Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Yet another Newbie question

I've just this spring started casting my own bullets. So far I've been happy with the results...255 grain Lyman mold. I've got some foundry certified ingots; Lyman 2 and pure lead. To make them more user friendly for me I've tried melting a bar of each to pour into 1# ingots for future casting. Have done so twice and have about 20# of the mix in small ingots. My question is the melt point of the 2 different metals; the Lyman 2 alloy bar is about completely melted before the lead ingot even starts to melt. I've weighed each bar before starting the melt and have done so twice. I guess what surprises me is that I would have thought the pure lead would melt at lower temps than the alloy. Once the Lyman 2 ingot is molten, the lead ingot melts at a fairly quick and consistent rate, but before the L2 melts there is almost no visible sign of the lead even beginning to melt. I'm obviously not a metallurgist but am I missing something or is this typical of the alloy vs pure (foundry certified 99.9%) lead. Thanks in advance.

Introducing tin/antimony to pure lead lowers the melting temperature to less than pure lead, as you discovered. I don't remember why. Way back when I was told why, I promptly forgot as it didn't matter a heckuva lot to me. Perhaps someone with more complete knowledge will chime in. I promise I'll pay more attention this time!

To melt metal sufficient energy must be introduced to break molecular bonds. Pure lead simply requires more energy input to do that than alloy constituents. The difference can range to around 200* F.

gnoahh and Dan, thank you for your responses. I took up bullet casting to spend time during my retirement; which I happily can say has been a big part of my life since June 15. Prior to actually calling it quits, I bought STUFF that I felt would help me spend my new found time (LOL) to others who have retired and find less time to do things than when they were working. Anyhow, I was surprised at the differences in melt times; the alloy melting almost completely while the lead bar was still pretty much intact. Hope this helps other newbies and thank you again for your contribution to this thread. Tom

I have a question that goes along with what tjk is doing. When you places a alloy bar and the pure lead into the pot, does this mixture require anything other than stirring and fluxing to get a homogeneous mixture?

Nope that all that is needed.

I recommend giving it the taste test to make sure it has blended well.