Where to Buy Round Balls?

[GrampaMike]

Where is a good place to buy round balls?  Right now I need .395 balls.  I would appreciate any info.  Thanks, Mike.

[crow_feather]

GrampaMike,

Where I live, .395 balls are a little harder to find than the .440's, .490's, or .530's.  I would suggest you check out some of the larger gun stores in your area, or get on the net for a ton of different black powder supply companies.  Just type "black powder supplies" or "black powder equipment" in your search engine.

Best of luck,

C F

[flintlock]

Mike...I've got a couple of hundred....here in NC...Don't know if you've
ever run your own...but the smaller balls are about as easy as it gets...
I use a Rapine Primitive bullet mould .390 for my .40 cal and .530 for my .54...just a thought...Rapines number is 215-679-5413
As long as you have a source of lead and a gas grill, or Coleman stove...
you never have to worry about having plenty in stock....flintlock

PS...Dixie Gun Works...800-238-6785 also sells balls in various sized.

[GrampaMike]

Thanks Crow-Feather and Flintlock.

I wish I had some larger gun stores in my area.  I have found alot of online stores.  I was just wondering if there was a "forum favorite / recommended / sponsor" company for good quality and service.

I would like to learn how to make my own.  I do not know anyone, so I will have to learn from a book (any recommendations)?

Thanks again.

[crow_feather]

For a book, I would go with anything by Lyman, Fadala, or Bridges.

For mail order, there is Northern Rifleman, Dixie, Track of the Wolf, Deer Creek Products, Graf and Son, Midway, and sooo many others, I have named only a few.  All will do you well - I sorta like the guys at Track of the Wolf and Deer Creek Products and Northern Rifleman.

C F

[lostid]

I live near Track of the Wolf and they are great guys.
  I've done business with Dixie and Deer Creek, all three are reliable,fast shipping and back the product.
 when it comes to lead, shipping is the big cost factor(ouch!)

 Wait a day or two if ya can,,I'm going to town ta buy powder and lead myself,,I'll check cost and weight of a box of speer .395,maybe I can save ya a buckrtwo.

[GrampaMike]

Thanks Crow Feather & LostID.

Will order the book(s) first, find out some of what I don't know.
No hurry, waited 54 years to get this far.  

Mike.

[S.S.]

Nothing to Casting your own, if you mess up you
just drop it back in the melting pot. I use an old Iron Skillet
and a coleman stove for melting. A regular old lead Ladle
for dipping, A brass hammer for tapping
the sprew cutter and an old folded towel for the new bullets to fall on.
Here is how I do it starting after the lead is in the pot and melted.
First you need clean metal so you need to "flux" it. I do this by
gently dropping about a 1 inch square of Canning wax into the melted
lead and stir with your ladle. (most grocery stores have this wax). The wax will bond to the impurities and bring them to the top as a Black
sludge. Scrape this sludge off with your ladle and carefully discard it. You may have to do the wax treatment a couple of times,
but you want shiny metal to work with. That is all the preparation
I do to my lead. Then you should be ready to pour your lead
from your ladle to your mold. Pour Slowly but don't stop
when you see lead getting to the top of the mould cavity.
you want a small bead of lead left on the top of your mould.
This is because as the bullet cools it will "Suck" more lead into the
mold. If you did not leave a bead of lead on your mold you will have
a hollow area in your bullet base. Some people pre-heat their
Molds also. I don't, I simply cast a few "Bad Apples" first and
add them back to the pot. This normally will heat my mold
enough.  Give your bullet a few seconds to harden and then
tap your sprue cutter to the side to shear the sprue. Open your
mold over the towel and allow the bullet to fall on to it.
If it doesn't fall out, DON"T SHAKE IT BACK AND FORTH.
Take your sprue hammer and tap the Screw head on the
screw that holds your mould handles together. It should
then fall out. I keep a pair of forcepts handy to pick up and
inspect bullets as they fall out of the mold. If the bullet
has Wrinkles in it, Your mold is too cool. If your bullet has
a frosted look to it, Your mould has gotten too hot. Just right
will be obvious.

WARNINGS **********
1: The hazzards of handling Molten lead should be obvious, Burns & such.
2: The Vapors are harmful for more reasons than one so PROPER  
    VENTILATION is a must. Work outside if possible.
3: A lot of people have learned this on the hard way!  Molten Lead
    and Moisture to not mix! Avoid reaching over the molten lead
    because sweat drops falling from you will do nasty things when they
    hit the molten lead.
4: wear Eye protection always
5: Never cut your sprue over the melting pot as a splash will occour.
    Do it over the towel. Once cooled, drop your bad bullets and sprue into
    your lead ladle and gently add it back to the pot.

Hope that helps

[GrampaMike]

S. Sumner

Thanks for all the information (and typing).  I printed off your post to put in my "Black Powder Muzzle Loading Notebook" that I just started.  

Is there a good brand of lead molds to look for?

Thank you for all the good advice, this is a great site.

Mike

[S.S.]

I like the Lee Molds (Aluminum Alloy) myself, they seem to stay at the right temperature easier.  I also have old brass molds that work
real well if you just want to mold a few shots worth, but they get really hot really quick! There are probably some really good molds on the market now, I have not bought one in a while. Some of the other folks may know some good ones.

[Thomas Krupinski]

Mike,

You won't go wrong with the Lee aluminum moulds.  For roundballs I have both the Lee and some old out of production Thompson Center aluminum moulds.  The T/C ones have a long sprue on the ball and the Lee do not.  Both cast very easy.

My advise is to get the Lee mould(s) and cast your own.  But instead of a brass hammer to break the sprue cutter use a piece of wood like a small club or thick dowel to knock the sprue cutter with.

[flintlock]

Mike...If you like to read...pickup Foxfire 5....it has a section on flintlock rifles  
in there...can pick up some more info....If you weren't able to locate those .395 balls...let me know I can ship you 50 or so....Just pm me with an address and I'll drop in mail on Monday....flintlock

[lostid]

grandpamike,,maybe take flintlock up on his offer,,or check yer PM..

Hee,heee,heeee,, :lol:

attaboy flintlock, ya ole rock tosser,,that's traditional bp. ya knows one when ya see one,
 best wishes too all,,,,,,

[GrampaMike]

Thanks for the thoughtful offers.  

I would have taken you up on it except I did find some .395 today at a gun shop a little over a hour away.  They are Hornady, but they were $7.49 a box.  They had 4 boxes left, so I bought all 4.  

I did buy one book there... Sam Fadala, "Blackpowder Loading Manual".  Did not see any on casting.  I do have a good library nearby, will try them.

I know now that I have found the right kind of people.

Thanks Again.

[GrampaMike]

lostid...

I tried to pm you, it was invalid_session.  I then sent you a email, but it was also bounced back to me.  Will try resending ...

[wiley]

ww.warrenmuzzleloading.com

[wiley]

www.warrenmuzzleloading.com

[lostid]

Sorry mike my e-addy ends with a  .net  not a .com (oop's)

 Here's a good tip,,go to the member list up top. Enter "mamaflinter" no spaces,,go to the profile then click on her web site.  She has done a great job explaining and posting links!! A ton! of info.

"Beginners Guide to muzzleloading" isn't just for beginners,,the link's alone are pricless. I'm gonna be busy this week and might only check in once or twice later on,so best wishes all and have fun shootin,,make much smoke!  an hit yer mark:D

[AndyHass]

I had good experiences with Dixie.  I've always wanted to make my own though.  As mentioned, beware the dangers of working with molten lead and its fumes.  Working outside is a start....having a fan blowing away from you at the same time is never a bad idea.  NASTY, NASTY stuff!