Silver bullets?

[Nightwing_Actual]

Anyone tried making silver bullets? I am just getting started so I am a ways away from this idea, but always wanted to try it.

Have to be prepared for the eventuality of a werewolf uprising!

From my understanding silver shrinks way more than lead so I would assume that you would be an oversized mold. Not sure if that means I would have to make one or if I could find something that would work.

[Thumbcocker]

There are several old threads on this. The one kind of successful method i read about involved coating lead boolits in stove cement, melting out the lead, then pouring silver into the cavity. The cement is then chipped off. As I recall they didn't shoot for beans.

[HWooldridge]

If starting from scratch, I would attempt to turn silver rod on a lathe to get the form I wanted - and just skip trying to mold anything.

[schutzen-jager]

iirc the melting temperature of silver is much greater than any lead alloy -

lead = 621 deg. f
silver = 1763 deg. f

[oley55]

iirc the melting temperature of silver is much greater than any lead alloy -

lead = 621 deg. f
silver = 1763 deg. f

that can't be right. Otherwise the notion of the Lone Ranger shuffling off to his hidden silver mine in the desert and casting his bullets would be all make believe!

[gwpercle]

"Gun's Magazine" did a series of articles ... long time ago , but still a favorite of mine ...
they were testing the Lone Ranger's Silver boolit .
Casting silver in a conventional Lyman mould iron had problems ... in the end they had a silver smith create a lost wax mould and were able to get a decent looking projectile .
The third installment was loading and shooting The Silver Boolit ,I can't remember if they had more than 1 or just the Lone Silver Boolit to test ... but I do remember after testing the concensess was lead was easier to work with than silver .
To my knowledge Gun's Magazine never did that again and I don't believe the accuracy was anything to write home about .

That reminds me ... I need to re-up my subscription ... any magazine that tests silver boolits and Bug-A-Salt rifles ( a salt shooting bug killing gun) is one magazine you want to read !
Gary

[405grain]

Silver would be a poor choice for a cast bullet. It would be like having a pure tin bullet. The bullet would be too hard to obdurate and seal the rifling. The gas blow-by would cause pretty bad barrel leading, except that this "leading" would be harder to remove than actual lead. Aside from the problems of casting this metal in a traditional bullet mold, the metal would be expensive, and shooting it would be wasteful. I strongly believe that a stiffly loaded 44 magnum, with either heavy semi-wadcutters or hollowpoint bullets would be adequate to dispatch the average werewolf. For exceptionally large and fierce werewolves any of the standard dangerous game rifles should suffice. In any event, I'd recommend that your guide carry a DGR no matter what your personal weapon of choice is. Additionally, it is generally considered unsportsmanlike to shoot a werewolf while they're dressed in gentleman's attire.

[lar45]

My 470NE double should do nicely. If that doesn't work, maybe the 10ga double with slugs.
Oregon trail bullets used to contain a small amount of silver in their lead mix. Not sure if you need pure silver, or just some silver...

[Soundguy]

If the werewolf ain't picky..just use tin/silver solder..and make some 16:1 bullets..where the tin is say..96/4 tin/silver.

From a technical standpoint..its a silver bearing bullet.

Let's see.. A 158gr 38 would have 9.875g tin normally.. But now.. 9.48 gr tin and .395gr silver.

[T-Bird]

Bug A Salt? that's GREAT!

[johnho]

7000 grains to a pound. 200 grain bullet would be .028 pounds or 0.45 ounces. That would be 0.41 troy ounces. Silver at $24.50 today would mean the bullet would cost $10.05. But it would be fun to display one. I'll keep my silver rounds as they are.

[M-Tecs]

Silver plating is also an option.

[Gewehr-Guy]

Just load your 10 guage double with silver dimes, and give your werewolf both barrels. Then tell him "You can keep the change"

[fastdadio]

Just load your 10 guage double with silver dimes, and give your werewolf both barrels. Then tell him "You can keep the change"

^^^^ Git 'er done! ^^^

[Winger Ed.]

To seal better, maybe you could make a slightly smaller diameter and paper patch it.

An easy solution would be to shoot the werewolf with a patched ball from a muzzle loader.

[gumbo333]

I betcha Tonto painted them.

[Electrod47]

Put a little silver in the recess of any hollowpoint in order to neutralize Lawrence Talbot.

[rintinglen]

But seriously, find a jewelry maker and have them make your bullets via the lost wax method.

There have been several threads on silver bullet makers, but I have to say that it is beyond the capacity of most home setups to get the heat and preheat the molds. One guy spent a small fortune to make silver bullets just like the heroine in his books. You need larger molds (iron only-no brass or aluminum need apply) because the silver shrinks more as it freezes. You need sacrificial carbon or graphite rods to reduce oxidation of the silver. You need an iron or steel smelting pot or ladle to melt the silver in and an a torch or burner set up that will produce sufficient heat. A Bunsen burner or your old propane torch ain't gonna cut the mustard.

