[beckrodgers]

In all of you guys experience, I would like to know if manganese, gallium, chromium and nickel are in any way used in the manufacture or production of rifle or handgun ammo? I have not been able to find out from asking 3 different manufacturers - Federal, Winchester, UMC. Thanks a lot. You can email me personally or on the board. This concerns a very personal matter.
Thanks.
Beckrodgers@aol.com

[Mike Irwin]

Nickel yes. Most manufacturers load some ammo lines into nickel-plated cases.

Others, I don't know.

[beckrodgers]

thanks ,please keep me posted if you all can.

[Mal H]

The elements antimony, silver, copper, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, manganese, and aluminum are often found in native lead such as used in bullets. Some are in trace amounts and others can be found to be a significant amount. Since lead for that use doesn't have to be 100% pure, the various elements are usually not refined out of the lead. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if chromium is purposely added to bullet lead as is tin, etc.

[Mike Irwin]

Mal,

Will chromium alloy with lead? I didn't think it would.

[Mal H]

Not positive. Most (not all) metals will alloy with most other metals under the right conditions even if they have to be sintered. See: http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn/0207frn/02-18448.txt (Search for the 3rd occurance of 'SAE1008'.) I was thinking it might be added for strength, i.e., to increase the brinell hardness factor.

It occurs naturally as Crocoite and lead chromate was used as a paint tint for a long time.

[Mike Irwin]

Ooohhhh...

Forgot about lead chromate in paints... bright yellows and reds and variations there of...

[mete]

I don't think chromium will alloy with lead. The basic materials - brass , this is copper and zinc. It may be nickel plated. Cases may also be made of aluminum alloy such as in Blaser ammo and at least in the past steel. Bullets are typically lead with antimony but may contain small amounts of other metals . Jackets are gilding metal ( copper + zinc ) but sometimes are aluminium or steel. The steel components might contain manganese chromium and nickel. These three metals would not alloy with lead . Gallium has a very low melting point and might be found in lead.

[Mal H]

Realizing we are taking this lead alloy discussion far afield from the original question, I'll simply reference Alloy C79600 (http://www.macmetals.com/html/alloys.htm). The Pb Cr alloy issue was settled with the SAE 1008 link above.