bullet casting.

[Randy Bohannon]

So almost pure lead then Enfield?

[thibben]

RB

that is an interesting looking bullet!

re the nose deformation by the lubrisizer top punch, if you have a spare top punch put a piece of tank repair putty into it and push it down on the bullet, you end up with a custom top punch. I do this for all my bullet molds, Real shame to cast up a nice prolate bullet to have it look like a bulldog after lubing!

T

[loiner1965]

RB

that is an interesting looking bullet!

re the nose deformation by the lubrisizer top punch, if you have a spare top punch put a piece of tank repair putty into it and push it down on the bullet, you end up with a custom top punch. I do this for all my bullet molds, Real shame to cast up a nice prolate bullet to have it look like a bulldog after lubing!

T

good tip.....i have a lee hardness tester if anyone wishes to borrow

[enfield2band]

So almost pure lead then Enfield?

Its seems to be. Either is suitable for Minnie bullets.

[tim56]

Many Thanks to all for the info. Finally settled on a 25 / 75 mix of linotype / pure lead. A scratch test compared to a commercial bullet
seams to be about the same. They drop out of the mold at .431" ish so have bought a new .429" sizing die which arrived yesterday and
I'm hoping to get some rounds made up for next weekend. Tally Ho.! Tim

[Randy Bohannon]

Hope you don’t mind me posting this on your thread Tim?

today I tried a 10%linotype to 90% lead alloy for both the hollowpoints and the Lee 180 gr RN moulds.

i had initially tried 100% lead ( or near as damn it) and it proved far too soft to go through the lubrisizer without the nose section squishing down, I the case of the hollowpoint to 0.325”!.

A harder alloy is then needed to avoid deformation and so the 10/90 link/lead was tried.

This alloy cast very well and was a little harder than the pure lead meaning the lee 180 bullets came out ok but the hollowpoints still squished out.

I think this is to do with the gas check which being copper needs more force to size than a pure lead boost would.