roysha
04-05-2011, 06:01 PM
I am currently reading "A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa" by Frederick C. Selous. At one point he makes the following comment in regard to the projectile he is shooting for elephant hunting;
"However, a four ounce round bullet, hardened with zinc and quicksilver....."
I am assuming he cast his own from raw materials although nowhere, so far, does it specifically state whether he does or whether he uses a purchased projectile. Either way my questions are;
1. How does one harden with zinc since everything I have read on this forum in regard to zinc and lead bullets would indicate a less than desirable end product?
2. If quicksilver refers to mercury, which is the only quicksilver that I am familiar with, how in the world did they, (the bullet maker whoever it was) use it?
Things like this are one of the many reasons I truly enjoy reading the oldtimers.
Oh by the way, anyone with the intestinal fortitude to shoot a 4 ounce ball ahead of a handful of powder, has my undying respect. This is another quote where he is referring to his preferred muzzle loaders, "However they were so light, that when loaded as they were by the hand from a leather bag of powder slung at my side ( I find that an ordinary handful of powder is over twenty drachms), they kicked most frightfully, and in my case the punishment I received from these guns has affected my nerves to such an extent as to have materially influenced my shooting ever since" YA THINK!!!! 1 dram is the same as one drachm avoirdupois which contains 27.34375 grains. You do the math.
"However, a four ounce round bullet, hardened with zinc and quicksilver....."
I am assuming he cast his own from raw materials although nowhere, so far, does it specifically state whether he does or whether he uses a purchased projectile. Either way my questions are;
1. How does one harden with zinc since everything I have read on this forum in regard to zinc and lead bullets would indicate a less than desirable end product?
2. If quicksilver refers to mercury, which is the only quicksilver that I am familiar with, how in the world did they, (the bullet maker whoever it was) use it?
Things like this are one of the many reasons I truly enjoy reading the oldtimers.
Oh by the way, anyone with the intestinal fortitude to shoot a 4 ounce ball ahead of a handful of powder, has my undying respect. This is another quote where he is referring to his preferred muzzle loaders, "However they were so light, that when loaded as they were by the hand from a leather bag of powder slung at my side ( I find that an ordinary handful of powder is over twenty drachms), they kicked most frightfully, and in my case the punishment I received from these guns has affected my nerves to such an extent as to have materially influenced my shooting ever since" YA THINK!!!! 1 dram is the same as one drachm avoirdupois which contains 27.34375 grains. You do the math.