Antimony or Tin

[Erik550c]

Hey there, wondering about which ingot to buy for casting balls and conical. There's a sale today and tomorrow on rotometals.com... They have bullet casting alloys, but which one should I buy (hunting in mind)? Tin/Lead or Antimony/Lead? And what proportion of each?

Link is: http://www.rotometals.com/Bullet-Casting-Alloys-s/5.htm

Coupon code to save $ is Dad1 (I think).

Thanks

 

[AZbpBurner]

Rotometals makes a really good variety of bullet casting alloys, but for black powder applications, you want pure lead.

I just ordered these on Friday: http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/leadingotpure.htm

And they have already shipped -- these guys are quick to fill orders.

 

[mooman76]

Pure lead is best but I'd chose tin over antimony for BP application.

 

[Erik550c]

Pure lead is best but I'd chose tin over antimony for BP application.

Pure lead? Are you sure?

 

[Patocazador]

Tin does a little to harden the alloy but it mainly makes the liquid alloy flow better and fill corners etc. in the mold.

Antimony added to lead hardens the alloy so that leading is reduced/eliminated when shot at high velocity.

For muzzleloading velocities you want pure lead.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes, we are sure that think tin lead is best.

However, since you live in California where use of lead projectiles is prohibited, you have to use other metals than lead.

I think the choice is tin. Really too hard for best performance and you will probably have to use a smaller diameter ball and thicker patch.

 

[Erik550c]

Yes, we are sure that think tin lead is best.

However, since you live in California where use of lead projectiles is prohibited, you have to use other metals than lead.

I think the choice is tin. Really too hard for best performance and you will probably have to use a smaller diameter ball and thicker patch.

I tried emailing the non-lead certification Wildlife.gov staff regarding shooting non-lead in Cali... I'm still not sure where I can use lead in California... I know there is the Condor zone and that waterfowl and small game must be hunted with non-lead shot, but it seems as long as I'm not on CDFW land I can shoot lead. Still confused.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Pure lead is best but I'd chose tin over antimony for BP application.

Pure lead? Are you sure?

28 years old, huh?

I remember when I was 28, I already had about 2 years of use on the Lee lead pot I'm still using today (yes, they DO last forever).

When I was 28, I sold my first home in Ohio, and moved to AZ. That was 36 years, and mucho lead balls & bullets cast ago.

Your query makes me want to evaluate my entire casting routine, materials choice, and even loading and shooting routine.

I was born in California, back when common sense was the norm, and not the moonbeam politics of today.

If it were me, I'd go shoot lead balls at targets all day long. Hunting would be another matter, but I'd likely have a decoy pouch filled with some bismuth/tin alloy bullets.

Anyone coming up on me and asking to see my balls would risk get buttstroked in the forehead :rotf:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I tried emailing the non-lead certification Wildlife.gov staff regarding shooting non-lead in Cali... I'm still not sure where I can use lead in California... I know there is the Condor zone and that waterfowl and small game must be hunted with non-lead shot, but it seems as long as I'm not on CDFW land I can shoot lead. Still confused.

Phase 1 ”“ Effective July 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition will be required when taking Nelson bighorn sheep and all wildlife on CDFW lands.

Phase 2 ”“ Effective July 1, 2016, nonlead shot will be required when taking upland game birds with a shotgun, except for dove, quail, snipe, and any game birds taken on licensed game bird clubs. In addition, nonlead shot will be required when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals, furbearing mammals, nongame mammals, nongame birds, and any wildlife for depredation purposes.

Phase 3 ”“ Effective July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition will be required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California.




What about target shooting or firearms for personal protection?


The regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting. Use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless CDFW or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer. The regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife. With the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition in locations where nonlead ammunition is required.




https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/nonlead-ammunition#25046250-what-about-target-shooting-or-firearms-for-personal-protection

 

[Gene L]

Lead, if you can find it. Tin added is just too hard for loading in ML rifles. It's fine for casting bullets for modern revolvers, but not for MLs.

You'll have a hard time shoving a tin/antimony/lead ball down a ML barrel.

 

[fleener]

for a round ball I have never used anything other than pure lead.

I have used up to 16/1 ratio of lead/tin in my conicals for ml target work. I have also hunted with bullets that have tin in them. I shoot mostly deer with a ML, and there is no need for a harder bullet. If you are going after dangerous game, or a bigger tougher to kill animal, then the harder bullet might be appropriate.

Fleener

 

[Black Hand]

Pure lead? Are you sure?

Yes. I use pure lead RB and shot. Nothing else...

 

[Erik550c]

Thanks everyone, pure lead it is.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Pure lead is best but I'd chose tin over antimony for BP application.

Pure lead? Are you sure?

Yes