.457 balls.

moonpie312 · August 11, 2008, 02:02 AM

does anybody know a good website where i can get the .457 round balls at a reasonable price? and possibly all the other bp goodies i might need.

darkgael · August 11, 2008, 09:58 AM

Midwayusa.com sells the Hornady .457 RBs for $11.79/100.
You can cast them from a Lee mould. Get an old cast iron pot, an electric hot plate, a lead dipper (Rowell ladles are the best but Lyman makes a nice one). Make your own. Very simple. I use that size in a large bore airgun.
Pete

Fingers McGee · August 11, 2008, 11:38 AM

bpstuffllc.com for balls & wads. Best prices if you are buying large quantities.

moonpie312 · August 11, 2008, 06:02 PM

thanks ya'll. i have been thinking about just doing my own. is there a certain kinda lead you have to buy? or can i just bust up old car/tractor batteries?

darkgael · August 11, 2008, 06:05 PM

DO NOT use lead from batteries. Scrounge up some pure lead from a junk dealer or order some (expensive).
Pete

Smokin_Gun · August 12, 2008, 12:29 AM

Moonpie312, go to ebay type in soft lead ingots...I just got 40lbs ($54.xx shipped)a while ago(look for best deal)...get soft lead though specify...can be scratched deep with fingernail. Lee makes aluminum 2 cavity molds about $20. Other than in my Piettas I use .457 balls lee mold, in piettas I use a Lee .451 Mold which come out a perfect .452 ball.

SG

moonpie312 · August 12, 2008, 05:30 PM

thanks guys, and if i may ask, somebody explain exactly why you cant use battery lead?

Raider2000 · August 12, 2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonpie312

thanks guys, and if i may ask, somebody explain exactly why you cant use battery lead?

Because Lead from auto batteries sin't pure lead any more, it has a lot of trace elements that can be harmful to you & anyone around you that breaths the fumes of these other trace elements like Arcenic just to name a great one.

If you go to the Auto repair shop that does tire work like Pepboys or what not you can see about acquiring their Adhesive Wheel Weights, they are almost pure lead with very little other elements in it making it pretty soft for muzzleloading bullets.

qwik · August 12, 2008, 08:21 PM

how about used wheel weights from tire alignment shops?

Hawg · August 12, 2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

how about used wheel weights from tire alignment shops?

As was mentioned. The stick on weights are almost pure lead but don't use the clip on weights for muzzleloaders, they're harder and don't shrink as much.

qwik · August 12, 2008, 09:06 PM

thanks

Hawg · August 12, 2008, 09:20 PM

Pure lead has a BHN of 5. Clip on weights are 99.5% pure and have a BHN of 6. Clip on weights are 96.5% pure and have a BHN of 10-12.
I posted this in the reloading forum awhile back but it didn't get much response. It's got a lot of useful casting information in it and links to even more info. http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm

Raider2000 · August 13, 2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawg Haggen

Pure lead has a BHN of 5. Clip on weights are 99.5% pure and have a BHN of 6. Clip on weights are 96.5% pure and have a BHN of 10-12.
I posted this in the reloading forum awhile back but it didn't get much response. It's got a lot of useful casting information in it and links to even more info. http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm

Just a friendly correction there HH, have another cup of Coffee.

Pure lead has a BHN of 5. Adhesive weights are 98.5% pure and have a BHN of 6. Clip on weights are 96.5% pure and have a BHN of 10-12.

I use the Adhesive Weights pretty much exclusively since I'm almost out of the Plumbers Lead that I've had for years.

moonpie312 · August 13, 2008, 11:11 PM

ahh i completely forgot about wheel weights! thanks for that guys, theres plenty of tire shops around here so i know it wont be hard to get all i ever wanted.

Hawg · August 14, 2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Just a friendly correction there HH, have another cup of Coffee.

Well DUUUH!!!

I guess I needed one.

August 11, 2008, 02:02 AM	#1
moonpie312 Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 98	.457 balls. does anybody know a good website where i can get the .457 round balls at a reasonable price? and possibly all the other bp goodies i might need.

August 11, 2008, 09:58 AM	#2
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	.457 Midwayusa.com sells the Hornady .457 RBs for $11.79/100. You can cast them from a Lee mould. Get an old cast iron pot, an electric hot plate, a lead dipper (Rowell ladles are the best but Lyman makes a nice one). Make your own. Very simple. I use that size in a large bore airgun. Pete

August 11, 2008, 06:05 PM	#5
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	.457 RBs DO NOT use lead from batteries. Scrounge up some pure lead from a junk dealer or order some (expensive). Pete

August 11, 2008, 11:38 AM	#3
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	bpstuffllc.com for balls & wads. Best prices if you are buying large quantities.

August 11, 2008, 06:02 PM	#4
moonpie312 Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 98	thanks ya'll. i have been thinking about just doing my own. is there a certain kinda lead you have to buy? or can i just bust up old car/tractor batteries?

August 12, 2008, 12:29 AM	#6
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	Moonpie312, go to ebay type in soft lead ingots...I just got 40lbs ($54.xx shipped)a while ago(look for best deal)...get soft lead though specify...can be scratched deep with fingernail. Lee makes aluminum 2 cavity molds about $20. Other than in my Piettas I use .457 balls lee mold, in piettas I use a Lee .451 Mold which come out a perfect .452 ball. SG

August 12, 2008, 05:30 PM	#7
moonpie312 Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 98	thanks guys, and if i may ask, somebody explain exactly why you cant use battery lead?

August 12, 2008, 08:21 PM	#9
qwik Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: nc Posts: 152	how about used wheel weights from tire alignment shops?

August 12, 2008, 09:06 PM	#11
qwik Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: nc Posts: 152	thanks

August 12, 2008, 09:20 PM	#12
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,380	Pure lead has a BHN of 5. Clip on weights are 99.5% pure and have a BHN of 6. Clip on weights are 96.5% pure and have a BHN of 10-12. I posted this in the reloading forum awhile back but it didn't get much response. It's got a lot of useful casting information in it and links to even more info. http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm

August 13, 2008, 11:11 PM	#14
moonpie312 Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 98	ahh i completely forgot about wheel weights! thanks for that guys, theres plenty of tire shops around here so i know it wont be hard to get all i ever wanted.