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plumbers lead

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big open View Drop Down
.243 Winchester
.243 Winchester
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Joined: 08 December 2006
Location: United States
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    Posted: 25 July 2007 at 12:51
hey all,,got a chance to get plumbers ingots at cost and am wondering what kind of hardness is  plumbers mix if it isn't pure lead,,and what kind of vel.s are possible with this stuff,,,also if it is too soft for other than muzzleloadin',,,can wheelwieghts harden it up enough to get usefull speed out of it,,,or what else can I do with it????new to casting.THANXX
LIFE IS HARD.....STUPID MAKES LIFE HARDER.......DON'T DO STUPID!!!
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Ranch 13 View Drop Down
.375 Holland & Holland Magnum
.375 Holland & Holland Magnum
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Joined: 02 June 2004
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ranch 13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 July 2007 at 13:10

 If your bullet is sized a thousanths or 2 over the groove diameter , and you use a good lube somehwere around 1000 fps should be possible.

 You can toughen the stuff up by adding a bit of tin.

 As you have already mentioned you can blend it with wheelweights to get the alloy harder. Wheelweights are quite a bit harder nowdays than they used to be.

 You can also mix it up with some of the rediculously hard commercial hard cast bullets and make a pretty decent alloy.

The most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to.
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Alan R McD Jr View Drop Down
.22 LongRifle
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan R McD Jr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 November 2007 at 15:58
Gas Checks. I use them in 30 cal and 8mm and get hunting accuracy with
a soft mix. I cast straight linotype get 2200 fps from the 8x57. Straight
plumbers lead is probably too soft to get much speed.

I cast all of the pure lead I get my hands on into fishing weights so I will
know what I'm mixing in the pot when it comes time to cast bullets. For
casting for ammo that the boys will shoot up to hear the noise I use
whatever is cheapest but once in a while I cast some bullets just for me.
Then I look up the mix I want to try and use parts(oz) of pure lead to
parts(oz) linotype to get the right hardness. I don't ever try to remember
this cause I never can. My brain is pretty cluttered up at the end of most
days and I don't trust my memory so good any more.

Alan
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waksupi View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote waksupi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 November 2007 at 16:57
You will probably reach your velocity limit at around 1200 fps, assuming correct bore fit. You might extend up to 1700 fps with a gas check bullet. Rather than blending, you may want to use it for trading stock for some WW alloy. There is always a BPCR or ML shooter wanting pure, although I shoot Ww's in both most of the time. Get some WW's though, and with water quenching, or oven tempering, you can push things up near factory velocities. My best, higher speed results were in a .223, at 2780 fps, for 1.5" at a hundred yards. Everything better be very right though, to get this out of lead bullet. Bore condition, bullet fit and hardness, gas check, and good lube.   
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