Lead Substitutes for BP Bullets

[Timthinker]

Recently, I have read about lead substitutes for modern cartridge ammo, but I do not recall any mention of these substitutes for muzzleloaders. Has anyone seen this discussion applied to BP firearms? If so, what were the findings?

No doubt, some of this "green" ammo, which has been considered more environmentally friendly than its lead counterparts, could be fired from inline rifles in sabots. But this leaves aside the issue of lead substitutes for caplock revolvers. As I stated earlier, this is a topic that I have not seen addressed by muzzleloading enthusiasts. Hopefully, some of our members can shed some light on this matter.


Timthinker

 

[Imaginos]

When bismuth first came out, I attempted to fnd out if it wa suitable as a replacement for lead, but the consensus at the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association was that it was not.

For use in revolvers, everything would depend on how much shrinkage occurs when it cools after casting and how hard it it would be to force into the chambers. If the material chosen is too hard, it will cause excessive wear on the loading lever, chamber mouths, and barrel. SAo far, nothing I have found beats lead, but I'm sure there is some material out there.

 

[Misfire99]

I saw an add for some shotgun shells that had spices for shot. You shot your bird with the spices you were going to cook them in. No kidding it's out there for sale now. I wonder what kind of pattern they have and how much energy transfer they have.

 

[K.A.T.]

Misfire, I would like to see a Gobbler grazed in the but (slightly hit) with a load of Cayenne Pepper shot.I'm sorry that would be mean.

 

[Bezoar]

current lead alternatives:

bismuth
steel
copper plated lead
tungsten?
solid copper shotgun slugs

te only ones that would NOT damage the barrel would be copper plated lead bullets, they made those for a few years but stopped doing so as far as i can tell. The other alternatives would kill your chambers and forcing cone and barrel as already mentioned. They are just too hard on steel, thats why those loads MUST be in nice fancy plastic shotcups to keep the barrel safe.

There was a company that was supposed to introduce plastic bullets containing metal powder such as lead, steel, tungsten, etc. that were supposed to be eco friendly as well as actually BETTER then lead or fmj ammo.

 

[ED21]

current lead alternatives:

bismuth
steel
copper plated lead
tungsten?
solid copper shotgun slugs

Left out gold

 

[Gewehr98]

Yup.

Gold's soft and would obturate in the bore better at BP velocities and pressures.

 

[Mike_In_BC]

What about silver? Lone ranger style? Plus it would work well on loup-garou!

 

[jojosdad]

Loup -garou!
Werewolf?
There wolf!

 

[Shotgun Willy]

lacks punch

Sorry but I've just got to say that "Fill him full of bismuth" just lacks the punch!
Fill him full of gold or silver? Please!
Bill

 

[Mike_In_BC]

Yeah loup-garou! is our canadian version of werewolf. Much scarier, I think he lives in montreal.

 

[mykeal]

My wife's uncle, a former Windsor city councilman, claims he lives in Ottawa.

 

[davinci]

if you're shooting gold, you'd better hope you've got a fairly small pattern and you're a darned good shot so you can retrieve some of it.

 

[Novus Collectus]

How about tin?