How to make #2 alloy harder?

[Lovesbeer99]

So I see in my Lyman book that #2 alloy has a BHN as 15. Well I've been shooting Laser-Cast that claims their bullets are BHN 22.

I'm about to start casting and would like to know how I can , and if I should try to get my bullets harder. For the record I have had a great experiance with my laser cast.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NCsmitty]

Get some linotype lead and add to your mix. There are auctions on ebay for it all the time. Google for more info on bullet casting for % of mixes.

NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

Unless you are loading maximum velocity Magnum loads, you will be better off with softer, not harder bullets.

Lyman #2 is very hard to beat for normal velocity loads.

Too hard will cause leading & accuracy problems more severe then too soft.

For standard velocity & Cowboy loads 1/16 tin / lead (BHN 10) will give way better results then what you can buy from the commercial casters.

They like hard alloys because the MAGNA casting machines give almost zero rejects, and run way better with it.
Not because a hard bullet is better for most uses we put them too.

 

[Walkalong]

Ditto. More problems caused with hard bullets than soft.

 

[.38 Special]

Generally speaking, you can get a #2 type alloy to about 22 BHN by dropping it from the mold into a bucket of water. Cast bullets can also be hardened by heat treating, but this is a somewhat more involved process.

I would take a look at castboolits.gunloads.com if I were you. All the information you need can be found there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was also about to suggest water quenching. That's the easiest and cheapest way IMO.

 

[tlen]

Germane read......
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

 

[243winxb]

Add Linotype http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4909733&postcount=27

 

[Jim Watson]

Lyman #2 (90-5-5) uses more tin than necessary. Commercial alloy (90-6-2) is less expensive and about the same hardness.
Quenched wheelweights will likely be harder anyhow.

Lyman says #2 and "magnum" will "respond well to heat treatment" as does wheelweight metal, but if there is not a trace of arsenic present, it won't work. One caster says he adds a coffee scoop of magnum birdshot to his pot to encourage the quench reaction.

 

[fecmech]

You don't mention what you are casting for but for most handguns bhn 22 is overkill IMO. Straight wheel weights with 2% tin added will pretty much cover all the bases. If you want to go harder water drop (drop from the mould into a 5 gal bucket of water) the above mix and you will be in the 20+ bhn range. The only place I use a # 2 type mix is for the .357 mag. I find slightly better accuracy with a mix of 50/50 linotype and WW mix which is pretty close to Lyman #2.
Harder is not the answer as far as leading is concerned, the correct diameter of the cast slug and a decent lube are usually all that's needed. In a revolver size the bullets to the cyl throat diameter and to the groove diameter in autos. Be careful, your new found hobby is addictive, I have not been able to shake it for over 30 years! Good luck.

 

[rcmodel]

You don't mention what you are casting for but for most handguns bhn 22 is overkill IMO.

That's what we have tried to tell him since post #3.

The OP has not responded so we have no idea what caliber/velocity he is trying for.

But hard bullets are not the answer in most cases, for most needs.

 

[.38 Special]

Well, the fellow says he has had "great results" with a 22 BHN bullet, so I'm not going to second-guess him. I know how annoying it is to ask a simple question and then get a whole bunch of "You don't want what you think you want" kind of answers.

 

[fecmech]

38 special--

Part of his original question was "I'm about to start casting and would like to know how I can , and if I SHOULD try to get my bullets harder".

Myself and previous posters were trying to answer that question.