casting round ball from pellet lead

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Vasily 1942

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Hello all, i managed to cast 50 cal round ball out of pellet lead, (pellets gathered from a trap target flattened) have not shot yet, but does anyone else do this? i assume the laead from the pellet is good, i put my finger nail into and it scratched the surface, but was wondering what you guys think
 
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Shot is generally harder than pure lead but if you can gouge it with a thumbnail it would probably be okay for muzzleloaders. Cap and ball revolver really needs to be very soft.
If it's tough to load in your .50 try thinner patching. If still too difficult you will want softer lead or to go to a .490" ball rather than a .495" if that's what the present mold is.
 
If you're looking for soft/pure lead balls for C&B revolver or muzzleloader, then you want pure lead. Lead shot is hardened with 5% antimony and sometimes bismuth. I don't have a ton of experience with C&B guns but I shoot a fair bit of patched ball in my 50 & 54 percussion rifles. I only use pure lead in these. Harder than pure lead might be harder to load, might not obturate to seal the bore ect.......but then, they just might!!!!
YMMV!
 
Lead used for pellets are made from pure lead. You are good to do what you have done. I cast all of my round balls and slugs from pure lead and have done so for 15 years. Clever way to reuse that lead though !!!
 
If you are shooting patched balls out of a rifle, smoothbore or rifle musket you can use wheel weights, hardness doesn't matter. Minie balls and revolvers balls or conicals for sure need nice soft lead. Shooting them all since '96
 
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