The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hi all,
I have a load of "muffin" ingots (each one is about 2lbs in weight) that I have cast from indoor range lead. I don't have a clue about the hardness of this lead and after several hours of "googling" I've come2 to the conclusion that the hardness could be anything. One forum member described range lead as to "life is like a box of chocolates" I thought that was quite apt.

I'd like to cast these for my 38/357 marlin for indoors (25 yards) and hard enough to be pushed out to 100yds without leading. Some forums say the range lead will be fine and others say it would be too soft and will need antimony and tin.
Until I know the ingot hardness I'm at a loss as to how much to add.
I'm in the Bracknell area and wondering if there is that might be able to help me determine the hardness?

All help appreciated.
John

John,
You wont have any issue with range lead for that use.
Its pretty much all I have ever used in the past 30 years or so.
I have "special" alloy that I use for full bore but they are doing 2100fps so care is needed!
A load for 25 generally works ok at 100. You just need to find the drop, typically about a foot.
I will be in touch about you coming over for a session in the next two or three weeks.
I haven`t forgotten!
Tony

Hi Tony,

I just wanted to get a few things sorted so I'm clued up enough when I come over.
I'm really worried about making a load of bullets but the lead is too soft.
I can't thank you enough for this.

Regards

John

Pm sent

If you have doubts about the hardness of your lead why not invest in a bullet hardness tester?

Soft bullets don't cause leading, poor bullet fit and too hard an alloy are the main causes of leading with lube being a distant third reason.

Most bullets are made far too hard for their application, this is because bullet manufacturers don't want them getting dinged up in transit not for the good of the shooter.

Range scrap should be absolutely fine for your 357 magnum load, it is a low velocity round.

Just ensure that the boolit you choose fits the throat and/or is 1-2 thou over groove diameter, I have a hardness tester but rarely use it other than out of curiosity, I've successfully cast and shot hundreds of thousands of bullets over the years without the benefit of a hardness tester and never felt disadvantaged.

Cast up your bullets and get them to fit the gun and you will be fine.

I guess he is using GM hardcast boolits which would not help the situation.

Hardcast bullets can and do shoot very well but the boolit fit is even more crucial to get them to shoot consistently without fouling, than with more appropriate softer alloys.

The lube on commercial boolits leaves a lot to be desired as well, again it tends to be hard and waxy so as to resist the rigours of transit rather than help the boolit shoot consistently

The whole point of cast bullets is that it is relatively easy to get boolits to fit the rifle unlike the condom bullet shooters who have to get rifles to fit the bullets.