Bullet casting

[NikatKimber]

You can do it cheaper. If you enjoy it, it's a nice hobby.

I have the equipment, but don't cast much. It's a lot of work, and I do it outside. So you're subject to the weather.

If I was casting odd ball bullets, or some special type that was hard to get, it'd be worth it. But when you can buy good quality lead bullets for ~$.05-.07, it hardly makes sense to cast plinking bullets.

 

[Old Fart]

The zinc crap started showing up years ago. I can usually tell just by how it feels that it is zinc, as long as I sort them all out by size.

I've found an easier way to get to where I need to be. Several years back I bought some ingots of high mix tin & antimony and also a large quantity of linotype. I just shop around now for straight lead and add to it to get to the hardness I need or want. I don't know how much longer you will be able to find linotype as that's a dying industry. But there's still some out there. I got lucky and found enough to supply me and my decendants for quite a while.

Just something to ponder now.......

 

[Phadrian]

Back 15-20 years ago I had a source for linotype. The linotype came from printing presses, and they just threw away the old print and cast new. Now days linotype is so expensive as to be unobtainable. What you need is tin, Again back in the old days they used to be tin piping, but not any more. My bullets were BHN 18-20 and that came from adding a considerable amount of tin. Granted they looked good, but some of the bullets I got from J&k were much harder than mine BHN 21+. I am not sure how he is doing that given the amount of tin I needed to get my bullets as hard as I did.

I would love to cast but the price has narrowed such that it is no longer economically feasible.

 

[458 SOCOM]

Part of my thought process on casting has changed over the years as the same as my reloading.

Once upon a time it was about the economics, but not anymore. Now it's about availability and I have tailored Several loads specific for my firearm.

With the gooberment buying ammo they don't need to prevent you and I from having it, I think it is very prudent to be able to produce your own for your own various needs.

 

[Old Fart]

And of course you can water quench your bullets right out of the mold and get a temporary (around 3 months) increase in hardness.

 

[scottb42]

Back 15-20 years ago I had a source for linotype. The linotype came from printing presses, and they just threw away the old print and cast new. Now days linotype is so expensive as to be unobtainable. What you need is tin, Again back in the old days they used to be tin piping, but not any more. My bullets were BHN 18-20 and that came from adding a considerable amount of tin. Granted they looked good, but some of the bullets I got from J&k were much harder than mine BHN 21+. I am not sure how he is doing that given the amount of tin I needed to get my bullets as hard as I did.

My dad is the family chemist but my understanding is that antimony is much more efficient at hardening lead alloys, and that tin is usually added to the alloy to fill out the molds rather than as a hardening agent (tin is too expensive and you need a lot of it). There are other techniques for hardening lead like water quenching and (in industrial settings) adding a pinch of arsenic.

Linotype has a BHN of 22, and is 84% lead, 12% antimony, and 4% tin.

If you have the time, an excellent resource for casting can be found online at http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

 

[Old Fart]

I've listed the lasc site numerous times here and you're correct it's pretty good reading. Also the CBA & Castboolits sites are great resources.

 

[Good Cheer]

When the availability of specific alloys becomes problematic then the solution becomes to shoot a larger caliber rifle with paper patched bullets. My deer rifle was built to use 283 grain 1980's wheel weights.
[Broken External Image]
But things have changed. Time to wrap 'em.

 

[458 SOCOM]

I am about to embark on a new casting adventure.

I just bought a 40 year old virgin handgun along with new molds and a free chex system.

I will post some gun porn in the next day or two but I found a new in box model 57 S&W never fired with original box and papers.

Serial number dates it back to late 1972.

So I bought a new saeco truncated cone mold that is gas checked and my new free chex system will allow higher velocities without leading issues.
This will be a fun month.