bullet compositions

[paddywagon]

Wheel weights are fine for low velocity loads. Higher velocity and magnums you should really step up to Lyman #2 which is 90%lead 5%antimony and 5% tin. As I recollect Brinnel hardness is in the 15 to 18 range.

[Zombie Steve]

Wheel weights are fine for low velocity loads. Higher velocity and magnums you should really step up to Lyman #2 which is 90%lead 5%antimony and 5% tin. As I recollect Brinnel hardness is in the 15 to 18 range.

When your bullet comes out of the mold, you can drop it on your bench or drop it in water. As long as there's some arsenic in the mix (which with clip on wheel weights, there is) water dropping will get them to 18 BHn. Ain't a magnum load what's been invented yet that 18 BHn can't handle. 48,000 psi or 2,000 fps. You need more, heat treat them in the oven. 55,000 psi. Boom.

Mind you, without arsenic, you're just getting wet lead. Chilled shot goes a long way to helping if you've got 20:1 or something like a straight lead:tin alloy.

FWIW, I shoot .357 mag, .44 mag, and semi-nuclear "Ruger Blackhawk and T/C only" loads in .45 colt with water dropped WW. No worries.

[paddywagon]

When your bullet comes out of the mold, you can drop it on your bench or drop it in water. As long as there's some arsenic in the mix (which with clip on wheel weights, there is) water dropping will get them to 18 BHn. Ain't a magnum load what's been invented yet that 18 BHn can't handle. 48,000 psi or 2,000 fps. You need more, heat treat them in the oven. 55,000 psi. Boom.

Mind you, without arsenic, you're just getting wet lead. Chilled shot goes a long way to helping if you've got 20:1 or something like a straight lead:tin alloy.

FWIW, I shoot .357 mag, .44 mag, and semi-nuclear "Ruger Blackhawk and T/C only" loads in .45 colt with water dropped WW. No worries.

I have heard that water dropping them gets the hardness up, I have not done it though. I will have to try that myself for some of my mag handgun bullets. I still got a pretty good supply of #2 but i always like to experiment!

[sabot_round]

I have heard that water dropping them gets the hardness up, I have not done it though. I will have to try that myself for some of my mag handgun bullets. I still got a pretty good supply of #2 but i always like to experiment!

I started water dropping my w/w a few years ago. Just like Steve, I haven't had any issues with leading in any of my magnums.

[Great-Kazoo]

I started water dropping my w/w a few years ago. Just like Steve, I haven't had any issues with leading in any of my magnums.

Likewise the SWC's i use.