Bigcountry,

This was my first post on this forum and did not find login steps this AM, looked at it better this PM.

Not familiar with commercial flux so have no opinion on it. I have access to beeswax and candlewax with beeswax in it so have used that.

As yet have not added tin to lead so refer you to HEAD0001s answer. Since you mentioned adding tin I assume you are going to shoot cast bullets in rifles. I'm curious as to how much faster you can drive a hard tin alloy bullet over bullets made from scrap lead.

Another source of scrap lead is bullets from fireing range backstops. The lead in jacketed bullets such as the 45 ACP is soft. You have to scoop the jackets out. Add to scrap brass pile and sell to junk yard, which probably will take your dross with lead in it.

Inspect bullets after casting and reject those with the sprue hold off center, with obvious cavities, or misshapen. If you get extremely serious you can weigh bullets and group within weight ranges.

My theory on rifle bullets is that since the velocity is going to be reduced anyway, use heavier bullets so as to be more effective if used on game. Paper targets don't care. An interesting test of cast bullets is to try penetration on steel. A 30 caliber has no problem penetrating 1/4 inch steel, probably will penetrate 3/8 inch. For comparison, 30-06 regular bullets will penetrate 1/2 inch mild steel, AP bullets will penetrate 1/2 inch armor plate, which is hard steel something like vehicle springs.

haynk