Wheelweight of soft lead?

[Scooby_308]

Wheel weights are fine for modern weapons (I cast them by the thousands for my .45 ACP) but they too need to be cut with solder to soften them a tad. However, only as pure a lead as you can get for your black powder arms. The thumbnail test is a good way to tell. On the NSSA site they have periodic sales on lead. Also, the recycling center may have some. And, I have found a good supply at a gun shop (that gets theirs from the recycling center).

Melting spent modern rounds may not be safe. You can never be sure what was sent down range and most modern jacketed bullets have a lead alloy core.

In order to have the skirt on the Minnie to expand fully and engage the rifling, you need soft (pure) lead.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"Can't these goofy rings be removed by cleaning? (ie. breech scraper, worm, and bore brush) Also, if you use soft lead (and inspect your ammunition) shouldn't you be able to avoid the problem altogether?"

In brief and to over-generalize...

The common cause for lead rings and fragments comes from poorly cast Minies. This is caused by the mold being too cold, or the lead being to cold so that when it is poured into the mold it does not flow and enter the mold as a complete liquid. Instead, teh stream of lead cools and hardens which creates a segmented "ripple" or layer effect in what is supposed to be a solid projectile.
The greatest weak area for a ring or segment to be torn from the Minie ball is the thin skirt area.

Being "behind" the mass/bulk of the bullet, the segment or fragment can be blown backwards toward the breech and NOT exit the muzzle.

"Cleaning" with a patch covered jag or tow covered wiper can simply push the lead bits down to the bottom of the barrel and not remove them.

This is a potential serious problem for lads who shoot the same gun (or barrel) for live fire as well as reenacting.
Many lads "dabble" in live fire and do not have the supervision or the experience in casting bullets to inspect and reject rippled or flawed castings. Plus, many dabblers buy commercially cast Minies which can have a reputation for being poorly cast.

CHS

[Misplaced Rebel]

Curt,

My knowledge of the specific casting properties is not that great, but from what I understand:

A: If I understand, you say cleaning with a patched jag etc. will simply push the fragments to the breech, wouldn't the same action (ie, basically scraping off the stuff) also make it possible for the fragments to exit the barrel simply by inverting the weapon?

B: By the same tokien, would't a sufficiently stiff bore brush (for cleaning after an event/skirmish/hunt, etc.) be able to remove lead fowling from the groves of the rifling?

I would be getting my minies (as I have decided to also shoot somewhat competitively with the ACWSA- are you familiar w/them?) from a local who custom sizes and casts all the minies for our musket team. I'm trusting he has his act together.

Thanks,
-Chris Thulien