Lead hardness

Support for the 1863 shooter. Discussions of powders, loads, bullets, etc.
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Jesper
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:55 am

Lead hardness

Post by Jesper »

Guys.
I want to ask what hardness lead you run?
Point in case being that i shoot ringtails of approx 500 and want to try like Lyman 2 or there abouts. Good or bad idea?
Or just run like 20:1 or even 30:1?
Jesper
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:55 am

Re: Lead hardness

Post by Jesper »

Image

Yeah well. After trying the whole thing out with pure lead i opted to cast some 1:2o tin ones and take it from there.
This Sharps 59/63 of mine being rather capable brings that i´ve thus far been hoovering around 80-110 grains of powder.
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VenisonRX
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:29 am
Location: Mayflower, Arkansas

Re: Lead hardness

Post by VenisonRX »

I know this post is almost two years old but I’m honestly curious and I think this part of the forum needs more love. What did you find out with your alloy? Pure lead or 20:1?
—Tom
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kenny sd
Posts: 382
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:24 am
Location: florida

Re: Lead hardness

Post by kenny sd »

as a point of interest. I was shooting an original Springfield musket .58. I cast the mini bullet with 1 in 16, then one in 20. received only mediocre results.
then I read that the originals were pure lead. so I tried that.
BIG change. very accurate no leading or loading problems at all.

so while I do not shoot my original Sharps percussion carbine, I used the pure lead in both my original 50 70 Sharps carbine and my Spencer original 56 50 carbine. Both were much more accurate with the pure lead than any kind of mix.

remember, ME and just MY guns... I have always wondered about my Shiloh 40 70 SS and pure lead, but I've not tried it. I use 1/16 on that.

good luck...Ken
TJLeGault
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:21 pm

Re: Lead hardness

Post by TJLeGault »

I have been shooting Shiloh 63 carbines in competition for at least thirty five years and I use soft lead the same as in my .58 cal muskets.
I use 43 grains of 3f Old Ensford with a Hahn tube.
I've used hard lead in the carbine and see no real difference in accuracy which is exceptional with either.
Best of Luck
Tom
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VenisonRX
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:29 am
Location: Mayflower, Arkansas

Re: Lead hardness

Post by VenisonRX »

Tom, what caliber are your carbines and what bullets are you using? curious if different calibers or bullets make a difference with that. Mine is a .54 and I’ve been getting good enough accuracy with whatever hardness wheel weights get me that I’ve never tried anything else. Im using the clone of the CS Richmond bullet that Eras gone put out and Lee makes. I like it because it’s pretty easy to roll cartridges for. I can’t claim it’ll win any awards. I shoot this just for fun and it was my first sharps and shiloh. But hardness hasn’t made a practical difference for me.
—Tom
TJLeGault
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:21 pm

Re: Lead hardness

Post by TJLeGault »

Sorry to post this so late but I just saw your question.
My carbines are all .54 caliber. I use the Moose mold 544-480
I use soft lead, although I have, in the past, used wheel weight lead, haven't really notice a difference in accuracy.
I use 43 grs of 3f Goex Old Eynsford. Since OE is not available anymore I have been testing Schutzen or Swiss. Both seem to perform ok.
I tried the Eras Gone confederate sharps round and have never been able to get it to shoot.
I used to roll paper cartridges but when the Hahn tube came out it made that method obsolete for me because I shoot so many rounds in a season of competition with the N-SSA it became the most efficient method for me. I can post some picture of my process with the tubes if you would like.
PM me if you would like.
Regards
Tom
George Babits
Posts: 448
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:53 am

Re: Lead hardness

Post by George Babits »

I've always used pure lead, but that is because I am using the Lyman 54 caliber minie bullet. It works quite well and is a good bit lighter than the ring tail bullets. Also, I can cover the grease grooves when I roll the paper cartridge which keeps the dirt off the lube. I use this in both a Shiloh infantry rifle and an original carbine.

George
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