ZINC Bullets, anybody ever make any or use them?

[bad_man_ one]

Hi,
I have an opportunity to die cast some Zinc bullets.
Just wondering if anybody ever made any or have used them before?
Knowing they will be about 2/3's of the weight of the lead counterparts (sizes being equal).
I can adjust the length for some of that.
I would start light on the loads and adjust accordingly with a chronograph knowing that they would be seated more.
I'm also planning on starting with a .38 Wadcutter style in a 686 revolver.
Any and all input welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
BM1

 

[bad_man_ one]

Hi,
I have an opportunity to die cast some Zinc bullets.
Just wondering if anybody ever made any or have used them before?
Knowing they will be about 2/3's of the weight of the lead counterparts (sizes being equal).
I can adjust the length for some of that.
I would start light on the loads and adjust accordingly with a chronograph knowing that they would be seated more.
I'm also planning on starting with a .38 Wadcutter style in a 686 revolver.
Any and all input welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
BM1

 

[john traveler]

Zinc bullets are bad news. A company run by Jim Harvey of .22 Harvey K-Chuck fame sold in the 1960s bullets and molds for casting a lead bullet with a "tail" for swaging on a zinc washer. The theory was the zinc bullets needed no lubrication, and swaging on a soft lead front part allowed for high velocity and expansion. The theory was good, but in practice the performance was lacking. Zinc smearing on barrels was difficult to remove, and caused electrolytic corrosion in humid environments. Zinc contaminated lead melts produced unsatisfactory cast bullets. The hybrid swaged bullets were no more likely to expand than fully soft cast hollowpoints.

My limited experimentation confirmed that zinc barrel smearing was a problem, and the batches of hybrid zinc/lead bullets I loaded didn't perform any better than cast lead ones, but made barrel cleaning absolute hell.

 

[Paul5388]

The question came up recently on Handloads.com. Here's some additional information that probably should be considered, especially the hazards of casting zinc.

http://forums.handloads.com/fo...s.asp?TID=22265&PN=1

 

[pete950]

Originally posted by Paul5388:
The question came up recently on Handloads.com. Here's some additional information that probably should be considered, especially the hazards of casting zinc.

http://forums.handloads.com/fo...s.asp?TID=22265&PN=1

Paul if you e-mail me tomorrow I will dig them out, I have about 100 9mm and 150 38swc's made of all zinc. I think they were produced in Bensenville ILL. I bought them about 10 or so years ago and never got into them but loaded some they come with loading info.

Pete
E-Mail ([email protected])

 

[pete950]

oops
my reply was ment for Bad Man One

 

[bad_man_ one]

Pete950,
Email sent.
Thanks,
BM1

 

[bad_man_ one]

Hi Pete950,
I didn't know which email to use, so I'm gave both a try again.
As I said in the post, I am interested in looking into zinc bullets.
It's just something new that I would like to try.
I would love to get a hold of the quantity that you have.
Load data also?
Please let me know what you would like for them.
Thanks again,
BM1

 

[ricks1]

If you cast them dont do it in an Aluminum mold. I made a few to try in a 44 mag They didnt do well in My try . I loaded at low end and they shot high and didnt group good.I was useing Lee tl and no gas check on a 225[lead] was running about 205

 

[DCC]

I'm not a metallurgist but surely there are going to be some density issues?
Zinc Zn 7.14gm/cc
Lead Pb 11.34gm/cc
A 38/148gr HBWC in Zn is going to be a lot longer and therefore less powder space if seated flush?

Also, will the Mohs Hardness - Pb 1.5 v Zn 2.5 make any difference to the engraving of the rifling/accuracy in something like a Model 52 (which is what I shoot HBWC thru)
and can you swage Zn?

DCC