38/40 lead alloy?

[1894cfan]

Got a 40 S&W and want to duplicate the lead alloy of 38/40 (40/38?) in it. Like 180gr and about 950fps cast bullets. Let me know what alloy I need to get before it's too late! TIA

[Rockrat]

Wheelweights will work fine. Even something like 96-3-1 pb/as/sn will work fine. You can even drop them hot from the mould into cold water, to harden them somewhat.

[1894cfan]

Thanks, Rockrat. Been using Lyman #2 but would like something a bit softer to expand some, more like 38/40WCF.

[earlmck]

I've been finding "range lead" which is lead salvaged from shooting ranges for sale. Stuff has been running about 8 to 10 on the BHN scale which is pretty soft and would be just fine for your low-velocity loads. Heck, pure lead would work fine at those levels but if you have it buy it the pure lead runs more than the plane-jane range pickup stuff.

Just for your interest, I have been melting up some of that "range" lead and that is the stuff I have been using in my lower velocity loads for my 38/40's (like I shoot in the old 1873). My m92 38/40 I have been using in a buffalo-shooting game where we shoot to 600 yards and I have to up the velocities quite a bit to be stable at 600 yards and also because I need the flatter shooting so I don't run out of elevation in the old receiver sight. So those 38/40 bullets are made like Rockrat is suggesting: approximately wheelweight alloy that is water-dropped to get them fairly hard.

[1894cfan]

A while back I picked one of NOEs 402-170-TC molds that comes with different nose pins, solid runs about 180gr, dimple nose runs about 170 and the hollow point runs about 155gr, and using L#2 appears to be a bit to hard for them. No leading in the barrel though. Thought I'd like to go a bit softer with a 38/40 auto loader.

[marlinman93]

No reason your Lyman #2 shouldn't work well in the .38-40 also. If you slug the bore and have bullets that properly fit it, you don't need softer lead to bump up to fit the bore. I try to size all my bullets .001"-.002" over groove diameter, which seems to eliminate leading issues.

[1894cfan]

Marlinman93, thanks for that about L#2. I picked up a GlockStore double diamond standard rifling barrel for my G23 and have had no leading so far.

[EdinCT]

I remember reading 30-1 lead tin was what the factory used. I have bought some and think I'm going to powder coat it to try instead of jacketed for hunting.