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Jim Watson · May 23, 2002, 08:12 AM

zan,

I don't know about the Phoenix brand, but most commercial cast bullets are 92% lead, 6% antimony, and 2% tin. All the old high-tin alloys are too expensive and not hard enough for general purpose loading. You need that 2% tin to get the lead to flow well and the mold to fill out, but antimony is harder and cheaper.

What Lyman manual are you using that uses linotype bullets? All of mine (44, 47, P&R, Cast Bullet) show loads for their old No 2 alloy, 90-5-5.

Anyhow, the data is close enough. There is no reason to load wadcutters to maximum pressure and velocity and any small difference will not be noticeable.

May 23, 2002, 08:12 AM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	zan, I don't know about the Phoenix brand, but most commercial cast bullets are 92% lead, 6% antimony, and 2% tin. All the old high-tin alloys are too expensive and not hard enough for general purpose loading. You need that 2% tin to get the lead to flow well and the mold to fill out, but antimony is harder and cheaper. What Lyman manual are you using that uses linotype bullets? All of mine (44, 47, P&R, Cast Bullet) show loads for their old No 2 alloy, 90-5-5. Anyhow, the data is close enough. There is no reason to load wadcutters to maximum pressure and velocity and any small difference will not be noticeable.