Wheel weights hard on barrels?

S

Sharps '63

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An 'expert' (defined as someone who knows all there is to know about less and less until he knows everything there is to know about absolutely nothing) on another forum has assured me that I am destroying the barrel on my 50-70 Shiloh Sharps by using bullets cast from wheel weights.

Huh? Wheel weight metal is harder than barrel steel? This same guy admits to shooting jacketed HPs from his Shiloh 45-70 with smokeless powder ......

I get all the accuracy I need shooting these with 5744 and even a duplex BP load. For 100% BP, I use my own alloy mix.

Opinions, comments ...... ???
 
Well, if there were residual road grit in the WW bullets, that would not be a good thing.....
Otherwise, untold millions of WW bullets have been used.
 
I still have a box or two of steel jacketed bullets floating around somewhere, Norma IIRC, not too concerned about lead.
 
It's nonsense. Pure lead might shoot better, but wheelweight alloy will not harm the barrel.

Knowing other "experts" like him, I'm surprised that he didn't also tell you that it's blackpowder only - that smokeless powder will turn it into a mass of tangled metal and people parts.
 
I've never heard of that either, IMHO wheel weight material is not the best for this purpose because whether you use real BP or smokeless, the velocities from the Sharps will be such that the softer alloys will expand to fit the barrel better, and provide the right amount of expansion on game. Wheelweight alloy can be brittle and cause fracturing on hard bone when hunting the big stuff, pure lead mixed with tin provides a much better (expanding)alloy that doesn't shed pieces. It gives you that classic mushroom shape that is about 1" wide because all the metal is still there.
 
My vote is that the expert is spewing absolute rubish. I shoot tons of alloyed lead in my antiques with no adverse effect to the barrels at all.
 
Ask the other guy to explain his reasoning, I'm curious as to his answer and why he feels that way.
 
There are far too many "experts" ion the shooting game. Most of these guys, if they have been shooting at all, cannot name two consecutive shooting matches they have placed in using their "expert" information.
With that said, My family have been using "Wheel Weights" lead in everything from antique Winchesters, Springfield Armory trapdoors, Remington Rolling blocks, and reproduction BP cartridge rifles since the early 1970's. Our trophy cabinets, between the three of us have well over 600 awards for shooting, this will attest to a winning formula.
There is something to point out that has been briefly mentioned by tiriaq...sand and road grit. A simple solution is fluxing the lead as it melts using Beeswax, and frequent skimming of slag from the molten lead. Even after all the slag has been removed, continue to gently stir and bring the ladle/spoon to the surface frequently...you will see impurities in the form grit and and dirt. It takes time and effort to do this, but he benefits are important.
BTW...the "Expert" is what I call...WRONG!!!!
 
Let him scratch the top of a bullet, with his finger nail. Then tell him to scratch the barrel steel, with his finger nail.
He's full of carp. I think I spelled that wrong!!
 
Funny, I just finished reading that some the bullets Berry's produces are very similar in hardness to wheel weights.

They definitely should have consulted this guy first!
:D
 
Don't know if this helps you guys or not. I know the shot we make from them sparks like crazy when we fire it in modern shotguns designed for steel shot.

Uncoated Weights, Lead

Manufacturer's Name: Perfect Equipment Inc. LaVergne, TN 37086
Date Prepared March 2007

Section II - Hazard Ingredients/Identity Information

Weight Percents

Lead 93.0 – 99.9 %
Antimony 0 – 6.0 %
Arsenic 0 – 0.5 %
Tin 0 – 0.5 %
Copper 0 – 0.1

Section III - Physical/Chemical Characteristics
Boiling Point Approximately 2700° F
Melting Point Approximately 621°F

Zinc wheel weights

NAME: Eastern Alloys, Inc.
PRODUCT NAME: Zinc Casting Alloys DATE PREPARED: 05/28/1998
and high purity Zinc Brighteners Last Review Date: 09/21/06

Weight Percent

Zinc 71.5- 96 %

Aluminum 2 - 28 %

Copper 0 - 11.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Wheel weights are a lot harder on your barrel than say....gummy bears or marshmellow pieces. Make sure you let the expert know this.:p
Click to expand...

Now there you go. Spreading just as much misinformation. You can't make broad statements like that. There's too may factors.
Are the Gummy Bears air or water quenched?
Are the marshmallows Canadian made, or the corrosive types coming out of the Czech Republic?
 
Oddbawl said:
Now there you go. Spreading just as much misinformation. You can't make broad statements like that. There's too may factors.
Are the Gummy Bears air or water quenched?
Are the marshmallows Canadian made, or the corrosive types coming out of the Czech Republic?
Click to expand...

What about the sour gummy bears that have all the grit on the outside ?????ovrec
 
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