Author Topic: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?  (Read 1299 times)

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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« on: August 13, 2007, 01:50:42 PM »
Has anyone tried casting bullets from lead-free solder.  It's mostly tin, and is HARD!

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Online Lloyd Smale

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2007, 11:37:02 PM »
done it just fooling around but its expensive and the bullets turn out a little on the light side for penetration. Best to keep it for alloying.
blue lives matter

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2007, 04:41:09 PM »
WOW - what an experience!
 
Smelting was just like lead or lino.  BUT casting was MUCH different.
 
Observations:
 
1. Tin doesn't hardly stick to anything - not to moulds nor to cold ladle!
 
2. Tin doesn't transfer heat very well (compared to lead or lead-tin alloy).  It took a MINUTE or TWO for the alloy to harden on top of the sprue cutter!!!!!  And that was with the ONE cavity Lee .30 cal mould.  The RCBS 35-200 mould took 3 or more minutes for the alloy to harden!
 
3. The 30 cal bullets were the crispest shiney-ist bullets I've ever poured.
 
4. Size was within a thou (on diameter of .30 cal) of those poured earlier.
 
5. Casting was done at about 650, I usually pour bullets at 750.
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
Cat Whisperer
Chief of Smoke, Pulaski Coehorn Works & Winery
U.S.Army Retired
N 37.05224  W 80.78133 (front door +/- 15 feet)

Offline Bitterroot Bob

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2007, 12:00:38 PM »
Yeah, but...
At about $10 per spool of lead-free, those are some seriously expensive bullets! I use it as a source of tin. I just pull off an arm's length and add it whenever I replenish the pot with wheel weights. The 5% antimony content doesn't harden the alloy too much, but the tin is always welcome.

Bitterroot

Offline Tom W.

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2007, 04:10:11 PM »
That's kinda like the lead free nickel Babbitt that I have used for years, mixing it with lead or wheel weights.. It makes some seriously hard bullets that will hardly deform, and are mighty hard to stop.
Tom
Alabama Hunter and firearms safety instructor

I really like my handguns!

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2007, 04:37:26 PM »
I tried some the other day (10).  They printed about the same at 25 yards.
Weight was 135 grains for a normally cast 200 grains of WW/lead 50/50.
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Lead pot

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Re: Cast bullets with lead-free solder?
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2007, 08:04:29 AM »
I walk down the plumbing Isles when I,m in a hard wear store and look at the sale prices of solder.
Last spring I found some one pound rolls of 95/5 (tin/lead) for $3.79.
I took all 27 rolls.

Kurt
Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.