Linotype Bullet Alloy – 2 lb Ingots
84% Lead | 12% Antimony | 4% Tin | Approx. 22 BHN
Rock Shot Products Linotype Bullet Alloy is a high-antimony, high-tin casting alloy known for its hardness, excellent mold fill-out, and usefulness in custom alloy blending.
With a nominal composition of 84% lead, 12% antimony, and 4% tin, Linotype is substantially harder than many common bullet-casting alloys and is particularly useful when additional antimony and tin are needed to modify softer lead alloys.
Our Linotype Bullet Alloy is supplied in convenient approximately 2 lb ingots, making it easier to weigh, portion, melt, and incorporate into custom alloy recipes.
Sold as individual approximately 2 lb ingots with a minimum purchase of 5 ingots (approximately 10 lb total).
Alloy Composition
Lead (Pb): 84%
Antimony (Sb): 12%
Tin (Sn): 4%
Estimated Hardness: Approximately 22 BHN*
Ingot Details
Approximate Weight Per Ingot: 2 lb ± 0.25 lb
Minimum Purchase: 5 ingots (approximately 10 lb total)
Approximate Size Per Ingot: 2.5" × 2.5" × 1"
Form: Cast Ingot
Primary Use: Bullet casting, hardening, and custom alloy blending
Individual ingot weights and dimensions may vary slightly due to the casting process.
A Classic High-Hardness Casting Alloy
Linotype metal was originally developed for the printing industry, where its hardness and casting characteristics helped produce durable type with sharply defined detail.
Those same properties have made Linotype a popular alloy among bullet casters and metal casters who need a hard lead-based alloy or a concentrated source of antimony and tin for custom blends.
Common uses include:
• Bullet casting
• Hardening softer lead alloys
• Custom lead-alloy blending
• Increasing antimony and tin content in softer alloys
• General metal casting
• Alloy experimentation and development
Excellent for Alloy Blending
Because Linotype contains 12% antimony and 4% tin, it can be particularly useful as a blending alloy.
For example, blending equal weights of nominal 84/12/4 Linotype and pure lead produces a theoretical composition of approximately:
92% Lead | 6% Antimony | 2% Tin
This corresponds to the nominal composition commonly referred to as Hardball Alloy.
Actual finished composition will depend on the composition and purity of the metals being blended.
Convenient 2 lb Ingot Size
Although the minimum purchase is 5 ingots, each individual ingot weighs approximately 2 lb. The smaller ingot format makes Linotype easier to handle, weigh, portion, and melt.
Instead of working with one large block of alloy, casters can use individual ingots as needed and more easily control the amount added to each melt.
Minimum Purchase
This product has a minimum purchase of 5 ingots, representing approximately 10 lb of Linotype Bullet Alloy.
The smaller individual ingot size provides convenient handling and portioning while the 5-ingot minimum allows Rock Shot Products to offer this specialty alloy at competitive direct pricing.
Important Alloy Information
Linotype is a relatively hard lead alloy. Whether a particular alloy is appropriate for a specific casting or shooting application depends on the intended use and other factors.
Actual hardness and finished casting properties can vary based on alloy composition, cooling rate, casting conditions, heat treatment, and other processing variables.
The approximately 22 BHN figure is an estimate and should not be interpreted as a certified hardness measurement for every ingot or finished casting.
84-12-4 Linotype Alloy. High antimony. High tin. Convenient 2 lb ingots. Built for serious alloy blending.
