Wheel weights

[ian45662]

Do any of you guys use wheel weights in any of the skirmish guns you shoot. I know its a no no for musket but I wonder if they are alright in carbine or smoothbore even.

[matt]

for breechloader and cartridge guns i will use hard lead some also use it for smoothbore especially if they need a larger size than the molds throw.
matt
winslow's battery 9775v

[DAVE FRANCE]

I have used wheel weights for many years with good success. Adding 2% tin makes the wheel weight lead more fluid and cast better. Some skirmishers use softer lead (but not near dead soft) than wheel weights with good success. The low pressure and velocities we get with black powder make very hard lead unnecessary. But, using harder lead than wheel weights works well also.

Extremely hard lead probably not work as well as wheel weights with black powder because it will not obturate well enough. I think obturate means to swell in diameter and cause a pressure between the bullet and barrel that keeps pressure and gas from leaking past.

If you search the internet, I think you will find more about this subject than you want to know. You probaly found more here than you want to know.

Good luck,

David

[DAVE FRANCE]

I have used wheel weights for many years with good success. Adding 2% tin makes the wheel weight lead more fluid and cast better. Some skirmishers use softer lead (but not near dead soft) than wheel weights with good success. The low pressure and velocities we get with black powder make very hard lead unnecessary. But, using harder lead than wheel weights works well also.

Extremely hard lead probably not work as well as wheel weights with black powder because it will not obturate well enough. I think obturate means to swell in diameter and cause a pressure between the bullet and barrel that keeps pressure and gas from leaking past.

If you search the internet, I think you will find more about this subject than you want to know. You probaly found more here than you want to know.

Good luck,

David

[Frog]

When I was casting and loading for Henry team competition I used straight wheelweights. They cast good and shot good in my 44/40 Henry. I no longer participate in the Henry team competition for personal reasons.

Wheelweights are way too hard to use for musket or carbine bullets. I use only soft lead for both.

Paul

[Scott w/1st Fla]

Yes I use wheelweights to cast my smoothbore balls and get good results. It's gun specific - you gotta try it and see if yours likes wheelweights.

[Gary Van Kauwenbergh, 101]

For my Henry, I start out with hard lead, but soften it until the craters dissappear from bullet bases the where the sprue cutter hits. I'm guessing wheel weights are over 16 BHN. My Henry bullets are about 12 BHN.

If I have scrap lead that's a little hard (BHN 6 or 7) I will use it for Smith Carbine bullets, but that's nowhere near as hard as wheel weights.

I think using wheel weights for smoothbore rounds is alright.