Pure Lead VS 1-20 Alloy Weight

[Idaholewis]

This is to Show those that might not Know/Realize, The Difference in Bullet Weight When Cast of an Alloy VS Pure Lead, Same Bullet/Mold. PURE Lead is the HEAVIEST of All. Alloys are lighter, The Harder the Alloy, The Lighter the Bullet will Weigh. The Larger the Bullet, The More this Shows

I am using my new Accurate Molds #45-350M Bullet for this Demo

Here it is Cast of Certified PURE Lead

Same Exact Bullet/Mold, Cast of CERTIFIED 1-20 Alloy

 

[snapbang]

As always an excellent presentation and information.

 

[fourbore]

There is a way to remember that. Lead is heavier than tin, so the more of the lighter metal the less the bullets weigh. I guess a person could use weight as a method to verify the alloy, except that would assume you had only lead and tin. My take away is 1:1 vs 1:20 is 2.23% less weight. Or 2.23 grains per 100. If you pure bullet is 358, then (358/100) * 2.23 = 8

Would it be a bold assumption that 1:40 was 1/2 the change? That would be 354 grains.

The other interesting question to me is how the diameter changes. Well, interesting because I dont have any intuitive or gut level clue which way that goes. And memory is not what it was.

 

[Idaholewis]

There is a way to remember that. Lead is heavier than tin, so the more of the lighter metal the less the bullets weigh. I guess a person could use weight as a method to verify the alloy, except that would assume you had only lead and tin. My take away is 1:1 vs 1:20 is 2.23% less weight. Or 2.23 grains per 100. If you pure bullet is 358, then (358/100) * 2.23 = 8

Would it be a bold assumption that 1:40 was 1/2 the change? That would be 354 grains.

The other interesting question to me is how the diameter changes. Well, interesting because I dont have any intuitive or gut level clue which way that goes. And memory is not what it was.

As to breaking it down to different Alloys to Weights, I don’t know the Exact answer to that? I cast a Lot of 1-40 Alloy, I believe you are Right in the Ballpark at 354 Grains

Diameter definitely can Change, Pure Lead Shrinks up more than Alloys. This is Why Most Custom Mold Makers ask what you will be using? That said, a WHOLE LOT comes down to Casting Technique. I am able to get PURE Lead to Cast EXTREMELY Close to the Same Diameter as 1-20 Alloy (The Way i Compression Cast) I stay Within a Half a Thousandth.

 

[Sideshow]

As to breaking it down to different Alloys to Weights, I don’t know the Exact answer to that? I cast a Lot of 1-40 Alloy, I believe you are Right in the Ballpark at 354 Grains

Diameter definitely can Change, Pure Lead Shrinks up more than Alloys. This is Why Most Custom Mold Makers ask what you will be using? That said, a WHOLE LOT comes down to Casting Technique. I am able to get PURE Lead to Cast EXTREMELY Close to the Same Diameter as 1-20 Alloy (The Way i Compression Cast) I stay Within a Half a Thousandth.

As flawless as your bullets turn out Lewis i personally consider them to be "Pure Gold" !!! Lol !!!

 

[Barn]

Do the different alloys fly any differently or have different effect on accuracy?

 

[Idaholewis]

Do the different alloys fly any differently or have different effect on accuracy?

Yes, Definitely Can!

Latest Example. This New Paper Patch Bullet of mine, I tried it Cast of Pure Lead, and then 1-20 Alloy

3 Shot Group from Bullet above Cast of Certified PURE Lead

And here is a 3 Shot Group of the Same Bullet Cast of 1-20 Alloy

 

[Barn]

That's impressive!

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

I like those clean cut holes Looks like a paper punch did it. Nice bullets and good info.

 

[eekjellander]

I wonder what paper your your using ,9Lb on both ? Maybe a heavier paper on the pure being a touch less size wise ? I know that alloy group is outstanding !

 

[Idaholewis]

I wonder what paper your your using ,9Lb on both ? Maybe a heavier paper on the pure being a touch less size wise ? I know that alloy group is outstanding !

Ed, I was using the same Paper For Both Groups above

This one, DEFINITELY my Favorite Paper For Patching Bullets, i use this one more than any of my others, This is also the thinnest stuff i have at .0016"
https://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-300-Tracing-11X14-sheets/dp/B000KNLQKA

 

[Curtis]

All kinds of great info in this thread! Thanks for the postings, Lewis!

Curtis

 

[eekjellander]

Ed, I was using the same Paper For Both Groups above

This one, DEFINITELY my Favorite Paper For Patching Bullets, i use this one more than any of my others, This is also the thinnest stuff i have at .0016"
https://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-300-Tracing-11X14-sheets/dp/B000KNLQKA

Thanks for the heads up on the paper ,something else to try ! That looks like the longer version of the one I sent Ron to try /Ed

 

[mnoland30]

What alloy do you use for elk? I used a hardcast last year, and penetration was great, but it was a slow kill.

 

[sdporter]

What alloy do you use for elk? I used a hardcast last year, and penetration was great, but it was a slow kill.

Did you recover the bullet? If so, how did it look? I personally use soft lead or no higher alloy than 40:1. The five bulls I’ve shot have all been close to 100 yards about 120 being the farthest. I recovered nicely mushroomed bullets just under the hide on the off side on most of them using plumbers sheet lead cast bullets weighing roughly 450 grains

 

[Idaholewis]

What alloy do you use for elk? I used a hardcast last year, and penetration was great, but it was a slow kill.

For Hunting, Where i am using a Wider Meplat Type Bullet, I want SOFT, PURE LEAD, NOTHING BEATS Pure Lead for Expansion at Blackpowder Muzzleloader Velocities

For Target Shooting With my Elliptical, Money, Postell, Type Nose Bullets I shoot an Alloy. The Same as our WORLD Champion Shooters do

 

[Idaholewis]

It is my opinion that A bullet cast of an Alloy such as 1-20, 1-30 is a BAD IDEA for Hunting, At Blackpowder Velocities Anyway. They Simply Won’t Expand Much, if Any? They will Poke a Hole Straight Through, I want a Hunting Bullet to “Roll Back” Mushroom

 

[Barn]

Did you burnish the ends of your bullets to make them so shiny?

 

[Idaholewis]

Did you burnish the ends of your bullets to make them so shiny?

No, This 1-20 Alloy Casts a Nice SHINY Bullet. The Key is Heat, When the Mold gets to Hot you Start getting “Frosty” looking Bullets, Keep the Mold in the “ZONE” and they Cast a Perfect, Shiny Bullet Everytime

 

[mnoland30]

SDPorter: It was a stem to stern shot at about 75 yards. No bullet recovered. I always want a blood trail. I've had good luck in my .50 with a Remington 405 gr. 45-70 bullet in a black Harvester sabot. 3 cows DRT even at 200 meters, and one ran 35 yards. I'm getting into casting for my .45.