Linotype for casting??

Jo6pak · May 16, 2013, 04:52 PM

First off, I need to state that I do not cast bullets, or even reload.

But, somewhere along the line many years ago I picked up a bucket of linotype from old printing presses.

I've had conflicting reports that it is or is not useful for casting bullets, and was wondering what the truth is.

If it is worth something, I may have to go out the farm and search the sheds and barn for it.

Should I bother looking?

salvadore · May 16, 2013, 05:52 PM

lino is coveted by a lot of casters, it goes for about $2.00 a pound on ebay.

Beagle333 · May 16, 2013, 06:33 PM

Find a local caster, strike up a deal with him and make his whole summer!

Mike / Tx · May 17, 2013, 04:27 AM

Plenty of folks pour up straight lino for rifle bullets and such, but most use it to blend with pure to get some strength and for the tin.

Depending on just how many times it might have been repoured or what temp they di so at might influence the actual content it is now. I for sure would look to someone I knew who might cast and see if you could might get a barter or a trade for something you might COULD use.

Shootest · May 17, 2013, 08:14 AM

How much do you have and how much do you want for it?

Jo6pak · May 17, 2013, 04:53 PM

Not really sure how much is there. It's been "in storage" for about 10 years. As I recall it was about a gallon ice cream pail full.

I was thinking of trying my hand at casting round ball for my muzzleloader, especially if I buy a flintlock.

I should be out to the farm tomorrow hunting morels, so I'll take a look to see if I can find the bucket too.

David Bachelder · May 17, 2013, 05:54 PM

Most of the time, pure lead is used for round balls. Not sure why.

Shootest · May 18, 2013, 04:53 AM

No, it is much to hard for muzzle loaders. Unless you got a sledge hammer and like pounding bullets through a barrel. You will need pure or nearly pure lead for that.

Jo6pak · May 18, 2013, 07:28 AM

OK, that clears up the conflicting reports I received when asking about casting linotype.
So, the lino will be fine for casting modern ammo, or mixed with pure lead for alloys. But it is too hard for muzzleloaders.

Thanks for the info

FrankenMauser · May 18, 2013, 12:16 PM

Just because some people choose to cast bullets of straight Linotype, doesn't mean it's a good idea. The resulting bullets are too hard to obturate in most loads, and too brittle for most uses. So, if you don't get insane leading in the bore, the bullet is likely to shatter at the target (some even break when they're fired). It's a waste of good alloy.

Linotype's best use is mixing it with pure lead to obtain alloys more appropriate for the intended use. (Different loads benefit from different alloys.)

Linotype is desirable because of its Antimony content. Antimony is the most common 'hardening' ingredient in bullet alloys, but it's difficult for home-casters to work with, in its raw form. Pre-mixed alloys containing Antimony (like Linotype and wheel weights) are the best option. Because Linotype's Antimony content is quite high, a little goes a long way and casters prefer it for hardening their own alloys.

dahermit · May 18, 2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Just because some people choose to cast bullets of straight Linotype, doesn't mean it's a good idea. The resulting bullets are too hard to obturate in most loads, and too brittle for most uses. So, if you don't get insane leading in the bore, the bullet is likely to shatter at the target (some even break when they're fired). It's a waste of good alloy.

Cast Lead Bullet Association sanctioned matches have historically seen a lot of cast bullets propelled at around 1100 fps in rifles. Also, there has been lots of testing cast lead rifle bullets on game (deer) over the years...what usually happens, is the nose of the bullet shears-off in fragments. If they broke when fired (at least at target velocities), lino would not have been the choice for target applications.

dahermit · May 18, 2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

But, somewhere along the line many years ago I picked up a bucket of linotype from old printing presses.

No necessarily "linotype", could be one of the servral type metals formerly used in the printing industry...depends upon which printing process was used.

