Muzzle loader round balls, soft lead?

[Hardcast416taylor]

I had an unusal question put to me by a fellow shooter that I really didn`t know how to answer. The question is could he use some commercially made (Speer, Hornady) round lead balls the same as using pure plumbers lead in his 50/50 alloy mix? He said he has about 10 lbs. in unopened boxes from a shop that closed. I gave him a conditional `YES` till I had other opinions from the site members. Was my advice right or wrong?Robert

[RogerDat]

I think you are correct in your advise but he might well find the finished round balls may have more value than the lead in them. Be surprised if he couldn't sell them for more than the lead would cost at a buck a pound in our swapping and selling. Maybe even a bit less if the scrap yards around sell lead.

[Bazoo]

I second the notion that he should consider selling the commercial round balls. Hornady round balls are about 15.00 x 100 around here.

[lightman]

I would expect them to be very soft, probably pure.

[triggerhappy243]

Commercial r.b are pure. If i could......... I would sell and buy scrap sheet lead. Way ahead of the game.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Thanks guys! I`ll pass the info along to my friend.Robert