Author Topic: Best alloy/475  (Read 751 times)

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Offline Marsh1

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Best alloy/475
« on: July 01, 2006, 06:27:44 PM »
What is the best alloy to use for casting for the FA .475? I have always used wheelweights but worry they may not be hard enough for the higher pressures of this round. Is there something I can add to the wheel weights?
Thanks,
Marsh

Offline dubber123

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Best alloy/475
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2006, 08:39:02 PM »
Marsh, you probably can add some linotype to harden up your alloy.  I however shoot straight wheelweight metal that I drop directly into water, which hardens them a bit.  You should let your bullets set a few weeks before loading, which supposedly lets them achieve their full hardness.  I shoot a 440 gr. LBT at just under 1350fps., and never have to clean out lead using LBT's Blue soft bullet lube.  I have fired water quenched wheelweights to 1800 fps. in a 45-70 rifle with no leading either. I do reccomend a gas check mold for full power loads, as the .475 runs 50,000CUP. If you can make straight WW work, it's a lot more convenient than mixing alloys.  Give it a try before investing in Linotype.  Have fun.

Offline Veral

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Best alloy/475
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2006, 07:30:32 PM »
Water dropping ww alloy bullets gives consistent hardness at about double that of air cooled, and a bit higher than straight linotype which is air cooled and aged 2 weeks or more.

  The key to consistent hardness when water dropping is to make sure the mold is good and hot before saving bullets.  When bullets come out frosty, start saving.

  Mixing in some lino will not give adaquate hardness for magnum revolver loads if air cooled.  Quenching will still be required to get the optimum hardness of around 20 bhn.
Veral Smith

Offline Marsh1

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Best alloy/475
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2006, 03:19:00 AM »
Good answers and I thank you, but what about when you size these "hardened" bullet? Does that take away some of the surface hardness?
Marsh

Offline Veral

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Re: Best alloy/475
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2006, 06:37:55 PM »
  Sizing softens only a skin in the sized area, which has no effect on performance, even in high powered rifle loads.
Veral Smith