Hollow Point Round Ball?

[J. Paul]

Interesting. Do you know the issue?

Been maybe 20 years ago. I know I have it but I don't know the issue.

 

[DuncNZ]

Pure lead is a highly cohesive metal , it will deform when hitting an animal but it will not usually fly to pieces

 

[SDSmlf]

TC used to sell a kit for creating hollow points in multiple calibers in the early 1990s I believe. Remember buying a number of these kits from WallyWorld during their after hunting season sale, as I would always but stuff up, many times at a dollar or less. We tried them, and they didn’t degrade accuracy, nor did they improve performance on game as best we could tell. That said, if you like hollow points on roundballs, go for it. In my experience, won’t hurt, but doubt it will improve things.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

160 grains behind a .58 round ball... not surprised it flattened like that.

 

[erhunter]

160 grains behind a .58 round ball... not surprised it flattened like that.

I thought the 160 grains FFG was a misprint.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

It got me to thinking about the hole in the ball caused by the screw. Could I use it for a hollow point?!

(iirc) Hollow point bullets came about after harder and harder lead alloy to reduce barrel leading was found to also reduce deformation. No real advantage if one is using soft lead.

I don't know about you guys, but I have enough of a task just getting the round balls to hit where I want, I don't need to add to the mix having to worry about making the round balls with an opening and specific depth. If a slightly larger than 1/2" hole going in doesn't do the trick, then I have an accuracy problem, not a bullet-performance-after-impact problem.

LD

 

[SamTex1949]

Hornady makes a "hybrid" ball/bullet , and I seem to recall someone else offered a ballett (?) in solid and HP ?
https://www.hornady.com/muzzleloading/browse/50-cal-240-gr-pa-conical#!/

 

[Tn poor boy]

Lol hollow point rb.if i have any i just put them in my lead pot make more rb

 

[sportster73hp]

Hornady makes a "hybrid" ball/bullet , and I seem to recall someone else offered a ballett (?) in solid and HP ?
https://www.hornady.com/muzzleloading/browse/50-cal-240-gr-pa-conical#!/
View attachment 138581

I believe those are meant to be hollow base bullets

 

[senseisugarbear]

Not only do pure lead round balls not need a hollow cavity to expand, they don't need a lot of velocity...Most hunters today use way too much powder, thinking they have more power that way, isn't so...

I agree on the speed factor, a friend bought a .54 T/C Sumthinoranother and knew all about muzzel loaders.. couldn't tell him a thing..After blowing right thru 4 deer tracking each for many hours, and recovering none. he was going to switch to sabots.I told him he should quit ,as he had already killed twice his limit.He wouldn't quit .So I asked him what he was shooting. 150 gr 3f & round ball.. I told him to try 90gr.&round ball. result 2 deer same evening recovered , no exit wound.All available energy spent on target....it's the same story every time I teach a New guy..

 

[GBG]

I make mine by taking a .495 round ball running it through a die to cut it down to .440.

I assume cut it down means swaging. Just curious if the force required to swage down by .055 flattens the top of a pure lead ball? Also, do you use a lubricant?

I really like the idea and may turn a punch and die to make banded hollow points with my .600 to .735 wheel weight lead RBs. I use wheel weights a lot for practice (and hogs) in both MLs and unmentionables, because I still have a supply that was collected over 50 years ago.

 

[longcruise]

Wonder how a hollow point round ball would fly when the ball is loaded a bit cockeyed and the hollow is off to one side

 

[hanshi]

I hate it when people pull the wool over my eyes…. Umph

Wool saves lives, cotton kills.

 

[hanshi]

I assume cut it down means swaging. Just curious if the force required to swage down by .055 flattens the top of a pure lead ball? Also, do you use a lubricant?

The nose of a bullet/ball has almost no effect on the projectile's accuracy. As long as the base is good accuracy will still be the same.

 

[SamTex1949]

I believe those are meant to be hollow base bullets

the pic shows a slight indent in base but not like a Minie

 

[sportster73hp]

the pic shows a slight indent in base but not like a Minie

I have used them before. Not a mini. More like a wad cutter. Not sure the indent is large enough to even push the skirt into the rifling .

 

[ohio ramrod]

I assume cut it down means swaging. Just curious if the force required to swage down by .055 flattens the top of a pure lead ball? Also, do you use a lubricant?

I really like the idea and may turn a punch and die to make banded hollow points with my .600 to .735 wheel weight lead RBs. I use wheel weights a lot for practice (and hogs) in both MLs and unmentionables, because I still have a supply that was collected over 50 years ago.

I actually cut them with a die I made using a radiused "push rod" so the tip remains round except for the hollow point. I used to be a tool and die maker so making a die was simple.I cut them using a small abor press so the force is not a problem. Swagging them would require a lot of force . They really make a difference at stake shoots.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I was at the range shooting today, and was approached by an admirer of my SMR. I ws talking to him while reloading, and new better. I dry-balled, but saved face showing him how to pull a ball using my range rod. It got me to thinking about the hole in the ball caused by the screw. Could I use it for a hollow point?!
I asked him if he wanted to shoot it. He said "no, better not. You know how things go sometime if you like it".

You definitely could, but don’t expect much in the way of accuracy beyond 20-ish yards.

 

[nchawkeye]

I agree on the speed factor, a friend bought a .54 T/C Sumthinoranother and knew all about muzzel loaders.. couldn't tell him a thing..After blowing right thru 4 deer tracking each for many hours, and recovering none. he was going to switch to sabots.I told him he should quit ,as he had already killed twice his limit.He wouldn't quit .So I asked him what he was shooting. 150 gr 3f & round ball.. I told him to try 90gr.&round ball. result 2 deer same evening recovered , no exit wound.All available energy spent on target....it's the same story every time I teach a New guy..

And then they complain about fouling!!! Decrease your powder and you decrease the fouling...I started with 125grs FF in my .54, years ago I went to 80grs FFF and frankly have thought of dropping down to 70grs...

 

[david w]

And then they complain about fouling!!! Decrease your powder and you decrease the fouling...I started with 125grs FF in my .54, years ago I went to 80grs FFF and frankly have thought of dropping down to 70grs...

I used to hunt with a .62, and used 80 gr 2Fg.