Handgun bullet casting for fun and profit!

[Deerman]

How about for a 41mag handgun I have a lot of the soft lead I use for BP?If cooled quickly would they be hard enough?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

If cooled quickly would they be hard enough?

If it is pure (or almost pure) lead, probably not.....you need to have some antimony in the mix. I usually get mine from a handful of lead shot thrown into the pot. You can also add tin as well, although that is getting pretty scarce (and pricey).
I don't remember the exact chemistry/physics, but Lyman's casting handbook had a good write up about how the antimony helps harden the mix when it is cooled rapidly.

[skeet]

The only bad thng about antimony is that it makes the whole bullet shrink....depends on the amount of antimony but if you use a somewhat large mould it isn't any big deal. May not have to really size the bullet. I cast a bunch of 41 cal bullets not long ago. Used some Mag lead BBs for lead material. My mould usually casts .412-.4125 or so. With the 5% antimony shot they came out right at .4105 average. Just about right to shoot without sizing. That is the size of my Star 41 cal sizing die. Gonna shoot some here soon to see how they do