September 9, 2009, 02:02 PM | #1 |
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using only wheel weights?
so ive read here and there saying different things bout using wheel weights, can you use straight ww's to cast bullets for guns such as the 30.06 and 9mm? or do you need to mix it with another alloy to make it softer?
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September 9, 2009, 06:41 PM | #2 |
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I've successfully used straight wheel weights for pistol bullets for many years at velocities up to 1425 fps. For rifle bullets, depends on the bullet design, lube, gas check or not, and velocity. I've shot wheel weight bullets in rifles at approx 2000 fps with gas checks and ALOX lube. Faster than that and you may begin to have serious problems and need special alloys.
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September 9, 2009, 06:43 PM | #3 |
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ive used straight ww in .40, .38, .357, and .44mag
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September 9, 2009, 07:09 PM | #4 | |
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September 9, 2009, 09:08 PM | #5 |
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NO. Straight wheel weights. Save the straight lead for very low pressure stuff or for BP guns. I use WW in everything from the 32 H&R to the 44 mag to the 308 Winchester. (Reduced loads in the 308 of course.)
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September 10, 2009, 06:10 AM | #6 |
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Elmer Keith and Skeeter Shelton Two of the pioneers of the modern cast bullets. Pushed a bullet of about wheel weight hardness pretty fast. I think slugging the barrel and the right lube have as much to do with good Bullets .As actual hardness. Having said that. Most loads for Rifle in my Lyman cast book recommend Lyno-type. I cast my first bullet in 1975. And one thing I have learned over the years. The variables in casting can mess a good Bullet or gun up fast. Mix of lead, Dia, of Bullet ,speed of Bullet as well as lube used.
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September 10, 2009, 02:35 PM | #7 | |
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September 10, 2009, 02:38 PM | #8 |
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It has both loads and general casting information. It is the best one out there IMHO. Very, very good read, and I think a "must" for casters both experienced and new to the hobby.
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September 10, 2009, 03:14 PM | #9 |
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Score! i just picked up a bucket full of ww's from sum tire stores... they just throw them out and said if i can convince the guys i can just put my own buckets there and pick em up weekly!!!!!
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September 10, 2009, 03:48 PM | #10 |
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I use wheelwights in everything.
That being said, I have no idea what I am doing. I just bought a 55 gallon drum of wheelweights at the junkyard and started casting bullets. Used them in all manor of revolvers and rifles. But, I never made any attempt to see how fast I could push them or anything. I was just using them for light practice loads.
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September 10, 2009, 04:15 PM | #11 |
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Could someone tell me which edition of the Lyman cast bullet manual is the most current edition? I googled it and found tons of used ones available for less than $20 but I'd like to know what is the most recent??
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September 10, 2009, 05:49 PM | #12 |
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I cast SG slugs and use the plumbers lead scrap for those because it's basically pure lead. Little known secret, crawlspaces are a great place to find pure lead scrap leftover from the plumber's repairs. Old lead drain lines just laying there...add some 50/50 to harden it up for general use or use as is for SG slugs, 45/70 bullets, and roundballs for all you CAS shooters.
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September 10, 2009, 08:29 PM | #13 | |
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September 10, 2009, 08:39 PM | #14 |
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No idea but it bent the tailgate to my F250
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September 10, 2009, 08:43 PM | #15 |
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I have the Third Edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. Good stuff!
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September 10, 2009, 10:05 PM | #16 | |
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You lucky Duck. I have to buy almost all of mine and I have to make sure to call every two weeks otherwise someone else comes and buys them up. I only have half a ton or so of ingots. Local Scrap yard wants 3 times the going rate for WW at the auto shops.
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September 11, 2009, 07:21 AM | #17 |
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A 5 gal bucket weights in around #150-175. So a 55 gal barrel would be around #1650-2000. No wonder your tailgate bent.
I get my WW free. I know the mgr at the tire shop. |
September 11, 2009, 08:14 AM | #18 |
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"using wheel weights, can you use straight ww's to cast bullets for guns such as the 30.06 and 9mm?"
Sure, you can use it. But...it really needs a bit of tin to cast AND shoot better. Part of what happens during cooling/solidification of WW metal is the antimony crystalizes out before the lead solidifies. The (hard) antimony is then held in the lead as a two part matrix, much like rocks in concrete, leaving the exposed soft lead to smear onto a bore more than it should. That does't matter for wheel weights but it does for bullets. A little bit of tin changes the mixture into a real alloy and that makes MUCH better bullets. "do you need to mix it with another alloy to make it softer?" Wheel weights don't need to be softer so far as shooting it goes. It does have quite a bit more antimony than is actually needed, especially if you add the tin, so it's something of a waste that could help harden pure lead if you have some of that too. Any of the older Lyman Cast Bullet handbooks are good, as is the NRA published "Cast bullets" by Harrison. It's out of print of course but Amazon's used book sellers usually have it available for reasonable prices. There is little new about bullet casting that the old guys didn't know. |
September 11, 2009, 10:51 AM | #19 | |
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September 12, 2009, 07:00 PM | #20 | |
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September 15, 2009, 07:42 AM | #21 |
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wheel weights
trip sticker don`t wait too long because WW are gettin harder to get ahold of these days!!!
alot of the clip on WW have alloys already blended but not a given . some stik on WW are close to pure lead but not a given. alot of variables involved with WW , most people get by with bhn 11-14for most shootin but when ya want to wring every fps ya can then ya gotta blend some expensive alloys with your WWs to get there , then when ya get there the very hard cast bullet is useless to hunt with because it`ll fragment upon contact . it`s a balance of pressure & alloy strength. i cast mainly for revolvers & have "conditioned" my revolvers for optimum performance with such & can easily match jacketed speeds with out the dreaded smeared barrel using WW & a little tin . if info on castin is what ya seek go to castboolitgunloads forum & glean info until your files are full !!!
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September 15, 2009, 11:47 AM | #22 | |
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I do the same thing for the lee 200 RFN, round flat nose. Mainly because my SA 45 1911 doesn't like to feed SWC bullets. The lee works just fine.
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September 16, 2009, 10:43 AM | #23 | |
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I've gone thru a learning curve for my .38/.357 bullets but I am wanting to cast for my 30-30 and my 45/70 GOV't. From what I've read, my 45/70 isn't a good rifle to cast for because it is the micro-groove not traditional land and grove barrel. So far, I own a mold for the .357 and for the .490 round ball. I'll add to this as I learn more. |
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