This was posted on the SASS forum. I thought it would be useful here. Take look at the part on stick on wheel weights. They're closer to pure than I thought at 99.5 % with a BHN of 6. Pure lead has a BHN of 5. Plenty soft enough for bp balls, bullets and minies. http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm
Lead Alloys
- Thread starter Hawg
- Start date
Raider2000
New member
Tis why I get all of the used ones from work that I can scrounge & sometimes our dealer will sell em to me from his other drops for $.45 a Pound.
I still mix in some of my old plumbers lead that I've had forever to keep all my bullets uniform as possible.
I've since lost my hardness gauge but have found that when you mold it in ingots & can take a regular Sharpie magic marker & can scribe a line in the metal with bottom of the pen "not the writing end but the opesite" it's plenty soft for muzzleloading.
I still mix in some of my old plumbers lead that I've had forever to keep all my bullets uniform as possible.
I've since lost my hardness gauge but have found that when you mold it in ingots & can take a regular Sharpie magic marker & can scribe a line in the metal with bottom of the pen "not the writing end but the opesite" it's plenty soft for muzzleloading.
W. C. Quantrill
New member
Hawg, did you see that one post, I dont know which forum it was on, but I'm sure that you or one of your alter egos are there too about the guy that cast the balls from the stick on wheel weights, then got busy and didnt shoot them up for a while?
He tested them when fresh cast then like 60 days later, and they "aged". Got harder on him? I dont recall the exact numbers but it seems that they hardened up like 3-4 points?
He tested them when fresh cast then like 60 days later, and they "aged". Got harder on him? I dont recall the exact numbers but it seems that they hardened up like 3-4 points?
Raider2000
New member
Hawg Haggen said:
I'll try to make a small video for Youtube "if I have time tonight" to show what I mean by the magic marker test that I do.
W. C. Quantrill
New member
I am sorta like you HH. I cast it and then I shoot it. For what I do, it works fine. If it kills at 100 then that is the test for me.
Fingernail is about 12 BH, depending on which hand it is on and how much hard labor that hand has done. Working people have harder nails than office types. If you can scratch it with your fingernail, then it is 12 Brinnell or less, ya just dont know exactly how much.
Fingernail is about 12 BH, depending on which hand it is on and how much hard labor that hand has done. Working people have harder nails than office types. If you can scratch it with your fingernail, then it is 12 Brinnell or less, ya just dont know exactly how much.
I dunno W.C. Like I said I've got one I've had so long it's turning white. It scratches much easier than a clip on weight and a BHN anywhere near 12 wouldn't work well with a minie. I've fired minies a lot older than what that guy was saying with no problems. Maybe it does in some cases but right now I'm not buying it.
Raider2000
New member
Sorry guys for not doing the video last night but got busy with my 6 year old teaching her about a Flint & Steel & Charcloth.
I'm with both of ya in that if I can scratch it with my finger nail or my marker it's plenty soft for PRB & my C&B Revolvers.
I'm with both of ya in that if I can scratch it with my finger nail or my marker it's plenty soft for PRB & my C&B Revolvers.
Raider2000
New member
Yeah it was fun last night teaching her the technique & she was amazed but my 14 year old wasn't all that thrilled "said what wrong with lighter or some matches?" 
grymster2007
New member
I'd like to see Raider's video sometime.
Don't worry though, you'll start wising up as she gets into her 20s and experiences real life. My kids (24 & 27) now think that maybe, just maybe I have half a brain. Only half, mind you, but that's a huge upgrade!
Don't worry though, you'll start wising up as she gets into her 20s and experiences real life.
My kids (24 & 27) now think that maybe, just maybe I have half a brain. Only half, mind you, but that's a huge upgrade!45Marlin carbine
Moderator
roof sheeting lead (and shower stall but it takes some cleaning before melting) is dead soft lead. and old water pipe 'goosenecks'. I get them at a scrap yard for my BP balls, slugs and REAL slugs.
Raider2000
New member
Yeah well This grey hair isn't there because I was born with it.
Grym:
I'll try to make it tonight & post it on Youtube.
Grym:
I'll try to make it tonight & post it on Youtube.
Raider2000
New member
Yup Zinc is harder than Lead so is not too hard to spot.
Guardian Angel Mors
New member
Zinc wheel weights seems to replace lead ww quite fast then lead isn't so easy to find as some time ago; last time I discarded some 2/3 of the wheel weights a guy gave me just because they are made of zinc or iron...
Better is to use old lead pipes coming from old houses restorations ( for this it's useful a friend with a building firm...)
Better is to use old lead pipes coming from old houses restorations ( for this it's useful a friend with a building firm...
)