Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting What is linotype?

I am new to bullet casting and am going to get set-up soon. In my constant quest for information I ran acroos some forums where they were discussing alloys of lead, and bullet hardnes. I also found an arcticle buy someone about bullet hardness and what alloys are a certain hardness. I keep coming across people who mention linotype, and cannot find out what it is. It seams like a good thing to cast harder bullets from and I would like to know what it is. Can you help me?



Thanks in advance.

Years ago when newspapers and books were printed on presses instead of via computer as they are today the individual letters were cast from linotype. They were put together by a big machine that looked somwhat like an overgrown typewriter and placed in the forms, inked and then used to produce print. After a time they would wear out and the printers sold the linotype as scrap. I forget the composition but it is hard. I've seen it advertised but haven't actually seen any in years.

BCR

86% lead, 3% tin, 11% antimony - Never have used any cause I don't need a bullet that hard. Might pick up the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, it's a wealth of information on casting. Yeah they've came a long ways on the printing end, had to set up a few of those forms in printing when I was in high school. Slow as hell, or I was anyway <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

thanks guys.

I have used linotype for about 30 years in cast bullets...pistol and rifle...and it is great stuff. Hard to find these days. There used to be another metal called "foundry metal" also used by print shops...very hard. I would use foundry metal one part mixed with two parts of pure lead. The lino I have now I lucked out getting about 15 years ago from a retiring printer...about 300 lbs of the stuff. I then lucked out again and had a 55 gallon drum of pure plumber's lead dumped on my lawn for $50. Man, was that heavy!

With linotype, I use a 50-50 formula of lino and pure lead, and can drive a gas-checked bullet up to 2500 fps without any sign of leading. I have even used this in a 180 grain bullet in an M-1 Garand...the cast bullet load hot enough to work the action and still had no fouling of the gas cylinder, or any leading.

All my handgun loads are the 50-50 formula, and plain based bullets NEVER lead the barrel, even at 1400 fps.

Most folks are now using wheel weights, and these can be heat treated in a home oven to harden them up for rifle shooting.

Good luck.

Rooster

Are we getting that old that people have never seen linotype? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I remember a tour of the Detroit News printing facility years ago. Vaguely can still picture the linotype machines.

AJ I reckon we are dinosaurs. Won't be too long before they have never seen rotary telephones either. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BCR

The ole rotory, hi2-5084 was our number when I was a lad. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And we were on a "partyline"! That my friends is real annoying!