I was at the local hardware store this morning and found some lead looking stuff that was stamped SN42-BI58 with a little research it came out 42% tin and 58% BISMUTH. would this stuff be worth buying at 25 cent a pound? Is there a use in casting that can be useful? Bismuth in shot shells is heavy and hard. You smart guys clue me in...

Bismuth is used for low-temperature alloys. I've never heard of anyone using it for bullets. I'd pass it up unless you really like to experiment.

This is a link to some info on lead alloys.

Alchemy

It's a good additive for rifle boolits when making them heavier. For example, some of the 55 grain boolits used in 22's are a little long for 14 twist when shooting 150 yards plus. Adding weight helps the flight dynamics by making the twist demand less. So, the answer is to buy a block or two for when ever you get a gun having a twist slightly too slow for the boolit of choice. Add the alloy to WW as to bring up the tin percentage to what is appropriate, and let the weight of the boolit fall as it may. The bismuth is brittle and will make the boolit slightly more explosive, and that would be desired for all shooting but hunting. ... felix

Bismuth has one interesting characteristic. Like ice, as a pure substance it expands slightly when solidifying.

I can't guess what it would do in a tin alloy or what it would do when put in a bullet mold (the expansion might be so slight as to be meaningless). I WOULD be very interested in reading your report if you were to buy some of it and actually cast from it.

Bistmuth is a lot harder than lead and is about as heavy.

Oldfeller