[Nightwing_Actual]

I will look into some of these methods, I am looking to build out a presentation box for “the colt” from the show Supernatural. One of these days I will get my hands on a Pietta 1836 Patterson and do a cartridge conversion. I would probably never shoot one, just like the idea of it being actually usable.

[Texas by God]

If you make them, you can come shoot them at my range. Go ahead and bring some gold ones too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JimB..]

Silver would be a poor choice for a cast bullet. It would be like having a pure tin bullet. The bullet would be too hard to obdurate and seal the rifling. The gas blow-by would cause pretty bad barrel leading, except that this "leading" would be harder to remove than actual lead. Aside from the problems of casting this metal in a traditional bullet mold, the metal would be expensive, and shooting it would be wasteful. I strongly believe that a stiffly loaded 44 magnum, with either heavy semi-wadcutters or hollowpoint bullets would be adequate to dispatch the average werewolf. For exceptionally large and fierce werewolves any of the standard dangerous game rifles should suffice. In any event, I'd recommend that your guide carry a DGR no matter what your personal weapon of choice is. Additionally, it is generally considered unsportsmanlike to shoot a werewolf while they're dressed in gentleman's attire.

Silver is softer than copper, and copper solids seem to do just fine. Just like copper, crank them out on a lathe and I’d expect them to shoot pretty well at high pressures.

[reddog81]

7000 grains to a pound. 200 grain bullet would be .028 pounds or 0.45 ounces. That would be 0.41 troy ounces. Silver at $24.50 today would mean the bullet would cost $10.05. But it would be fun to display one. I'll keep my silver rounds as they are.

Here you go. Not exactly a silver bullet and it’ll cost $50 - https://www.jmbullion.com/1-oz-silver-bullet-new/

[1I-Jack]

Here you go. Not exactly a silver bullet and it’ll cost $50 - https://www.jmbullion.com/1-oz-silver-bullet-new/

Too hard to get the powder in

[William Yanda]

"the notion of the Lone Ranger shuffling off to his hidden silver mine in the desert and casting his bullets would be all make believe!" oley55

Isn't ore containing silver commonly found containing lead and vice versa. I believe there is one bullet Mfr who advertises this. That, to me, makes the "notion" much more believable. Also, a silver/lead boolet would probably be much softer than a pure silver boolet, maybe even shootable.

[gwpercle]

Bug A Salt? that's GREAT!

Last issue of Gun's Magazine ... who knew there was a air gun you loaded with Salt to kill bugs with ... I'm feeling the need for an ... A-Salt rifle !
Gary

[Jeffrey]

There is a soft (lower temperature) solder used in HVAC / refrigeration applications: Staybrite #8 that contains 6% silver. This can be obtained at any HVAC supply house. It is pricey, but it stays pretty. If I felt the need to make boolits with a silver content, I'd go this way. https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Products/hpg-na-staybrite8?sku=SB855

[MT Gianni]

Someone used to sell silver bullets with about 0.001 % of silver in the alloy.

[Winger Ed.]

Last issue of Gun's Magazine ... who knew there was a air gun you loaded with Salt to kill bugs with ... I'm feeling the need for an ... A-Salt rifle !
Gary

I love mine!

There's a newer and more powerful model out now. It looks like my original one, but blasts out more air.
If you use sea salt, it hits harder like larger shot gun shot does.

People are all worried, and wring their hands about putting salt 'so much' out there,
but you get about 200 shots from less than a tablespoon of it.
In 2 years--- So far, I haven't killed off the yard and all the plant life on our patio with it.

[waksupi]

Someone used to sell silver bullets with about 0.001 % of silver in the alloy.

That was because the lead was a byproduct of silver mining!

[GrizzLeeBear]

I think you would need a lead silver alloy to be able to cast boolits with it. However, I have not see much research on exactly how much silver it takes to kill a werewolf. :veryconfu

[Nightwing_Actual]

There is a soft (lower temperature) solder used in HVAC / refrigeration applications: Staybrite #8 that contains 6% silver. This can be obtained at any HVAC supply house. It is pricey, but it stays pretty. If I felt the need to make boolits with a silver content, I'd go this way. https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Products/hpg-na-staybrite8?sku=SB855

As long as it stays shiny and silver looking.. this may be the answer, I’ll look into that for sure

[trapper9260]

You could cut up some silver and load it in a shotgun hull with a wad and use it like non lead shot , it would take care of what you like. Since make bullets a problem . It will cost alot to do it for the cost of silver .

[dondiego]

Here you go. Not exactly a silver bullet and it’ll cost $50 - https://www.jmbullion.com/1-oz-silver-bullet-new/

I got an add from these people today and found that they also sell silver shot! That makes werewolf shells so much easier to make. All shotgun shells and even many pistol rounds can shoot pellets! It only costs $265.70 per a 10 ounce jar but really, how many werewolves have you encountered? And that is 10 one ounce rounds. Just think how many .410 shells you could get! I mean, a few hundred bucks to be able to prevent your jugular vein from being ripped out and you getting the virus and turning into a werewolf yourself! I am buying a jug but it is currently out of stock. Must be a demand?

