Non-Lead projectiles for hunting

[Drago]

Salem specialty ball company carries many different sizes, but at a much higher price. They have .592 but I did'nt see 50 or 54 sizes.

 

[Jumpshot]

I understand about the weight issue and I agree, but I was just thinking of brass as an alternative to lead for plinking/target shooting, since .50 and .54 are probably the two most commonly owned calibers. I've been doing some searching but so far I haven't found anything that would work in those calibers.

 

[roundball]

Well, the small bit of good news for Californian traditionalists is that the current lead ban is only for hunting...doesn't seem to be anything against lead being used at a range, etc.

However, I have to believe the next shoe to drop will be a law passed out there with a couple year window to wind down all existing lead projectile inventories and then have a 100% lead ban go into effect.

If that happens...from other testing projects I've completed, common 9/16" marbles...sorted for size...give single ragged hole accuracy out of .58 and .62cal MLs, just for close range (25yds) practicing your form...(and would probably work for small game hunting like squirrels/rabbits).
Otherwise they're so light at 62grns they start to knuckleball as they slow down beyond 25yds.

 

[Jumpshot]

Yeah, I noticed you mentioned the marbles earlier so I did a search and found your old threads about testing them a few years ago, I've just been reading through them. More interesting stuff to experiment with. It looks like there are sizes available that will work with several calibers, after a little experimentation with patch thicknesses.

Sorry to get this thread off track. Back to hunting applications.

 

[Mad Professor]

One thing your brass balls (pun intended), will not do is expand.

So on game you will get more pass through and less energy expended inside the animal.

Have yourself , or anybody shot these into meat, to see what happens?

 

[Renegade Dan]

Hopefully this will be like vehicle emissions and California will keep the higher restrictions to themselves.

Now might be the time to invest in a mold or two and a lead melting pot.

Of course the NMLRA will be bringing their full resources to bear to battle the legislation.

I guess It's Time to start stocking up on lead. I'm sure NY wont be far behind :shake:

 

[roundball]

LOL...a larger than half-inch-hole bored through the width of a deer's heart / lungs is more than enough to bring them down in sight.

My tests and deer taken were done with my .58cal which is my main deer rifle and the majority of the time the regular lead PRBs already pass right on through...never had one run out of sight yet.
For example, neither of made it 20 yards before falling in sight...

 

[rodwha]

That is a wicked sized hole in him!!!

That may have answered a question I was pondering about your non expanding balls, which Is not having a flat meplat to punch the wound of that caliber to begin with, how would a round nosed profile act on flesh that stretches? It looks as though it can't be much!

I've read the opposite with RN styled conicals though.

 

[58CAL]

I don't understand why anyone that isn't a communist lives in Californicate!!! Anyhow I won't be hunting with brass balls or marbles!!I kinda suspect they will get sued forever over this one. FRJ

 

[GreyWhiskers]

One thing your brass balls (pun intended), will not do is expand.

While trying to come up a "traditional" projectile to use on a So Cal deer hunt last year, I asked a DFG Warden about the ITX R/Balls. They are so hard that they don't expand. CA regulations for big game require an expanding bullet.

He told me the non-toxic bullets regs don't require them to be of an expanding type. GW

 

[Swamp Rat]

For better expansion you could just shoot Gold. Give new meaning to California Gold Rush.

With Brass I would wonder what the down range energy would be pass 50yds, the larger frontal area compared to the 50cal lead will slow the ball down more. If someone could figure the math out on sectional density and plug into a ballistic calculator to give some idea of what's happening down range energy and drop might be a good thing to check.
With that I think since your not exactly traditional anymore shooting brass the other guns will have a stronger foothold.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I might have missed it but how would you pull the brass ball to prove you were within the law? Carrying a co2 dis-charger seems like a pain along with the no lead law! Dan.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

I'd like to give credit to roundball for getting this done :bow: . I looked into copper ball after reading his 1st posting of Non-Lead projectiles for hunting.

After a month of trying to find the right size ball in copper, I :surrender:
I still get e-mails saying they can be made for me in batches as small as just 5000 units!

 

[roundball]

I might have missed it but how would you pull the brass ball to prove you were within the law? Carrying a co2 dis-charger seems like a pain along with the no lead law! Dan.

And you have to be very sure you don't "dryball" if shooting a barrel with a straight breech...it might allow the ball to come down far enough to cover the vent on a Flintlock (or the fire channel from the nipple) and even a CO2 discharger wouldn't work.

If the no-lead movement spreads across enough states, straight breeches are possibly going to be a major problem for a lot of folks...its conceivable a market might appear for machine shops to replace straight breeches with Patent Breech designs which stop the ball 'above' the vent...(all mine are that way)...or even removable breechplugs like T/C used on it's "Firestorm" model Flintlock.

PS:
And we haven't even delved into all the small game hunting impacted by this...no more lead shot at all...no more lead .22's, etc, etc

 

[Swamp Rat]

PS:
And we haven't even delved into all the small game hunting impacted by this...no more lead shot at all...no more lead .22's, etc, etc

That is very true, but isn't the Reason for the no lead a "protect the condor" thing for CA?
The small game thin is a real shame.

 

[Britsmoothy]

For flinters how about a good steel vent prick to stop the hard ball (in event of a powderless booboo)passing the vent? It would neeed to be strong!

B.

 

[silly goose]

I would think that if you didn't remember to put powder down your barrel, you probably would forget to put the pick in also. And that would surely wear on your touchhole, I would think.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Is that a long way off saying it is a stupid idea?
Some flintlock guys always fit a prick first.
Using a true fitting picece of drill rod as a routine could maybe save your day from being a complete failer if loading hard ball. No?

B.

 

[BrownBear]

My luck, I'd bend the pick when I dry balled and make it impossible to remove....

Would you spell that "pickhell" rather than pickle? :rotf:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Nevermind :rotf:

B.