From Wikipedia:

Usage Sn/Sb
(%) Liquid at(°C) Casting at(°C) Remelting at(°C) Hardness
Typograph 3/12 250 280…290 310…330 19
Ludlow 5/12 245 270…285 300…320 21
Lino/Intertype a 5/12 245 270…285 300…320 21
Lino/Intertype b 6/12 243 270…285 300…320 21.5
Lino/Intertype c 7/12 241 270…285 300…320 22
Stereotyping 5/15 265 320 320…340 23
Stereotyping 7/14 258 315 320…340 23
Monotype a 5/15 265 350 330…350 23
Monotype b 8/15 260 360 350…370 25
Monotype c 7/17 280 370 360…380 26
Monotype d 9/19 285 390 380…400 28.5
Monotype e 9.5/15 270 360 350…370 26
Monotype f 9.5/17 280 380 370…390 27.5
Monotype g 10/16 275 370 360…380 27
Regeneration a 9/11 — — — —
Regeneration b 9/12 — — — —
Regeneration c 9/16 — — — —
Support metal a 1/2 310 — 360…380 6
Support metal b 3/5 295 — 340…360 14
Support metal c 5/5 280 — 340…360 16
Typefounding 5.5/28.5 360 — 420…430 29.5

May 16, 2013, 04:52 PM	#1
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	Linotype for casting?? First off, I need to state that I do not cast bullets, or even reload. But, somewhere along the line many years ago I picked up a bucket of linotype from old printing presses. I've had conflicting reports that it is or is not useful for casting bullets, and was wondering what the truth is. If it is worth something, I may have to go out the farm and search the sheds and barn for it. Should I bother looking? __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

May 16, 2013, 06:33 PM	#3
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Find a local caster, strike up a deal with him and make his whole summer! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

May 17, 2013, 04:27 AM	#4
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	Plenty of folks pour up straight lino for rifle bullets and such, but most use it to blend with pure to get some strength and for the tin. Depending on just how many times it might have been repoured or what temp they di so at might influence the actual content it is now. I for sure would look to someone I knew who might cast and see if you could might get a barter or a trade for something you might COULD use. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

May 17, 2013, 08:14 AM	#5
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	How much do you have and how much do you want for it? __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

May 17, 2013, 04:53 PM	#6
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	Not really sure how much is there. It's been "in storage" for about 10 years. As I recall it was about a gallon ice cream pail full. I was thinking of trying my hand at casting round ball for my muzzleloader, especially if I buy a flintlock. I should be out to the farm tomorrow hunting morels, so I'll take a look to see if I can find the bucket too. __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

May 16, 2013, 05:52 PM	#2
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	lino is coveted by a lot of casters, it goes for about $2.00 a pound on ebay.

May 17, 2013, 05:54 PM	#7
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Most of the time, pure lead is used for round balls. Not sure why. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

May 18, 2013, 04:53 AM	#8
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	No, it is much to hard for muzzle loaders. Unless you got a sledge hammer and like pounding bullets through a barrel. You will need pure or nearly pure lead for that. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member Last edited by Shootest; May 18, 2013 at 12:22 PM.

May 18, 2013, 07:28 AM	#9
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	OK, that clears up the conflicting reports I received when asking about casting linotype. So, the lino will be fine for casting modern ammo, or mixed with pure lead for alloys. But it is too hard for muzzleloaders. Thanks for the info __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

May 18, 2013, 12:16 PM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Just because some people choose to cast bullets of straight Linotype, doesn't mean it's a good idea. The resulting bullets are too hard to obturate in most loads, and too brittle for most uses. So, if you don't get insane leading in the bore, the bullet is likely to shatter at the target (some even break when they're fired). It's a waste of good alloy. Linotype's best use is mixing it with pure lead to obtain alloys more appropriate for the intended use. (Different loads benefit from different alloys.) Linotype is desirable because of its Antimony content. Antimony is the most common 'hardening' ingredient in bullet alloys, but it's difficult for home-casters to work with, in its raw form. Pre-mixed alloys containing Antimony (like Linotype and wheel weights) are the best option. Because Linotype's Antimony content is quite high, a little goes a long way and casters prefer it for hardening their own alloys. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.