Hard Ball's in a Smoothie?

[montanadan]

I am asking this for a friend(no computer)I have some lead ingots,that are to HARD for rifled, muzzeloaders,would they be O.K. to shoot in a smooth bore?I really I am not sure how hard they are,considerably harder than wheelweight's....Respectfully Montanadan

 

[J.D.]

Cast 'em and shoot 'em. Since there are no riflings in a smoothbore and no reason for the patch to grip the ball, other than to prevent the ball from rolling out the muzzle, there is no need for pure lead for use in a smoothbore.

I have been shooting balls cast with ATM lead, (anything that melts) through my bess for nearly 15 years, and the only problem that can arise from shooting hard lead balls is that it is nearly impossible to screw a ball puller into an ATM ball to remove a dry ball. Don't ask how I learned this.

A ball cast from hard lead will be a little larger than a ball cast from pure lead, so's ya might have to adjust the patch thickness a bit. The ATM balls cast with a .715 Lyman mould mic .718, so they will load a little tighter, but accuracy might improve too.
J.D.

 

[Russianblood]

And also remember that alloyed lead will be lighter than pure lead in equal size balls.

 

[Slowpoke]

yeah so they're going to shoot higher...

 

[BS]

yeah so they're going to shoot higher...

Baybe, Maybe Not! :grin:

 

[montanadan]

Thanks for your replies,also reminding me of the difference in the weights of rb's..Respectfully Montanadan

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Dan, I've always preferred hard lead in a smoothbore. It is important that the balls be round and stay round when fired. A harder alloy will resist deformation in its' trip down and out of the barrel and fly straighter to target. They'll also penetrate more on game, if that is an issue for you. Course, if .62 or larger then penetration probably isn't a problem with any ball. :grin:

 

[musketman]

I am asking this for a friend(no computer)I have some lead ingots,that are to HARD for rifled, muzzeloaders,would they be O.K. to shoot in a smooth bore?I really I am not sure how hard they are,considerably harder than wheelweight's....Respectfully Montanadan

You can always dilute the harder "lead" by blending it with pure lead during the melt if you deem it too hard to suit your needs...

 

[sledgemeister]

And alloyed lead melts at a lower temperature than pure lead!!