Bullet Alloy Composition
In contrast to muzzle loading balls and bullets which should be cast out of pure soft lead, all bullets at Meister Bullet
and Ammunition Company are cast from a hard lead alloy.
In general we can say, the higher the velocity of a bullet, the harder the lead alloy must be. Our bullet alloy composition is 2% tin, 6% antimony and 92% lead.
The composition of these three base metals will not guarantee uniform bullet hardness for all bullet manufacturers as they may not be able to control the most important parameters for casting bullets. We have achieved a process which maintains constant casting mold temperature, ambient temperature and cooling rate during casting to attain a uniform consistency in hardness.
It is also most important that tin and antimony be mixed or added at the right temperature to form a uniform alloy. This can only be done by refineries using a melting vessel of many 1000 lbs, and who have the skill and experience in the alloying of base metals.
Meister Bullet and Ammunition Company purchases the bullet alloy from refineries that use melting vessels which hold approximately 36,000 lbs of alloy. The volume of the melt results in consistently well alloyed and clean ingots which enable us to cast bullets that will not lead a gun barrel.
SAECO HARDNESS 8-10
BRINELL HARDNESS 14-16
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Bullet Hardness
Many factors contribute to bullet hardness, not only the lead, tin and antimony content in bullet alloy.
Uniform bullet hardness is achieved by the art of casting, cooling and an ambient temperature. Testing the hardness of an ingot is meaningless, since
its cooling rate varies drastically. Only the hardness readings on actual bullets are meaningful.
Meister Bullet hardness is:
SAECO HARDNESS 8-10
BRINELL HARDNESS 14-16
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Loading Data & Bullet Testing
Loading Data
Our insurance company does not permit us to give out loading data. We do recommend the Lyman Reloading Handbook, as well as the Powder Company reference for the powder you are using. All powder companies are eager for you to use their products. Hodgdon Powder Company is constantly adding new loading data for cowboy bullets.
Bullet Testing
Our bullet testing is done regularly through an independent reloading company who then supplies us with written test results. These results insure us that our bullets exceed expectations.
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Lubricants
The hardness of a bullet alone is no guarantee that gun barrel leading will not occur. Leading can be greatly reduced by using a high quality lubricant. Over the past 20 years we researched many good bullet lubricants for commercial reloaders and found that Rooster Laboratories manufactures an excellent bullet lubricant for smokeless powder that can be used with rifle and handgun bullets. This lubricant is specially made for our needs in size and color, and we purchase it in stick form in lots of 900 - 1000 lbs.
For black powder shooting we lubricate the bullets with "SPG" lubricant.
Our test results have proven that using either lubricant results in clean
bullets, no barrel leading, and superb accuracy.
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