Could One use a spent 45 pistol round in a 45 cal Muzzleloader

indy1919 · December 6, 2012, 12:35 AM

So at the range was picking up a bunch of spent 45 caliber pistol bullets from the back stop. There had been a good rain and they are great freebee gifts to kids..

Other then the rifling marks many of the rounds looked undistorted..

So if I had a 45 caliber black powder rifle could I reuse those spent bullets as ammo?????

Hawg · December 6, 2012, 05:34 AM

No, they're too big. Not to mention too hard.

birdshot · December 6, 2012, 02:16 PM

I use them in my slingshot. They fly true and hit harder than glass marbles.

bedbugbilly · December 6, 2012, 06:41 PM

I guess a guy could use what he wanted to in his own rifle - i'ts his gun. BUT . . . that being said, I guess I could also shoot nails, rocks and cow manure as well.

IF, they happened to fit - you say they have rifling marks - is it going to match the rifling in your rifle? i doubt it. How would they react to the twist in your barrel, IF you could get 'em down? Are they lead or FMJ? There are projectiles designed for muzzleloading . . . and there are projectiles designed for modern rifles and handguns. "Nary the two should intertwine."

A big +1 to what Hawg said . . .

I have retrieved lead from backstops that were fired from muzzleloaders . . . but washed it well, melted it down, fluxed it and skimmed the impurities off and then cast it into new rounds - all soft lead. As far as picking up rounds and recycling 'em as they are . . . to me that's akin to picking up someone's cigarette butt and smoking it. Personally, I value the bore of my rifles and smoothbores too much . . .they only eat "new" projectiles.

robhof · December 6, 2012, 07:56 PM

I've been scrounging lead from backstops for years and yes after a good rain they are usually sitting on the surface. I separate the jacketed from the lead and use the lead mixed for casting bullets for my smokeless guns and the jacketed ones melted down and skimmed of their jackets produce a very soft lead that works well in my B/p guns.

Pahoo · December 6, 2012, 08:05 PM

Quote:

So if I had a 45 caliber black powder rifle could I reuse those spent bullets as ammo?????

As mentioned; NO.
However, you could use them in a .50, using a 45/50 Sabot. Personally I don't know if I would but you certainly could. ....

Be Safe !!!

December 6, 2012, 12:35 AM	#1
indy1919 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2011 Posts: 277	Could One use a spent 45 pistol round in a 45 cal Muzzleloader So at the range was picking up a bunch of spent 45 caliber pistol bullets from the back stop. There had been a good rain and they are great freebee gifts to kids.. Other then the rifling marks many of the rounds looked undistorted.. So if I had a 45 caliber black powder rifle could I reuse those spent bullets as ammo?????

December 6, 2012, 02:16 PM	#3
birdshot Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Location: north platte nebraska Posts: 344	slingshot ammo I use them in my slingshot. They fly true and hit harder than glass marbles.

December 6, 2012, 06:41 PM	#4
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I guess a guy could use what he wanted to in his own rifle - i'ts his gun. BUT . . . that being said, I guess I could also shoot nails, rocks and cow manure as well. IF, they happened to fit - you say they have rifling marks - is it going to match the rifling in your rifle? i doubt it. How would they react to the twist in your barrel, IF you could get 'em down? Are they lead or FMJ? There are projectiles designed for muzzleloading . . . and there are projectiles designed for modern rifles and handguns. "Nary the two should intertwine." A big +1 to what Hawg said . . . I have retrieved lead from backstops that were fired from muzzleloaders . . . but washed it well, melted it down, fluxed it and skimmed the impurities off and then cast it into new rounds - all soft lead. As far as picking up rounds and recycling 'em as they are . . . to me that's akin to picking up someone's cigarette butt and smoking it. Personally, I value the bore of my rifles and smoothbores too much . . .they only eat "new" projectiles. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

December 6, 2012, 07:56 PM	#5
robhof Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2007 Posts: 712	robhof I've been scrounging lead from backstops for years and yes after a good rain they are usually sitting on the surface. I separate the jacketed from the lead and use the lead mixed for casting bullets for my smokeless guns and the jacketed ones melted down and skimmed of their jackets produce a very soft lead that works well in my B/p guns.

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December 6, 2012, 05:34 AM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	No, they're too big. Not to mention too hard.