Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting WW alloy equivalent

I have exhausted my wheel weight supply. I am happy with the fillout I get with WW though. With my RCBS molds this alloy gives me the larger size I need to fit my Redhawk. I have been contemplating beginning to buy lead from Rotometals or another similar commercial supplier. I am just not well versed enough in alloys to know what percentages I should look for to duplicate what I have been obtaining with WW.

Any help for an alloy Noob?

Mayco Industries was my choice. Lyman lists WW alloy as 95.5% lead, 4% Antimony & 0.5% tin if memory serves. Call them for a quote.

My Lyman book isn't handy but seems those figures came from the 45th Edition. Maybe someone can check.

Yep, good memory. The new Lyman 4th edition Cast Bullet handbook lists those exact percentages.

Thanks Jim. By the OP being in Alabama if you would order say a 1000 lbs. I believe you would find the price per pound affordable. You may call 866-618-7468 or RobynMaycoindustries.com

Ask for a quote which is free. Be sure to give the mix of alloy you wish. They will get back to you. I used this company for about 12 years with no complaints. You can pick up at their foundry with advance notice if you happen to be going by Granite City, Ill.

The one ingredient not mentioned in WW alloy is arsenic. It's what gives WW alloy the ability to be heat treated or water-quenched to increase hardness.

How much arsenic? Don't know if it has to be a little or a lot or a set amount.

JMO, the arsenic is irrelevant unless you intend to heat treat or quench. Look at the percentages listed above, match that with a combination of pure lead and linotype in suitable ratios. It doesn't take a lot of lino to bring it up to the equivalent hardness.

Recollection has it that WW alloy is 1/4-1/2% arsenic.

It is for heat treating, not water dropping to increase hardness. Anything with antimony in it will get harder by water dropping. I use mostly range recovered lead and it is harder than the new types of WW's.