very close to 1000 fps and the bullet completely destroyed both lungs.

fredj338 · Mar 31, 2020

The BHN just isnt that important in most handgun loads. Range scrap for me avg 10bhn, just fine for all handgun needs, 380 up to high midrange magnums & 10mm. Buulet fit is where its at.

cowboy4evr · Mar 31, 2020

I use ingots that are pure lead w/just 1% tin . I get a nice fill out and they get water dropped . I use them in everything from 38spl to hot and fast magnum loads w/nary a problem . Like fredj338 said ," bullet fit is where its at " . I will also add , a real good bullet lube . Not that hard stuff most commercial casters use that is like crayons . Because that's all it's good for . Regards Paul

boatbum101 · Mar 31, 2020

As long as you keep them 1200fps or slower shouldn't be a problem . I don't like antimony in alloy for cast HP's , but prefer the old 20 to 1 or 30 to 1 alloys . Depends on impact velocity desired . Fit & lube are of vital importance . You can run pretty soft alloy with a gascheck . Most of theirs are plain based , so again fit is king .

Nevada Ed · Mar 31, 2020

I always thought, that if you could nick the lead bullet with your finger nail...........
it would work great with target load speeds.

Harder bullets could be pushed a lot faster.

I give the GT bullets a thumbs up in their designs.

mikld · Mar 31, 2020

I don't think I agree with the "1,200 fps limit" for cast bullets. I cast mostly wheel weight alloy, sometimes range scrap and fired my 160 gr. LSWC, plain based, air cooled bullets in my .357 Mag to 1,300+ fps with no Leading (max. loads of True Blue). I also fired my "soft wheel weight alloy" 240 gr RNFP bullets to approx. 1,400 fps in my 44 Mag. carbine. The most important items about shooting cast lead bullets are; bullet to gun fit, a good lube and last, BHN...

I have fired cast bullets in my 7.62x54r, 30-06 and 30-30 to well over 2,000 fps, but I had gas checks on those bullets...

Rule3 · Mar 31, 2020

We have found BHN measurements to be of little use in determining suitability of an alloy to a particular application since 2 different alloys with totally different characteristics can measure the same or close to each other. We prefer softer alloys that are more inline with the hardness of lead used before the days when "hard cast" became the buzzword for bullet casting metal.

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=5

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[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21esd_H8VUU[/ame]

Dieseltech56 · Mar 31, 2020

I use a lot of coww with 2% tin added. Does most of what I need handgun bullets to do. If I need anymore I might mix in 20% Linotype.

rockquarry · Mar 31, 2020

Rule3 said:
We have found BHN measurements to be of little use in determining suitability of an alloy to a particular application since 2 different alloys with totally different characteristics can measure the same or close to each other. We prefer softer alloys that are more inline with the hardness of lead used before the days when "hard cast" became the buzzword for bullet casting metal.

Alloy information : GT Bullets!, Fine Hand Cast Lead Bullets

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YouTube

The described method may work and work well, but I've found my LBT hardness tester to be very fast and convenient and I've gotten much use from it over the last thirty-five years or so. I wouldn't be without it as long as I'm casting bullets.

Qc Pistolero · Mar 31, 2020

Wheelweights are not consistent but all will be around 12-13BHN.Containing antimony,they will harden when dropped in a pail of water coming out of the mould(watch out for drops of water in the molten lead pot;quickest way to empty it out).
I shoot a recipe of 25lead to 1 tin without gc in my rifles at way over 1000fps(depending on caliber,up to 1350fps)and do not experience any leading.Good bullet fit and enough of good soft lube to last all the way down the bbl(look for the lube star at the muzzle,sure sign you have enough lube)is a lot more important than lead hardness.

fredj338 · Apr 2, 2020

cowboy4evr said:
I use ingots that are pure lead w/just 1% tin . I get a nice fill out and they get water dropped . I use them in everything from 38spl to hot and fast magnum loads w/nary a problem . Like fredj338 said ," bullet fit is where its at " . I will also add , a real good bullet lube . Not that hard stuff most commercial casters use that is like crayons . Because that's all it's good for . Regards Paul

If you are water dropping for hardness, you aren't getting much out of a tin/lead only alloy. It needs arsenic to water harden.
I have pretty much given up conventional lubes since I started coating.

fredj338 · Apr 2, 2020

mikld said:
I don't think I agree with the "1,200 fps limit" for cast bullets. I cast mostly wheel weight alloy, sometimes range scrap and fired my 160 gr. LSWC, plain based, air cooled bullets in my .357 Mag to 1,300+ fps with no Leading (max. loads of True Blue). I also fired my "soft wheel weight alloy" 240 gr RNFP bullets to approx. 1,400 fps in my 44 Mag. carbine. The most important items about shooting cast lead bullets are; bullet to gun fit, a good lube and last, BHN...

I have fired cast bullets in my 7.62x54r, 30-06 and 30-30 to well over 2,000 fps, but I had gas checks on those bullets...

Though he was saying he used 20-1 or 30-1 alloy, pretty soft. I hold 1250fps max for LHP 25-1 bullets with no leading in 44mag. For 45-70, I can push that to 1400fps or so.

andy52 · Apr 2, 2020

I use GT bullets and bullets I cast from wheel weights that are cold chilled.
The GT bullets are not as hard as a cold dropped wheel weight and shouldn't be pushed much beyond 1000fps or you will start to see some leading.
The GT bullets are excellent at lower velocities, their hollow point expand extremely well at 900fps and under.
Here is a GT .45ACP 225gr at about 850fps, expansion and retention is about as good as it gets.

243winxb · Apr 2, 2020

Lyman alloy chart that came with my new mold.

2-2-96 alloy hardness?

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