Casting Mixture

[hdbiker]

first,I've been casting wheel weights for my .357 & .44 mags for over 30 years for low velosity shooting.I recently scored a 5 gallon pail of wheelweights from a tire shop.About 75% of the pail was the regular steel clamp type and the rest were the softer stick on type.At what ratio could I mix the two for use in my .45acp only,230 grain rn & 200 gr swc at around 800 fps,and not be too soft ? thanks biker

 

[rcmodel]

Clip-on = .5% Tin - 2% Antimony - 97.5% Lead
Stick on = 99.5% lead - .5% ???.

I believe if it was me I would melt a small batch in the 75% / 25% mix you have and cast some bullets and see how they do.

For low velocity, softer is better, and it might be better then 100% clip-on alloy.

The main thing you need to watch out for is Zinc weights.
There are bound to be some of those in a mixed bucket of wheel weights.

rc

 

[dagger dog]

I wouldn't mix the two, the stick ons are usually almost pure lead better for muzzle loaders or BP bullets.

The clip ons willdrop out of a mold at about 12.5 BHN, if you water quench they will come up to about 13.5 - 15 BHN.

Go over to the casboolits site and use the search function there's plenty of people there to help and know alot more than I do.

 

[zxcvbob]

If you have no use for soft lead, like a muzzle loader, I'd just melt it all together -- watching out for any zinc weights that could ruin the whole batch. Wheel weights are not a consistent alloy anymore; they are whatever the scrap hard lead isn't good enough to make battery plates. So you want to melt relatively large batches, and it will be consistent for that batch. Air cool for softer bullets, water quench for hard bullets, oven treat for very hard (I never do that one). Add a little tin if it doesn't want to cast right.

 

[Certaindeaf]

At that ratio and for that application, I'd mix it all up. Back in the old days, like Elmer Keith days, they used quite soft lead as a matter of course quite succesfully for loads like yours. This lead will be much harder than what was normally used in the old days given parallel parameters

 

[35 Whelen]

^^^ Yep.

I use straight WW's, clip on and stick on all mixed up, for 99% of my casting. I use them air-cooled for gas-checked bullets in my Swiss rifle at velocities over 1500 fps with ZERO leading even when firing an 80 rounds High Power match. Also use this alloy for hollow point hunting bullets in my .308. Velocity is nearly 1900 fps. Although I don't shoot alot of these in one string, leading is very, very minimal. Proper sizing and lubing are way more important than alloy mixture.
On the rare occassions I do want a harder alloy, I water-quench WW's. I've checked a few batches and they're about as hard as bullets made of linotype.
Process your WW's at 725° F and the zinc weights will float to the top.

35W

 

[Fatelvis]

I would melt all of them together, clean and flux the alloy, and pour ingots. You mix will be uniform from ingot to ingot, and plenty soft for moderate handgun velocities.

 

[41 Mag]

You have been given about the best advice you cold get,

1) look the clip on's over really well when separating them for zincers, then use a thermometer when you melt them and keep your temp lower than 725. Any remaining zincers and steel weights will float on the top with the clips, pull them out and toss them. I usually will keep mine around 650'ish from melt to ingots just to be sure.

2) flux with sawdust and you will be ahead of the game. Any type of hardwood from pine on up will work fine. Steer away from treated as the burning chemicals aren't so good for you to snort up if down wind. After your alloy is melted simply toss a handfull across the top, and let it carbonize, then stir it all up really well.

3)The mix is usually 50/50 for most WW / SO alloys but 75/25 will work out just as well for your purposed use. As mentioned a little tin might be in order once you get to pouring and see how they fill out. You only need to add as much is necessary for good fill out, and your set.

4) Congrats on the haul. A bucket of WW around my area would be akin to finding a winning scratch off in the parking lot of the store. It might happen, but the odds are better at hitting the power ball.

Lastly as mentioned, if you have any questions or need assistance head over to Castboolits, and by all means head over and download or print out this excellent free informational writeup by Glen Fryxell, From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners

While your there be sure to check out the other links to Cast Bullet Notes as well.

 

[grubbylabs]

I pull the stick on out for my Muzzle loader and smelt the rest down. I make every thing from 45 plinkers to 45-70 bruisers.