Antimony in shot, or not.

[sitsinhedges]

I know that in theory antimony makes shot harder, but in respect to making your own shot how great is the difference in actual results

Apparently wheel weights were ideal for making shot because they contained antimony but now they have banned lead in them they are no longer available.

Roofing lead is readily available but contains none and trying to alloy your own antimony sounds like a grim task.

Pure lead would be more dense and deform on impact, imparting all its energy onto the quarry

Would appreciate advice from anyone with practical experience of the difference for rabbits and pigeons.

TIA :)

[ColinF]

Although I have no practical experience of this i don't think that soft lead would make any difference on rabbits and pigeons.

Where I think that you would see a difference is in the way they pattern as the soft lead will deform more and give wider patterns. I have also read some where that very soft shot can "weld" together on firing.

There is someone who posts on the pigeon watch forum who makes their own shot, maybe worth asking him for practical experience.

Colin

[lightning22]

Best bet is adding tin using plumbers 'lead free' solder. That, combined with water dropping the shot should give you a workable hardness. Might be as well to buffer the shot column with a felt or cork 20g wad in the base of the shotcup to reduce deformation.

Rich
;)

[greenshoots]

Best bet is adding tin using plumbers 'lead free' solder. That, combined with water dropping the shot should give you a workable hardness.

ditto the above.............:)

viv

[sitsinhedges]

Can't recall why but I'm sure tin isn't a very good alloy for shotmaking.

Cheers :)

[lightning22]

Can't recall why but I'm sure tin isn't a very good alloy for shotmaking.

Cheers :)

There's a good bit of it in wheel weights IIRC, together with the antimony which if my memory hasn't failed me completely helps with the roundness due to modifying the surface tension of molten lead. Less of an issue if you are short dropping onto a ramp as opposed to long dropping a-la shot towers.

Rich
;)

[duomatic410]

Its arsenic that helps with the surface tenshion and helps to make it rounder.
Antinamoney for hardness.
Old water pipes are good, seem to be harder than roof lead.
Roof lead will make good shot but show the differance on spread, good on skeet dodgy on ball trap, kills pidgeons/rabbits. cheap shooting.john

[ADRIAN B]

I dont think theres any definitive answer. Antomany theretically improves formation , hence velocity and penetration benefits. Pure lead will be slightly denser. therefore carrying more energy. I suppose there will be a good reason for the additive otherwise proffessional manufacturers would not use it. i suppose if you are a competition clay man then yes for a more consistant pattern. if the non hardened lead is coated with graphite and a wad is used as usual then the fusing of the shot i would have thought is a non entity.


3-5% of antomany is the mix, I have bought it from non ferrous foundries or alloy suppliers to them, its probably
£8-9/ kilo now!! but it does go a long way in a mix of between 3-5%, my advice is put it in last when the lead is at the highest temp you dare. be careful then as the lead will give off nasty vapours you do not want to be getting a lot of!!!. The antomany has obviousley a lower density than lead but also has a higher melt temp. Add the antomany last into very hot lead and stir , stir, stir to get the antomany in as quick as poss. It aint easy!. If you leave it to melt in on its own most of it oxidises and is wasted. When youve made the shot washed it etc, and after drying add a dusting of graphite powder. It helps separation.

I actually use it for hardened bullet casting. 17lb lead, 2 pounds of tin, 1lb of Antomany spot on for up to 1300-1400 fps,

wheel weights have zinc and all other kinds of sweeping ups in them. too brittle sometimes and lack consistancy in density and integraty,thats for bullets.

[Treebone]

I have about 100 lbs of linotype could anyone give me an idea of what would be a reasonable price to sell it for?

TB.

[sitsinhedges]

I have about 100 lbs of linotype could anyone give me an idea of what would be a reasonable price to sell it for?

TB.

If its a reasonable amount , I'll take it or swap some shot if you reload.

ATB:)

[Treebone]

Like i said, i have about 100lbs, i am a rifle shooter and dont reload for shot gun, also i have no idea what the linotype would be worth.

TB.

[supersonic]

Unfortunately its true value is simply that of scrap lead, i.e. whatever your local scrap merchant is prepared to pay. In fact it is worth less than good soft lead, becase it takes extra refining to separate it out.

Scrap lead is worth at most £700 per tonne, and steadily falling.

http://www.letsrecycle.com/prices/metalsPrices.jsp

That makes your 100 lbs worth no more than £30 to a scrappy, and he will have to pay you much less than that, perhaps £20 per hundredweight if you are lucky.

If you can find a bullet caster who values it for its casting properties, then it is worth whatever they are prepared to pay.

FWIW I can buy ready made lead bullets, made of an excellent alloy, for £1 per pound. It seems a shame to melt them down to recast for obscure calibres, but thats what I do because it is so much less hassle, more consistent and safer than trying to mix my own alloy.

I'd be interested in buying your linotype and will PM you an offer, but you might have to wait a while before I could collect it the next time I'm passing.