In trying to streach my wheel weight lead supply,I tried mixing recovered range lead with my wheel weights in a 50/50 ratio, using a 230 grain Lee TL mold.The bullets measure up pretty good but their now running not 230 grain but plus or minus 245 grains.Any advice on how to adjust my charge so as to not get a too high pressure load,or damage my pistol?I typically load 5 to 5.5 grains of Unique,5 to 5.5 grains of HP38/Win 231,or 5.0 grains of Bullseye.What is a good flux for alloying? Thanks much hdbiker
too heavy cast bullets
- Thread starter hdbiker
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
According to Lyman #49.
With a 230 grain lead bullet.
7.3 Unique is Max.
5.8 W-231 is Max.
5.0 Bullseye is Max.
So your 5.0 - 5.5 Unique should be fine.
5.5 W-231 = maybe.
5.0 Bullseye = too much.
rc
With a 230 grain lead bullet.
7.3 Unique is Max.
5.8 W-231 is Max.
5.0 Bullseye is Max.
So your 5.0 - 5.5 Unique should be fine.
5.5 W-231 = maybe.
5.0 Bullseye = too much.
rc
ReloaderFred
Member
Reduce your load with Bullseye and 231 about 10% or so, and work up your load again.
I use only sawdust for fluxing these days, but I do it outside, due to the smoke. Let the sawdust smolder until you've got ashes (carbon), then stir your alloy. The ash and impurities will float to the top to be skimmed off. I smelt right around 1,500 pounds of recovered bullets per year and pour it into 8 and 10 pound ingots for use in my Master Caster. The bullet jackets are recycled as #2 Copper. The last time I turned them in, I got $3.00 per pound for the jackets, but they have to be free of lead.
Hope this helps.
Fred
I use only sawdust for fluxing these days, but I do it outside, due to the smoke. Let the sawdust smolder until you've got ashes (carbon), then stir your alloy. The ash and impurities will float to the top to be skimmed off. I smelt right around 1,500 pounds of recovered bullets per year and pour it into 8 and 10 pound ingots for use in my Master Caster. The bullet jackets are recycled as #2 Copper. The last time I turned them in, I got $3.00 per pound for the jackets, but they have to be free of lead.
Hope this helps.
Fred
41 Mag
Member
hdbiker - Check your P.M.
35 Whelen
Member
5 to 5.5 grs. of Unique is really a fairly light load. I personally use 7.0 grs. of Unique with any 230-ish gr. bullet be it Hornady jacketed FP or one of my own cast bullets. Your load of Unique would be plenty light for a 245 gr. bullet.
For fluxing I keep an old candle on my casting bench, shave a little off and throw it in the pot. Smokes like crazy, but if you light it, the smoke goes away. Any wax-based item will work including bullet lube or tube grease. I also keep a package of those pine shims used for plumbing door frames when they're installed. Just stir the mix with one of the shims and the carbon will do the fluxing.
35W
James2
Member
I took the tallow from a deer and melted it down and saved it. Makes good flux.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I use this. A little goes a long way. Good stuff.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/593033/frankford-arsenal-cleancast-lead-fluxing-compound-1-lb
david bachelder
Member
"What is a good flux for alloying?"
Anything that burns and leaves carbon.
Sawdust works great.
Anything that burns and leaves carbon.
Sawdust works great.
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