Lyman alloy

[Steveu]

I was reading an old Lyman handbook that talked about a black powder alloy of 20 parts of lead, 1 part tin and 1 part antimony. I ran it through the calculator and got a Bhn of 14. Has anyone tried it?

[beltfed]

That 20-1-1 alloy comes to about 90.9% Pb/4.55%Sb/4.55%Sn
Pb=lead, Sb=Antimony, Sn =Tin
Very close to the Lyman No 2 alloy of 90%/5%/5%.
I have had good results for most of my BPCR shooting for the last 20yrs as well as Smkls with my alloy of 90% COWW/10% Lino.
This gives approx 94.5% Pb/ 4.5% Sb/1% Sn
This includes GG as well as PP bullets.
beltfed/arnie

[Don McDowell]

I don't particularly like the Lyman #2 alloy for bpcr shooting, preferring 16-1 or 20-1 depending on the bullet and application.
I do like #2 in handgun and smokeless rifle bullets..

[beltfed]

Here is an example of my 9+1 COWW/Lino alloy bullets performance

[Steveu]

Thanks for the advice. I have some cable sheathing, tin and Linotype lying around. I may have to try a batch when I run out of isotope lead.

[Steveu]

Thanks for the advice. I have some cable sheathing, tin and Linotype lying around. I may have to try a batch when I run out of isotope lead.

[Kurt]

I was the guy in the pit pulling and marking that target and the very last shot just went less than a fingers with into the 9 ring. I think that still is the highest score on the 800.
Steve, I'm another one that uses some antimony in my alloy. I'm a firm believer in using it for the results I have had with the alloy I use. I have a lot of 95-5 no lead solder left from my plumbing days and I still look for bargains on E-Bay or at the local lumber yards.
( mix a 1# roll with 17 or 18# lead and that holds the bullet nose profile virtually unchanged but it still lets the obturation fill the grooves. But I would not put a cork or felt wad in the load for a PP bullet. The soft cork or felt absorbs too much reducing the obturation at the bullet base. Patched tight to bore or a GG bullet right at bore or slightly above you will get by.
When bullet clear the muzzle looking like this and they don't hit will down range it's not the fault of the bullet
My alloy is very close to the Lyman alloy you asked about.

The bullet on the right is a .45 cal that had a felt wad under the bullet and the alloy was 1/16 T/L.
They don't all look like this but they did show up testing alloy and wad stacks.

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Kurt what was the diameter of that 45 calber bullet before patching?

[Kurt]

Don that mould drops it at .442" and I use .0018" Southworth 100% cotton cockle finish and makes a snug fit.

[Kurt]

Here is another example with a soft cork wad.
But this one I used a roll of 95/5 solder cast with 20# lead and it s not a hard alloy. I don't remember for sure because I lost the records for some of the loads.

I liked using a cork wad because it did a fine job holding the gas back lowering the verticals but I got those unexplained dirt diggers on and off during a match.
These bullets are a head scratcher for sure because I would think when the charge goes off the bullet base would show the most obturation buy these shows more nose setback.

The left bullet is an error, that 1/8" card was a 1/16" (.06")