I've used 50/50 Pb/WW for my pistols for years, but now I'm running out of WW. I've got a good supply of Linotype. What would be the right proportion of Pb/lino to match the hardness of my old PB/WW?
I've used 50/50 Pb/WW for my pistols for years, but now I'm running out of WW. I've got a good supply of Linotype. What would be the right proportion of Pb/lino to match the hardness of my old PB/WW?
Using the lead alloy calculator, looks like a 10:1 ratio lead:lino should get you about the same overall. This should give a little more tin %, a little less antimony %, and about the same hardness.
From http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chap...Metallurgy.htm
Hardness of Tertiary Lead/Antimony/Tin Alloys
Alloy Composition Hardness
Lead 5
Wheelweights 95% Pb 3% Sb 0.3% Sn 12
Lyman #2 90% Pb 5% Sb 5% Sn 15
Linotype 84% Pb 12% Sb 4% Sn 22
Lead based Babbitt 85/10/5 19
Lead based Babbitt 80/15/5 20
I use birdshot the larger magnum size like 5 or 4's have about the same components. It also has a touch of arsenic so it will harden. Best to add a little tin to get it to flow. Too much tin lightens the bullets where this is about the same.
DEP
For low speed handgun stuff, I only add enough WW to get a nice fill in the mold.
My WW content is closer to 20% rather than 1/2 & 1/2.
Since pure Lead swaged boolits will work- I don't add any more goodies than I have to for getting a good fill out.
I save my 'goodies' for rifle boolits that actually need to be harder.
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I replaced wheel weights long ago with the pure lead plus hard, chilled birdshot mix. My alloy is about 30% shot and 70% pure with a little pure tin added as DEP said.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |