Another newbe question

[mattbowen]

The question that I have is it better to water cool or air cool your casts? I know that if you fast (water) cool metal that it gets harder faster but is more brittle compared to air cooling, so which is better for boolits?

Thank

Matt

[onesonek]

Brittleness comes more from alloy composition, as in high antimony content from what I understand or heard. As for water dropped or air-cooled,,,,that also has a relationship to the alloy being used. Then it depends on what the firearm likes, and or your desired terminal performance characteristics. There simply isn't any one correct answer.
What alloy are you using?
Are you shooting Plain Base or GC?
What caliber and chambering?
What intended velocity?
What boolit design?
What terminal performance desired?
All these, and I likely forgot a few,,,,, all have some factor in the question.

[x101airborne]

Well, in my opinion, I just try to match the hardness needed to what im shooting. My current alloy drops at 12 bhn air cooled, and 22 bhn water quenched. my 38,45acp, 44 special, 45 colt all do fine plain base at around 1000 fps at 12 bhn. My 44 mag, 454 casull, 357 mag get water quenched and do well plain base also.

[44man]

Water dropping WW boolits will not make them brittle but will harden and toughen them much faster then aging air cooled. I don't know if air cooled ever gets as hard because I drop all boolits into water because I hate rolling boolits around on rags.

[mattbowen]

Thanks guys,
I am using ww and will be shooting 45-70 and want to get about 1400 to 1600fps with a 405gr HBFN. After reading you responses I think I will be ok with the water cooling.

Thanks again

Matt

[44man]

Thanks guys,
I am using ww and will be shooting 45-70 and want to get about 1400 to 1600fps with a 405gr HBFN. After reading you responses I think I will be ok with the water cooling.

Thanks again

Matt

I shoot water dropped WW, PB boolits out of my 45-70 revolver at 1632 fps with superb accuracy and no leading.

[mattbowen]

44; Thanks I will be shooting them out of my handi

[old turtle]

I water drop all my boolits. I agree with 44man especially when casting a lot (300+) of boolits.

[mattbowen]

I haven't had time to cast that many yet, when I get home from work and get things done I have been able to cast for about an hour and just started two nights ago. So far I have casted 200 boolits and have 138 keepers and have droped all in water.

Thanks again guys