bismuth

[Ranch Dog]

Good luck with your testing, I look forward to reading of your results.

[mt_sourdough]

OK, I cast a few of these bismuth bullets with the RD432-240. The Bismuth has a lower melting point and it takes much longer to cool to a solid than lead alloys. The sprue smears horribly unless you give it time to cool (maybe 4 min for a 6 banger). The stuff casts a pretty bullet although I had to use a file to remove a rim from around the base where the sprue doesn't cut it perfectly.

That is roughly 89% of weight of same bullet with wheel weight. My first test load will be with 48gr of H4198 for a velocity should be a bit over 2300fps. I wont wait do a complete test because that'll be a ways off. I will collect about 10 jugs and then take this bullet to the field for testing real soon.

[akuser47]

Cool keep us posted

[mt_sourdough]

I should be able to get 30 of these bullets per pound of bismuth. At $20 per pound that equates to roughly 67 cents. Add gas check and lube and price per bullet is under 75 cents. That beats the $1.10 that the Barnes 225 XPB for a lead free hunting bullet. One thing I know right now. I know the Barnes 225 XPB might not be the best bullet in the 444, it is reliable. If I can get the Barnes bullet up over 2400fps it would rate really well.
I might get around to filling the cavity of a Barnes XPB with lead free solder for testing, as well.

[Ranch Dog]

It definately looks good!

[mr surveyor]

so, how do you lube them to avoid bismuthing (is that a word?)

[mt_sourdough]

so, how do you lube them to avoid bismuthing (is that a word?)

Funny, I had the same thought and my answer is we'll find out. I am using a gas checked RD 432-240. So it has the gas check going for it. I am just dipping it in LLA. The melting point for bismuth is low, so it is an obvious concern. It heats up fast and smears. I am doing terminal ballistic testing first, but while I am at it, I'll be looking at the bore real closely.

[Ranch Dog]

Do you have a BHN tester?

[mt_sourdough]

Do you have a BHN tester?

I have a Lee tester. I'll check it out.

[mr surveyor]

if it seemed plausible, is there any particular element that would alloy with bismuth to harden it?

Knowing my luck, if I were in the position of having to make bismuth work in casting, the only metals that would have the proper atomic properties to alloy would be things like platinum or uranium .... you know, the ones that are cheap and readily available