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Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:11 am
by River
I am looking for some lead of Brinell Hardness of about round about 15, similar to Lyman #2 - Anyone know of a supply to this type of alloy. Wheel weights don't seen to be available anymore, at least where I live. What do people do to get a good alloy, harder than pure lead?
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:08 am
by dromia
That is pretty hard, what are going to use it for?
Range scrap is a good source of hard lead especially if there is some .22 rf in it as this helps the alloy respond to heat treating.
The range scrap I use is predominately .22rf, airgun pellets and muzzle loading soft lead an that is far too hard for all of my shooting at around 12-15 bhn.
it needs cutting with roof flashing and pipe lead to make it usable.
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:56 am
by River
I want to start casting for my 357 mag, Uberti Winchester 1873
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:28 pm
by dromia
That is way too hard for the 357 10-12 is ample hard with good bullet fit.
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:52 pm
by River
Ok, thanks, I am relatively new to this - but how can I get to that hardness, any suggestions please?
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:30 pm
by dromia
What alloy sources do you have?
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:35 pm
by River
Just pure lead/roofing lead and pewter :)
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:37 pm
by dromia
BTW I wouldn't get hung up on bhn numbers, if the bullet fits the freebore and you have a half decent lube then I wouldn't worry, hell old Elmer just banged in some tin and away he went.
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:42 pm
by dromia
River wrote:Just pure lead/roofing lead and pewter :)
"Pewter" covers a multitude on sins, can you scratch it your finger nail?
Half and half should be a decent starting point.
More important is your mould going to give you a bullet big enough for your freebore.
Have you slugged your barrel/freebore?
Re: Lead for Casting
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:37 pm
by River
The pewter I have is from old dented tankard from car boot sales, which I have cast into ingots, and is hard and cannot be scratched with your nail.
I have not slugged the bore, and I don't have the mould yet, still looking for the most appropriate one. I was looking to get a 158grn .358 mould.
Up to now all my casting has been pure lead, with a very small amount of pewter, for my cap and ball revolver and my Martini-Henry.
Appreciate your help, thanks