Lead Ball Alternative? Ball Bearings!

[Mulebrain]

I know Roundball is playing around with rubber and glass balls. Not to take any wind out of his sails, but I don't know how those types of projectiles could even remotely replace a lead ball?

Now I do have a steel ball bearing, that is a sure fit for a .50! I have not weighed it, but it has some substance.

I am not sure of cost, or if this could be used as an alternative?

Thoughts??

 

[roundball]

"...Not to take any wind out of his sails, but I don't know how those types of projectiles could even remotely replace a lead ball?..."

:grin: You're not letting the wind out of my sails at all...you simply missed the whole point of my exploration...my interest is to find some alternative "practice" balls in case the cost of lead made year round weekend shooting cost prohibitive...or if lead was banned altogether.

Then rezero the rifle for hunting season using either expensive lead balls or the expensive non-toxic replacement if lead does get banned.

As an example, I recently posted the results of a 50 shot range session at 25 yards, showing that 9/16" solid glass marbles fit/worked perfectly in my .58cal Flintlock, and accuracy was as good as with a Hornady .570 lead ball.

So that's one finding right there which provides a perfect practice alternative...AND...only costs a penny per marble.

I have also since discovered and posted about a .43cal hard rubber ball that is already being used for training by LEOs...should work fine in a .45cal ML...have some on the way for testing.

PS: Mountainman56 recently tested ball bearings and shot 2" groups with them at 50yds...but they are also fairly expensive I believe...

 

[bart_anastasi]

The real problem I see is for hunting.

Without a bullet flatteniing you have a 50 caliber hole and that is it.

Mostly you could expect a 50 cal round ball to flatten to say a 70 to 80 cal to transfer more power or shock to the animal.

The use of steel or iron might make it neccesary to use a 54 cal as a minimum where a person is used to a 45 for example. or even 62 which to me is great.

People now are making conical copper bullets like Barnes.

Normally sold buy the ten pack with a plastic thingy they cost a bunch.

I know for sure as a reloader if I buy pistol or rifle bullets by the hundred or economy 300 pack I save a bunch.

However I have heard that some people used to cloth patch pistol bullets but I am not sure if that is a good idea. It might work if you were buying a copper conical to get expansion out of your rifle bullet.

Also I am afraid if what would happen with a real strong load in a plastic or glass bullet/ball. Impact on a animal glass breaking up on bone etc.

 

[Mountainman56]

Ball bearing are certainly a functional idea. A couple weeks ago I came across a handfull of bearings that measured .430. They weighed 87 grains and shot a 2" group in my .45 Kentucky using a .020 patch and 60 grains of fffg. This rifle has quite poor sights and matched with my quite poor eyes a 2" group is usually all I can expect to get with any ball......lead or not. Seems to me it would be a viable alternative for target shooting and even small game. Unfortunately I only have a few of these bearings left and I'm saving them to run through the chronograph.....just to satisfy my curiosity.

Now if only I could remember where I got those bearings from.... :hmm:

 

[bart_anastasi]

Ah practice and cheap. Now that is interesting.

i kind of like casting my own though.

Back in high school days we used to cast aluminum.

Old Mr. Morse taught us alot but the temps involved is that metal and the light projectile probably would not work.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I realize the cost of lead is rising but I doubt that lead balls will ever cost more than ball bearings, unless you have some source of free balls that would be very expensive shooting.

 

[Stubert]

Wouldn't a steel ball be hard on a barrel? I would be very hesitant to use something that hard in a soft steel barrel unless it was encased in something to protect it.

 

[brubincam]

---when shooting round balls,nothing touches the bore but the patch and lube--- :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[bingo1952]

The major problem with steel ball bearings would be their riccochet potential. Drop a lead ball on a hard surface and watch the bounce then do the same with a steel bearing. Good backstops of soft earth with as close to vertical faces would be a must. Penetration is also going to be a problem since there will be little or no deformation with this as a projectile. Shot with a thick enough patch to keep the steel off the top of the lands they should not damage a barrel. :hmm:

 

[smallmouth]

Want to save money-- try casting your own. You could buy a Lee roundball mold for about $25 -- but when you have it -- you have it.

You can also get a lead dipper cheapest one about 3 bucks. If you have a camp stove you + get hold an old alunimum pot and you're set. Were to get lead? Pure lead is best-- But for practice you could use wheel weights, or scrounge up lead from the practice range, if its a dirt bank right after a rain is good time to look. This will be harder than pure lead but better that the other alternatives I'v seen mentioned. You'll need to learn how to do this safely(there are posts elsewhere about casting lead, but once on to it you can do alot of (safe) shooting for nearly nothing.

good luck --
Sirjohn

 

[Mulebrain]

Folks,

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

Not for practice

 

[silverfox]

Make your dipper out of one of the CO'2 cartridges just weld a long handled screwdriver to the side of it cut a hole in the side so lead can get into it and drill the plug out of the tip. Works great and holds enought lead for two cavity molds.
Fox :hatsoff:

 

[Stubert]

If you burned a patch you would trash the barrel

 

[White Cloud]

I got a small cannon I made years ago out of a Cat 631 pan hydralic cylinder and I use 1" ball bearings in it.As to finding a alteritive in case lead to outlawed or gets to expensive,guess I'll have to use marbles if theres any marble factories left by then or gravel,and even some of my wifes biscut mix and mold it.....I've read stories about the indians using pure "GOLD"as bullets for the muzzleloaders and even some early settlers because it was heavier and they recovered and used again.Hope times don't get that bad or we come to that.White Cloud :hmm:

 

[Bountyhunter]

I figger that I have enough powder and ball and loaded cartridges in stock now to last me more than the remainder of my lifetime.

I have absolutely no intent of using anything other than lead, I dont care how many stupid rules that they make. What are they going to do? Send out a lead Nazi to follow me around then dig my round ball out of the dirt bank? I dont think so. God have Mercy on anyone I catch tracking me.

I have better things to worry about right now than whether someone is going to make a rule against lead. When you fellers make plans on what you are going to do when you lose, you have already lost. I read that somewhere.

If you want to actually do something about it, then get ahold of your congress critters and forcefully remind them that there is an election coming up and what you expect of them if they are to garner your vote. I just got an email from Heather Wilson wanting money for her campaign. I wrote her back and told her when I see her supporting my list, I'd send her some money, until then, not to hold her breath. Who works for who here? I dont drink Kool-aide. If you are going to keep your balls, you may have to strap some on.

 

[roundball]

"...God have Mercy on anyone I catch tracking me..."

You post sends very mixed messages...on the one hand "write your congressman"...on the other hand the above statement.

What exactly does this statement mean that you'd do?

 

[martha lin]

Ball bearing are certainly a functional idea. A couple weeks ago I came across a handfull of bearings that measured .430. They weighed 87 grains and shot a 2" group in my .45 Kentucky using a .020 patch and 60 grains of fffg. This rifle has quite poor sights and matched with my quite poor eyes a 2" group is usually all I can expect to get with any ball......lead or not. Seems to me it would be a viable alternative for target shooting and even small game. Unfortunately I only have a few of these bearings left and I'm saving them to run through the chronograph.....just to satisfy my curiosity.

Now if only I could remember where I got those bearings from.... :hmm:

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.

 

[Felonious]

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

 

[n.h.schmidt]

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.

 

[TCMonts]

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