Lead Ball Alternative? Ball Bearings!

[Loyalist Dave]

I understand your interest in exploring ball bearings as an alternative projectile for target shooting and even small game hunting in your .45 Kentucky rifle. It's great that you're finding them to be accurate, especially with your current sights and vision limitations.

So folks this is a thread from 2008.

Steel bearings also have the nasty tendency to bounce and ricochet on impact. Don't ask me how I know.

YES. YES they do they ricochet something fierce..., and it's rather disconcerting....

How about zinc/pot metal. It's even possible to cast at home. It has been talked about using that for rifles bullets. I don't know about cost though.

The problem with Zinc is the fumes when casting are highly toxic...

I think the marbles would be a good lead free alternative for small game If nessasary, think wrist rocket velocity or slightly higher.

Except that you might end up with glass shards in the meat.

One should look into Rotometals bismuth and tin combinations if one needs a lead free alternative, imho.

LD

 

[Felonious]

One should look into Rotometals bismuth and tin combinations if one needs a lead free alternative, imho.

LD

I duck hunt with bismuth, and the guys I go with who use steel are always impressed with the knockdown power. It's not lead, but it's much better than steel, IMHO.

Tungsten is a whole other animal. You NEED appropriate shotcups, and loading is a real PITA because of that. That being said, my limited experiences with tungsten have been very effective, and VERY expensive.

 

[flconch53]

Folks,

I was looking at this more from a lead ban perspective. Strictly for hunting purposes where lead is banned.

Not for practice

I still lean towards lead free pewter for all the reasons I have laid out many times before.

 

[wiscoaster]

I think this thread goes to show that whatever they try to ban or otherwise make it impossible to use or aquire by whatever means, inventive people will find some way around. Making their misguided efforts ineffectual.

 

[TCMonts]

The problem with Zinc is the fumes when casting are highly toxic...

Good and important information.

Except that you might end up with glass shards in the meat.

Never had that problem with a slingshot.

One should look into Rotometals bismuth and tin combinations if one needs a lead free alternative, imho.

Kind of expensive to play with, do they sell a variety of sizes for those who don't cast.

So folks this is a thread from 2008.

And yet people still find it interesting and perhaps informative.

No disrespect intended. This is the first time some of us have seen this post.
I think if I find the right size marbles and the right patching for them, I may try this and post results.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Never had that problem with a slingshot.

I'd like to see the slingshot that launches a marble at 1500 fps...

Kind of expensive to play with, do they sell a variety of sizes for those who don't cast.

Cheaper than the tungsten alternative ; safer than the steel ball bearing.

LD

 

[TCMonts]

I still lean towards lead free pewter for all the reasons I have laid out many times before.

I still lean towards lead free pewter for all the reasons I have laid out many times before.

Have you found it works fairly well? How is the cost and availability? How does the finished ball size compare to mold size?

 

[TCMonts]

I'd like to see the slingshot that launches a marble at 1500 fps...

I would to, but 300 to 600 will kill a squirrel verry dead. you only need air gun velocity.

Cheaper than the tungsten alternative ; safer than the steel ball bearing.

Would not argue that at all.

 

[flconch53]

Have you found it works fairly well? How is the cost and availability? How does the finished ball size compare to mold size?

Most commemorative mugs are made of lead free pewter . As far as costs I get them at yard sales. I have a couple of milk crates full of mugs with broken glass bottoms . The nice thing is if you already cast your own you can use the same equipment. So cost is minimal

 

[Pratt]

Steel ammo? sounds like armor piecing stuff.