Adding silver?

[Dave James]

Any of my brother primitve shooters mix silver into their round balls or conicals?

Have read a couple of old articles on it, seems it was favorite trick in Africa, thinking about trying it for my 8 bore

 

[Wolf_River_Mike]

Never did that. Made and shot some swan shot out of a buddies trade gun. Smooth bore, can't remember the caliber for sure 62, 79?

 

[cayuga]

this is to produce a harder ball I take it. Nope never done it.

 

[Dave James]

Yep, thats what it leads to ,, seems this was one way to improve penetration on ele's hippos and such,, didn't give any ratios, but may try it any way

 

[cayuga]

Something as simple as casting ball with wheel weights will do the same thing. The addition of tin will harden the ball. I used to have a chart that gave all the BIN for the different lead out there and what it is mixed with. Now of course when I wanted to find that.. well you know how it goes.

Personally unless hunting something really tuff skinned, then I would not worry too much and just use a pure lead ball.

 

[tooldog]

Would a harder mix make conicals leave a little less leading in the barrel ?


tooldog

 

[cayuga]

I was under the impression that the harder the bullet the more fowling it leaves, but I could be wrong...

 

[Dave James]

Whelp tried a simple test,, cast up about 20 or so using the 980 grain mold,, work up 10 lbs of lead used about 3lbs of silver, balls came out at 950 , had to change patch thickness from my standard .10 to .15 using unwashed cotten sheets,, charge, 225 grains of FFG Swiss, over powder wad stayed the same, ungreased felt .

Rifle shot 1 1/2" high at 75 yards,, it was sighted in for the 300 grain load and the 1100 grain ball, to be dead on.

Only solid object we shot was a gum stump thats been seting since summer, no its not a real measure , but the ball went 18" and stopped.

May have to try it out on pigs this summer, was fun any way

 

[jaybe]

I always thought using silver in bullets was supposed to kill vampires :lol:

IM jaybe

 

[Dave James]

Well as the news caster had a spot on them here in Tidewater,, I may be ready :lol: :lol:

Now will an 8 bore do the job? :lol: :lol: