Muzzle loader balls/lead mix?

[Willyp]

I have a new Lee 50 cal. muzzle loader mold. It was stated as a .495? It is casting water pipe lead at .491 or.492!
Is it the lead mix or am i doing something wrong? I want them at .495,but still not hard.

[C.F.Plinker]

If you are shooting patched round balls you can vary the thickness of the patch to get the fit that your rifle or pistol likes. Water pipe lead will cast smaller than other alloys. My mold casts around .003 smaller with pure lead (cable sheath) than it does with range scrap. One rifle likes the same patch for both but the other wants a little thicker patch for the pure lead round balls.

[mooman76]

Try adding a little tin. That might make the ball a little larger and just a little tin won't make much difference in the hardness. It's probably the mould though. My Lee 454 moulds and I bought a second, both drop for me more like .456/7.