03/15/08 - Range Report
.40cal Flintlock using hard rubber ”˜LEO’ practice balls to see how they’d perform as a possible lead ball substitute if lead became very expensive, unavailable, banned, etc.
ӢThese hard rubber balls are a perfect match for a .40cal muzzleloader...not pretty close to perfect, not close enough to perfect...they are a perfect match for a .40cal rifle!
”¢The balls only weigh 15 grains and are made of what I call “dead” rubber...no bounce, very safe.
”¢They’re listed as .43cal but mic .410” and are very consistent in diameter.
”¢Can almost thumb start them with a .015” patch in my GM .40cal but not quite...they compress enough and start fine with a short starter and are a good snug fit, seat down like a regular PRB.
ӢTested with 30grns Goex 3F at 25yds, sitting in a chair with my off elbow braced down on my side...very accurate and consistent...target has 50 shots through it.
Also, somebody had left a couple 1/4 empty 16oz bottles of mountain dew at the range, so I set them up at 25yds, and the balls went through the front plastic walls, through the liquid, and made outward projecting star-bursts of plastic on the back side walls but evidently didn’t have quite enough ”˜oomph’ to get on through and the balls stayed inside the bottles so I was able to retrieve them both”¦they are in the photo...still in just as pristine a condition as brand new in spite of having been fired and punching through a bottle of liquid.
At only 15grns and made of no-bounce dead rubber, these are outstanding for close range practice at a range, in your back yard, etc...and could easily be captured in a home made or commercial bullet trap like those made for .22cals...and based on the lack of any signs these two had been fired from a rifle and gone through drink bottles, my assumption is that they could be reused virtually indefinitely.
Website for the hard rubber balls...scroll down mid way....bags of .68cal & .43cal sizes shown.
http://ecom.udomain.com.hk/product.php?clientID=229&langID=1&productCatID=1874
.40cal Flintlock using hard rubber ”˜LEO’ practice balls to see how they’d perform as a possible lead ball substitute if lead became very expensive, unavailable, banned, etc.
ӢThese hard rubber balls are a perfect match for a .40cal muzzleloader...not pretty close to perfect, not close enough to perfect...they are a perfect match for a .40cal rifle!
”¢The balls only weigh 15 grains and are made of what I call “dead” rubber...no bounce, very safe.
”¢They’re listed as .43cal but mic .410” and are very consistent in diameter.
”¢Can almost thumb start them with a .015” patch in my GM .40cal but not quite...they compress enough and start fine with a short starter and are a good snug fit, seat down like a regular PRB.
ӢTested with 30grns Goex 3F at 25yds, sitting in a chair with my off elbow braced down on my side...very accurate and consistent...target has 50 shots through it.
Also, somebody had left a couple 1/4 empty 16oz bottles of mountain dew at the range, so I set them up at 25yds, and the balls went through the front plastic walls, through the liquid, and made outward projecting star-bursts of plastic on the back side walls but evidently didn’t have quite enough ”˜oomph’ to get on through and the balls stayed inside the bottles so I was able to retrieve them both”¦they are in the photo...still in just as pristine a condition as brand new in spite of having been fired and punching through a bottle of liquid.
At only 15grns and made of no-bounce dead rubber, these are outstanding for close range practice at a range, in your back yard, etc...and could easily be captured in a home made or commercial bullet trap like those made for .22cals...and based on the lack of any signs these two had been fired from a rifle and gone through drink bottles, my assumption is that they could be reused virtually indefinitely.
Website for the hard rubber balls...scroll down mid way....bags of .68cal & .43cal sizes shown.
http://ecom.udomain.com.hk/product.php?clientID=229&langID=1&productCatID=1874
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