Lead Alloy question(s)

[ahlsy]

So I've been reloading for about 6 months and I'm absolutely hooked. I want to start casting my own bullets now. I haven't really started doing any research on casting alloys yet and I've come across a supply of lead alloy. The specs that go with this alloy are
74-76% Lead
14-16% Antimony
9.3-10.7% Tin
<0.5% Copper
My question to all the casting gurus is "Will this work to cast bullets" or more specifically "What am I going to have to do, to get this to work" I should be able to get some pure lead ingots from the same source. It seems to me that the higher levels of Tin and Antimony will make this alloy to hard so perhaps a 1:1 or 1:2 mixture with the pure lead would be better.
I'll most likely be using this mix for 30-30, 45-70, 9mm, 40, and of course shotgun slugs.
Also, what books would be the best starter books for casting bullets?
Thanks guys,

 

[Levi Garrett]

If your real picky get a tester, i'm not, so I go harder than needed, and aloth of tin, to protect the bore from the antimony , if you can find linotype , get it, already at 22 bhn, your looking for 16 , so mix pure roofing stuff, and a bit of tin, results are good, and mold fills without any problems .makes wonderful bullets, accuracy is so good its sweet. I size larger than bore diameter , the key. 30-30 .311 , 45 lc, .4525 , 375 h&h .378 etc
A metal scrap yard , the place to go. even look at the lead scrap to spot babbitt, if you can swing that one, pass it for lead

 

[ahlsy]

The stuff I can get is labelled #7 babbit. I've got 50 lbs and can probably get more. I suppose what I want to know is it worthwhile keeping this stuff around until I start casting or, even better, is this a great start and should I try to get all I can?

 

[Levi Garrett]

Well I got a bit of a mix, would not want to move it so yes, wow you dog, got the jackpot.

 

[blacksmithden]

Buddy. With that antimony content, you've got casters gold. As a matter of fact, I think you should ship me everything you can lay your hands on. I'll test it and send you the results. Then you'll know for sure if it's ok to use. Several hundred (900) lbs ought to be enough !!!

 

[H4831]

If you can get pure lead, I would mix it about one part of your present babbit, to three parts lead. This is an amateurs guess, maybe Ben will come in and advise you.

 

[ahlsy]

I've been poking around on the old interweb and I've been seeing numbers like 4 or 5% antimony and 2 or 3% tin as the recomended alloys. 3 to 1 should work out pretty close. Now I have to secure my treasure before anyone else gets to it. That means you blacksmithden.