Wheel Weights for casting

[Calibre44]

Just got a biscuit tin full of clip-on wheel weights for nothing from my local tyre merchants. I want to cast balls for my BP Revolvers

They are all different sizes, shapes and weights and I’m not even sure if they are made of lead or not.

Is there any sure way of telling?

[Smokeless Coal]

For muzzle loaders you would be best with pure lead rather than wheel weights.
The lead being softer is a lot easier to load and less likely to snap ramrods or loading levers. At these lower velocities it helps that the ball can swell to fit the rifling better.

Wheel weights are ideal for bullets to go in cartridges, they shoot at higher velocities and the harder metal is needed to stop the O/D stripping as it goes through the rifling.

Older weights could be lead but newer ones are harder alloys..

[Calibre44]

Thanks Smokeless – excellent advice as usual!

[scottywong]

as lead melts at a lower temp than most other metals it should seperate in to lead and not lead if you dont get it to hot??

scotty

[greenshoots]

used for higher velocities you will have to melt to git rid of the clips dont throw could use in a lead mix ............or send them my way.........:D

viv

[Calibre44]

What John Wayne film did that line come from? ... I've heard it before but can't place it

[greenshoots]

give you a clue he played a dying gunfighter.........:)

viv

[Jackel]

2 mules for sister Sarah?

[greenshoots]

2 mules for sister Sarah?


:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Calibre44]

give you a clue he played a dying gunfighter.........:)

viv


The Shootist ... marvelous film. Loved the opening scenes from his earlier movies depicting his life as a gun fighter.

cheers

[John Henry 1]

Wheel weights are made from a lead and antimony, I used to melt them down to cast bullets some years ago, harder than just lead, better, didn't strip the rifling. Used to work fine in .38 & .44.:)

[Marlin.45]

But in a muzzleloader using a hard blend makes it a pain to ram home if they are sized right. Best stay with pure lead plus most m/l shoot subsonic so lead 'stripping' is rarely an issue.

Use pure or as close as poss for less hassle :D

Hand cast bullets in cartridges are a completly different animal ..... most of the time ;)

[John Henry 1]

But in a muzzleloader using a hard blend makes it a pain to ram home if they are sized right. Best stay with pure lead plus most m/l shoot subsonic so lead 'stripping' is rarely an issue.

Use pure or as close as poss for less hassle :D

Hand cast bullets in cartridges are a completly different animal ..... most of the time ;)


See your point, never been in to muzzle loaders, I'm sure you are correct.:)

[greenshoots]

Is there any sure way of telling?

there the old splat test..................:D

wheel weights would work lovely in my marlin 1895 if your going to get rid..............:D

viv

[Calibre44]

You've got some beautiful rifles! ... did it take you long to learn to handload those 45/70 cartridges?

I've been handloading 44 magnum now for a year but would love a Trapdoor - what's it like to shoot?

[greenshoots]

its a pedersoli officers carbine and its a pussycat to shoot dont do more than 1400 not like my 1895 set up as a brush gun ..........:D

viv