I've recently gotten back into casting bullets after a very long lull. I still have the equipment and about 50# of lead, 25# of Linotype and an equal amount of 50/50 lead/Linotype. I'm trying to figure how much of what I need to come up with a 1:16 tin to lead mix for general shooting in the 850-1000fps area. The 50/50 lead to Linotype mix is fairly hard-more than the 1:16 mix I want. I just don't know how much of it to add to pure lead. Any ideas? Buying tin is about out of the question due to its price per pound. you'd go broke mixing one pound of tin to 16 pounds of lead pretty soon. Bottom line-I'm looking for a hardness on the Brinell hardness scale of about 10-11.
Mixes of Lead, Linotype and Tin
- Thread starter ColColt
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Last edited:
Alk8944
US Veteran
If you want a 16:1 alloy forget the type metal and buy some pure Tin to mix with your Lead. Type metals all contain Antimony and sometimes small amounts of other metals.
If you are trying to match the hardness of 16:1 then 4:1 Lead/Lino will come close, somewhere in the 12-15 Brinnell range.
If you are trying to match the hardness of 16:1 then 4:1 Lead/Lino will come close, somewhere in the 12-15 Brinnell range.
I'm well aware of Mr Fryxell and his work...superb writer and most knowledgeable. The problem with tin is it's expensive but, I know that's the easiest way to mix what I want without going into proportions and percentages. I do have lead and tin but at $15-20 pound for tin, you kind of get stingy with it, especially if you have to use a pound. I can't imagine why it cost what it does but, someone laid the ground rules long ago I'm sure. It kind of negates why you cast in the first place-economy.
USSR
Member
Man, you surely don't need a 1:16 alloy for 850-1000fps loads. With what you have, just mix 1# of your 50/50 lead/Linotype with 4# of pure lead, and you will have a decent alloy with a 9.8 BHN. You can make it an excellent alloy by adding some solder which can sometimes be found at a reasonable price.
Don
I thought an alloy that soft would be more for around 750-900 fps. I don't think that mix will be that soft but I may try it. I do have about five pounds of pure tin but hoarding it until necessary as it's phenomenal in price these days.
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USSR
Member
Just add 1/8 of a pound of that tin to the above mix, and you will bump the BHN up to 10.5 and your bullets will fill out much better in the mould.
Don
