Copper Roundball

[Walks with fire]

A post concerning the possibility of outlawing lead roundballs got me wondering how a solid copper roundball might perform. What would it weigh in comparison to a lead ball of the same size? Would it expand at typical roundball velocity? Would one be able to cast them in a roundball mold well? Anyone have any imput on this? Might work pretty well and I am quite curious about the potential.

 

[Stony]

Casting a roundball out of copper might be impossable for the average bullet caster. Copper melts at a much higher temp than lead. Not really sure of the actual temp but I know it's real hot!

 

[Rifleball36]

I don't know about the other shooters on this Forum, but they would cost to much for me to shoot them. :shocked2:

 

[F.G. Ford]

The use of any other material, other than pure lead, for muzzleloaders, will be impractical.
The very nature in which lead works, is what makes
your rifled muzzleloader accurate.
Lead is soft, heavy ( 11 times the weight of water)it expands after ignition, sealing the bore, and thus rotating down the bore, emparting spin to the ball, or minie ball.
No other commonly available material has these properties.
Wheel weights for example are "mostly" lead. They don't work worth a darn in a rifled gun, and yet they are softer than copper, gold, silver, depleated uranium, tin,zinc.
Changing the regs on hunting migratory birds with lead shot was a wise move, elimiting small lead shot from the water, and wounded birds.
Removing lead from a bullet type projectile will not resolve anything, other than appeasing the concerns of some "TREE HUGGER" that thinks they are saving the world again,
Anybody who studies balistics, or physics understands the use of lead as a projectile in a rifled gun.
Hard lead, copper ball, or steel ball bearing will not effect the accuracy of a smooth bore, but the won't work in a rifled gun.
Best Regards
Old Ford

 

[bioprof]

I can see how a bird could swallow lead shot, but I don't see why waterfowl would swallow a .69 caliber roundball or even a 50 cal. for that matter. If they don't ingest the lead, I don't think there would be a problem.

Would copper-jacketed roundballs solve the so-called problem?

 

[gunsmoke]

I'm by no means a metalurgist or expert on the matter, but I can't see Bismuth being a replacement for lead either. Bismuth melts at a very low temperature. I can only assume, but it seems it would foul a barrell in short order or deform a ball from the heat. Alloys can be made from Bismuth to raise a melting temperature, but in general is WAY to expensive and not widely available.
I think it's the tree-huggers work!

 

[Walks with fire]

Thanks for the replies on a replacement for lead balls. I guess there just isn't a good replacement. I saw a post from another thread about them outlawing the use of lead for any firearm and it really starts to make a person think about what is really going on. I guess if they don't want to try to take our firearms then they will take what is needed to use them. It's a sad day coming for sportsmen someday.

 

[roundball]

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to slowly begin building up a supply of a few thousand per caliber

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Bismuth is sometimes used in shotgun shells where lead shot is prohibited. The advantage is that it doesn't carve out the chokes or ruin the barrels on the older guns with use. It works great but is VERY expensive. Just say no to lead substitutes....this isn't the powder thread is it (just say no)??? :rotf: I sure wouldn't want to see chrome-lined barrels on longrifles.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[peashooterJoe]

Roundball, you reckin 500lbs will last me a few years. My Great Great grandfather only bought 15 lbs a year according to the records of my Great aunt. I buy it in pigs every two years from a local supplier. :winking:

 

[roundball]

I guess that's about 18,000 .50cal balls...should last a few years for sure!
:thumbsup:

I checked through a row of GI ammo cans I have in the garage where I store my lead balls, and on average have about 1500-2000 per caliber.
For the past several years whenever I'd run across a real good auction, or a clearance sale at a gun show table, etc, I'd buy whatever they had left...the best auctions I ever got was 10 boxes of Hornady .395s delivered for $2.50/100...and 20 boxes Hornady .440s delivered for $5.50/100.

Eddie May in Georgia makes excellent quality cast balls at a reasonable price...I'm using his .395s and .600s...he sells up at Friendship every year, sells to Dixie, etc...buying direct from him is real good if a person doesn't cast...ie: 395s for $35/1000, .600s are $8/100