Originally Posted by PatB
Any idea what percent of what metal I should add to the lead I have to cast bullets for .30-30, .375 win., .444 and or 45-70 ?

From softest to hardest, to duplicate the most commonly used bullet alloys:

Black Powder Cartridge = 5% tin, 95% lead - no antimony.

Wheel Weights = 1% tin, 3% antimony, 96% lead (skip the .25% arsenic).

Lyman's No. 2 = 5% tin, 5% antimony, 90% lead.

Linotype = 4% tin, 12% antimony, 84% lead.

Being a cheapskate, I’ve mostly used salvaged wheel weights to make gas checked bullets which I load to about 1680 fps for best accuracy (left target).

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Linotype allows much more speed with very good accuracy, but is brittle upon impact. Its hardness allows bullets to cycle through semi-autos and lever guns with the least deformation (almost like jacketed).

I have no experience with bullets made from black powder cartridge or Lyman No. 2 alloys.


Every day’s an adventure.