Roundball Hardness

[Rocklock]

I've heared tell a brass balls, but never knowed anyone ta own up to it.  Seems like a brass PRB in a ML would be somewhat like a dangreous game solid shot round. ? ....Tom (who's only shot lead)

I too have only shot lead and soft at that.  Someone on another forum was playing - er excuse me that would sound exactly wrong - experimenting using round balls made of brass.  Think it was in search of an alternative if the radical tree huggers and anti liberty crowd get lead banned.  IIRC he obtained what was described as acceptible accuracy and I believe even harvested a doe.

TC  (another Tom)

[Blackfeet]

That fellow goes by Roundball and he is/was a member here as well. Last posted here back in June

[West Texan]

 I tried shooting RB from wheel weights as well as Lee REAL slugs. The RB were very hard to load while the REAL could not be loaded. This was for a .50 with .490 RB and commercial patches. I'm staying with lead and using ww for center fire calipers.

[forrest]

I tried shooting RB from wheel weights as well as Lee REAL slugs. The RB were very hard to load while the REAL could not be loaded. This was for a .50 with .490 RB and commercial patches. I'm staying with lead and using ww for center fire calipers.

    West Texan:

   The trouble you had using WW is from the different rate that WW will shrink at thus your .490 mould would throw about a .494 to a 495 ... a .600 mould will throw a .605 you would need a thinner patch or a .485 mould.


          Forrest

[Watauga]

Forrest thanks for posting this information
As I was trying to figure this out!
I had figured that the patch engaged the rifling so the hardness would not matter all that much but if the ball is larger that makes good sense!
Going to have to invest in some dial calipers after all.....

[flintboomer]

Moulds are made with the assumption that roundballs will be cast from pure or nearly pure lead and centerfire bullets will be cast from hardened lead and the cavities are cut accordingly.
Adding tin and antimony will make a larger casting, it is not a lot, but it will make a difference when loading.
Yes, you will need a smaller mould or a thinner patch when casting with hard lead compared to soft lead and a
REAL, Maxi or Minie may be too hard and oversized to work if cast with hard lead because the moulds and the design are for soft lead.

[William]

I tried shooting RB from wheel weights as well as Lee REAL slugs. The RB were very hard to load while the REAL could not be loaded. This was for a .50 with .490 RB and commercial patches. I'm staying with lead and using ww for center fire calipers.

Also keep in mind that REAL stands for rifling engaged at loading so using hardened lead means that you are essentially having to size a bullet at the muzzle without the advantage of using a press.