Bullet alloy

[A Atwood]

After some reading, it sounds like a 16:1 lead/tin hardness is the way to go with 45-70 & black powder.
Question:
I have two types of ingots currently.
1- 96/4 lead/tin.
2- 92/6/2 lead/antimony/tin
If I combine these two at a ratio of 50/50 I end up with a 94/3/3 lead/antimony/tin mix.
A 16:1 lead/tin is 94/6 lead/tin. See where I’m going with this?
Has anyone tried this mix or tested the hardness as compared to the 16:1 lead/tin?

Or should I scrap the idea and simply acquire more tin to add to my 24:1 lead tin that I have.

Thanks,
ARN

[ian45662]

Off topic question for you. Do you have a brother named Stew?

[A Atwood]

Off topic question for you. Do you have a brother named Stew?

Yes

[ian45662]

Small world!!! I just spoke with him on the phone. I am from Portsmouth Ohio. He is coming down to Ashland Kentucky on Friday to shoot some silhouettes for a practice day.

[A Atwood]

Small world!!! I just spoke with him on the phone. I am from Portsmouth Ohio. He is coming down to Ashland Kentucky on Friday to shoot some silhouettes for a practice day.

Yes, unfortunately I’m working Friday and cannot join. All I have right now is some factory crap ammo that I need to shoot up. I’m trying to develop my own black powder load, but this learning curve is pretty steep! So much supplies to order. But at least I have a rifle now

[ian45662]

Awesome. We are just shooting as weather permits. I usually have Friday off and the weather is going to be descent but I will keep you guys updated on more outings. Sometimes we go to friendship on a Saturday or Sunday and sometimes here in Ashland. As far as alloy goes I think the best thing you can do is to just try and see. I have been shooting 14:1 lead and tin alloy with my paper patch loads for years but I might be starting to get back into grease groove bullets just for silhouette and will he testing an alloy Friday. The Rixmix as Cody calls it. 50/50 wheel weights and soft lead with 2% tin. It is making some beautiful bullets ,with nice sharp edges, but the only thing that will matter is how they preform and we hope to find out Friday.

[Dennis Armistead]

After some reading, it sounds like a 16:1 lead/tin hardness is the way to go with 45-70 & black powder.
Question:
I have two types of ingots currently.
1- 96/4 lead/tin.
2- 92/6/2 lead/antimony/tin
If I combine these two at a ratio of 50/50 I end up with a 94/3/3 lead/antimony/tin mix.
A 16:1 lead/tin is 94/6 lead/tin. See where I’m going with this?
Has anyone tried this mix or tested the hardness as compared to the 16:1 lead/tin?

Or should I scrap the idea and simply acquire more tin to add to my 24:1 lead tin that I have.

Thanks,
ARN

When I started loading for these rifles 35 years ago, I was blending my own, but the more shooting I did, I found out it was more work than I had time for if I wanted consistent alloy from batch to batch. Getting 100% pure lead then adding tin in 30lb lots at a time was inconsistent for me. Now I just buy my alloy when I need it. It was more consistent and less time on my part.
Dennis

[beltfed]

Arn,
I would definitely try that mix of the two alloys you mentioned. I think it will work well as long as
your bullets are at or a couple thousandths greater than groove diameter so you don't get gas cutting/leading.
Reason is that alloys with antimony is that they do not bump up (as much as) lead/tin alloys.
OTOH, they will not slump, which is GOOD
My favorite alloy is 9+1 COWW/Lino.
beltfed/arnie

[whoop-up country]

Mr. Atwood,

You could combine your #2mix, which works out to 94% lead, 3% antimony, and 3% tin with pure lead in a 50/50 ratio to give you Dan T's tried and true 777 Alloy. The 777 Alloy is 97% lead, 1.5% antimony, and 1.5% tin. BHN is 8.2, which hardens to9.8 in 18 hrs., and stays at 9.8 BHN.
That was Dan T's favorite alloy

Bob

[A Atwood]

Mr. Atwood,

You could combine your #2mix, which works out to 94% lead, 3% antimony, and 3% tin with pure lead in a 50/50 ratio to give you Dan T's tried and true 777 Alloy. The 777 Alloy is 97% lead, 1.5% antimony, and 1.5% tin. BHN is 8.2, which hardens to9.8 in 18 hrs., and stays at 9.8 BHN.
That was Dan T's favorite alloy

Bob

I just ordered a cabine tree hardness tester to help me out!
Thanks all!
ARN

[bobw]

Or should I scrap the idea and simply acquire more tin to add to my 24:1 lead tin that I have.

Thanks,
ARN
[/quote]

Why don't you just try the 24 to 1 first before adjusting it. I bet it will shoot just fine. Bobw

[Raymond Hanson]

Bob is spot on. Raymond

[semtav]

A lot will depend on the type and dimension of bullet, granulation powder, wad, rifling twist.how hard you drive it etc
16-1 is just a one size fits all but experimenting with different alloys will tell you what is best for your load.

Like Bob says, may just be the 96-4 for your current load.

[kwilliams]

The Cabine tree tester has a learning curve to get consistent dial reading results. Instructions say to put a flat on nose of bullet, but a 3/16 flat on one example and 3/8 on next will give different dial travel numbers. I bored out a old mold to cast a flat cylinder .580 dia. slug, now the alloy test sample size is consistent every time with perfectly flat ends and the dial readings reflect that.
kw

[bobw]

What mold are you using? It does make a difference. Bobw