[country gent]

Silver like tin acts as a wetting agent improving flow and fill out.
Silver due to the heat requires different fluxes than lead tin antimony does, and they get pretty nasty.

Silver rod could be turned in a lathe to make a bullet. But then aluminum could also be turned to the bullet and clear coated.

Lymans cast bullet hand book has a chart of metals to alloy with lead how much and its purpose, silver is listed.

I can remember old timers telling of adding a silver dime to a 20 lb pot of alloy. it accomplishes the same as tin at a lower ratio.

[gwpercle]

I love mine!

There's a newer and more powerful model out now. It looks like my original one, but blasts out more air.
If you use sea salt, it hits harder like larger shot gun shot does.

People are all worried, and wring their hands about putting salt 'so much' out there,
but you get about 200 shots from less than a tablespoon of it.
In 2 years--- So far, I haven't killed off the yard and all the plant life on our patio with it.

:goodpost:
That's Awesome ... post a photo or two ... I might have to get one of these things !
They really work ?
Gary

[challenger_i]

7000 grains to a pound. 200 grain bullet would be .028 pounds or 0.45 ounces. That would be 0.41 troy ounces. Silver at $24.50 today would mean the bullet would cost $10.05. But it would be fun to display one. I'll keep my silver rounds as they are.

By George, Johnho! You've cracked the mystery! We now know why powder has become insanely expensive! Its made of silver! :)

[6mm win lee]

Maybe gold is the answer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cquESpirEmU

or silver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Mk7w_c3tI

[44Blam]

So, I could be wrong. Warewolves were pretty heavily documented in days where arrows and swords were the weapons of choice.
But modern day smokeless powder with big caliber lead probably would work - just as an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xg_z61SyDU
308982

[Nightwing_Actual]

So, I could be wrong. Warewolves were pretty heavily documented in days where arrows and swords were the weapons of choice.
But modern day smokeless powder with big caliber lead probably would work - just as an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xg_z61SyDU
308982

I mean at the end of the day nothing beats a wood chipper…
Rufus said it best “ Oh... okie dokie, wood chipper. That-that pretty much trumps...everything”

[charlie b]

I had always wondered about the % silver content in the stories. None of it is really 100% and most of the stories date back a ways when measuring true alloy content would not have been that accurate. So, can it be 90%, 80%, 10%, 1%? Is 'silver' solder sufficient? Can you just 'plate' it with silver? Stick a silver ball in a HP bullet?

I also remember the Westerns where a 12ga was loaded up with a stack of dimes (silver back in those days). Could you do the same now with the 'plated' dimes made these days?

[Thumbcocker]

I got an add from these people today and found that they also sell silver shot! That makes werewolf shells so much easier to make. All shotgun shells and even many pistol rounds can shoot pellets! It only costs $265.70 per a 10 ounce jar but really, how many werewolves have you encountered? And that is 10 one ounce rounds. Just think how many .410 shells you could get! I mean, a few hundred bucks to be able to prevent your jugular vein from being ripped out and you getting the virus and turning into a werewolf yourself! I am buying a jug but it is currently out of stock. Must be a demand?

It seems expensive until you NEED it.

[fastdadio]

Well, for us folks that live and hunt in Michigan, it might not be a bad idea to have a silver round or two in your pocket.
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/michigan-dogman/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd5W0iMLL6k

[justindad]

I was talking to a wolf one day who had distrust for the government and had a stockpile of cast boolits. He seemed quite aware.

[lightman]

"Gun's Magazine" did a series of articles ... long time ago , but still a favorite of mine ...
they were testing the Lone Ranger's Silver boolit .
Casting silver in a conventional Lyman mould iron had problems ... in the end they had a silver smith create a lost wax mould and were able to get a decent looking projectile .
The third installment was loading and shooting The Silver Boolit ,I can't remember if they had more than 1 or just the Lone Silver Boolit to test ... but I do remember after testing the concensess was lead was easier to work with than silver .
To my knowledge Gun's Magazine never did that again and I don't believe the accuracy was anything to write home about .

That reminds me ... I need to re-up my subscription ... any magazine that tests silver boolits and Bug-A-Salt rifles ( a salt shooting bug killing gun) is one magazine you want to read !
Gary

I remember those articles. If I remember correctly they pretty much trashed that mold through overheating. I cast some ingots from a bunch of old electrical contacts which were Silver and it took a welding torch to get it melted.

[rintinglen]

Those articles were in the old Gun World Magazine. IIRC, the author was Jack Lewis, whose writings I always really enjoyed. He did another one where he dressed up as The Shadow and was blazing away like Bruce Willis in Last Man Standing.

[b67]

There were stories of the Indians of Northern New Hampshire using silver bullets in their muskets in the earliest days...Late 1600's-early 1700's...Apparently they didn't know any better and the lead and silver deposits were often together...They became informed fairly fast though...

[Nightwing_Actual]

There were stories of the Indians of Northern New Hampshire using silver bullets in their muskets in the earliest days...Late 1600's-early 1700's...Apparently they didn't know any better and the lead and silver deposits were often together...They became informed fairly fast though...

That’s super interesting, I am going to look that up.