light, undersized balls

[corey012778]

been debating posting this for the last few days. only thing that bothers me is the weight I am getting.

I am casting up .490 rb, they are dropping at .488 and 174grs. it is an lee single cavity.

the diameter does not bother me, the muzzleloader I will be shooting out of has an really tight bore.

the weight is what is bother. an full 3grs off the 177grs they should be.

using ww lead. nothing added. running temps between 700 to 750degrees.

Am I doing something wrong?

[nicholst55]

using ww lead.

Am I doing something wrong?

Try pure lead, or at least cut your WW with 50% range scrap or pure lead. That should increase your weight slightly.

[bruce drake]

I would have said something about poor genetics on your part but then you mentioned you were casting for a muzzleloader.

You've got a variance of just 2% Most casters would love to have that with thier alloys.

You might add some Lead if you are casting pure WW.

Bruce

[osage]

WW alloy will cast lighter then pure lead. I could be wrong but I thought Lee used pure lead for their blackpowder mold weights. I'm not at home to look it up in the Lee manual.
I have never measured or weighted any balls from the Lee RB molds I cast in and I have only used pb.

[corey012778]

I only have maybe 4lbs of anything close to pure lead. I don't have an hardness tester yet and have about 6lbs of mystery that seems soft.

before anyone ask why did I measured and weighted my ball, I was bored one day. but only random balls.

after I did the .490, I checked my.530 just weight, they are drop right at the 224grs right where (by the chart I use) say they should be. also an lee molds. double cavity.

[onesonek]

Your .490 mold is undersized, whereas your .530 sounds if it is not. Could the .530 be slighlty oversized as well? Before you mentioned the .530, I would have said it was your alloy also. But also, pot temp, mold temp / casting tempo all come into play.
I know it's one of those bothersome things, but I wouldn't worry over it. The deer or whatever target won't know the difference, as long as you shoot good groups.

[corey012778]

been debating posting this for the last few days. only thing that bothers me is the weight I am getting

kinda why I started with that statement.

my 54cal likes the those rb's with an 50/50 crisco/borebutter or tc t1000 (samething) patchs made of pillow tinkering square or round. very tight loads.

have not had the chance to shot the .490 out of my 50cal. still working though some swift rb's I have.

[onesonek]

It certainly don't hurt to ask,,,,let us know how the .490's shoot.

[Jim]

Corey,
I've been casting RBs for a .54 Lyman GPR for years and I've discovered a few things. One is, you really need to use pure lead if you can get it. The softness will allow the ball to obturate and "snug up" when the powder flashes.
BP doesn't generate the butt kickin' that smokeless powder does. Your RBs need to be as soft as possible to swell a tad on firing. This helps to fit the ball to fit the barrel.
If you post your question about this in the Muzzleloader section, you'll get lots of guys offering some real sage advice on your problem.
I hope I haven't insulted your intelligence by telling you something you already know. Don't know where you are in the learning curve.
I'm not Sam Fadala, but I'll do what I can to help.

[waksupi]

I wouldn't worry about the weight difference. It is just the alloy making the variation.
I've been shooting mostly wheel weights for around 40 years. I have seen no difference in accuracy from the bench between WW and pure, and prefer the WW's for hunting purposes.

[corey012778]

Corey,
I've been casting RBs for a .54 Lyman GPR for years and I've discovered a few things. One is, you really need to use pure lead if you can get it. The softness will allow the ball to obturate and "snug up" when the powder flashes.
BP doesn't generate the butt kickin' that smokeless powder does. Your RBs need to be as soft as possible to swell a tad on firing. This helps to fit the ball to fit the barrel.
If you post your question about this in the Muzzleloader section, you'll get lots of guys offering some real sage advice on your problem.
I hope I haven't insulted your intelligence by telling you something you already know. Don't know where you are in the learning curve.
I'm not Sam Fadala, but I'll do what I can to help.

how I read this, good and informative. I was looking for an more over group thinking of this.

i have very little soft lead at the this time.

[NSP64]

4# pure gets you 150 rb. Thats alot of shootin.
Might use some pure to soften the ww.

[Ohio Rusty]

I have discovered most stick on WW's are pure lead (avoid the zinkers and steel ones). Those sticks on make really good round ball for muzzleloaders.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[Kskybroom]

O Rbs I Thunk for a Minute you Knew my boss....

[DeanWinchester]

I just read the title of this thread. It reminded me of why I didn't join the Marines.:-(

[home in oz]

A few grains "light" should not be a problem.

What kind of groups can you fire with them?

Minute of squirrel at 25 yards?

Minute of deer at a 100?

[corey012778]

A few grains "light" should not be a problem.

What kind of groups can you fire with them?

Minute of squirrel at 25 yards?

Minute of deer at a 100?



have not had the chance to shot the .490 out of my 50cal. still working though some swift rb's I have

getting ready to do a lot of shooting after the first of the year.

[home in oz]

Must have nice, balmy winters in VA?

[corey012778]

nope, I like shooting in weather from 25 degree to 100degrees, i where I work, I am the cooler manager so, the cold does not bother me much.

[mooman76]

Lee does go by pure lead weight for BP moulds.

[Jim]

Must have nice, balmy winters in VA?

I'm in the mountains of western Virginia. Ain't nothin' balmy here!

[mpmarty]

AFIK Muzzle loading doesn't need or want "obturation" by soft lead balls as the ball should be patched to fit the bore. I used to use greased leather as patching material and it worked quite well.

[bigted]

ladel or bottom pour? i get more weight and fuller dia when i ladel em...better boolits as well

[home in oz]

You know, when I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about politicians in these PC times.

But it turned out to be a serious thread!