Hard Cast lead bullets

[Bigmedcin]

Question for African hunters, Do you or know of any, using hard cast lead on any animals 9.3, 375 or 40s.

I have used lead bullets on some north American game over the years, just wonder what the concusses is on using them on the larger African game, is it aloud?


cheers

 

[sgt_zim]

I've had good results with lead alloy in my 45-70, Beartooth Bullets. But they're out of business.

Problem with any lead/lead alloy bullet is going to be velocity relative to BNH. BTB owner came up with a pretty good alloy and they don't deform much, and don't appear to fragment, either - BNH of about 21 or 22. Bullets are .459" diameter, with a 0.37" meplat - they are Wide Flat Nose, Gas Checked. Don't know how many deer and pigs I've killed with them, but I've never recovered one, and the exit hole (other than when I hit shoulder) is never much larger than the entrance. There's nothing other than dangerous game I wouldn't hunt with those, but I'm only pushing them both (425 gr and 525 gr) at a little over 1600 fps; and I'd probably only use them inside about 150 yards.

I'm not sure it would be a good idea with anything in those calibers - even a slow 9.3 or 40 cal is going to be at least 500 fps faster than what I'm shooting out of my 45-70, and 375 will be sneaking up on 1000 fps faster.

Soft lead bullets fired by 45-70 at the original velocities (around 1300 - 1350 fps) in the late 19th century were effective on bison because of a peculiarity of bison anatomy - their lungs are connected, so all you had to do was penetrate deep enough to put a hole in 1 lung and it would cause both lungs to deflate.

 

[Bigmedcin]

I've had good results with lead alloy in my 45-70, Beartooth Bullets. But they're out of business.

Problem with any lead/lead alloy bullet is going to be velocity relative to BNH. BTB owner came up with a pretty good alloy and they don't deform much, and don't appear to fragment, either - BNH of about 21 or 22. Bullets are .459" diameter, with a 0.37" meplat - they are Wide Flat Nose, Gas Checked. Don't know how many deer and pigs I've killed with them, but I've never recovered one, and the exit hole (other than when I hit shoulder) is never much larger than the entrance. There's nothing other than dangerous game I wouldn't hunt with those, but I'm only pushing them both (425 gr and 525 gr) at a little over 1600 fps; and I'd probably only use them inside about 150 yards.

I'm not sure it would be a good idea with anything in those calibers - even a slow 9.3 or 40 cal is going to be at least 500 fps faster than what I'm shooting out of my 45-70, and 375 will be sneaking up on 1000 fps faster.

Soft lead bullets fired by 45-70 at the original velocities (around 1300 - 1350 fps) in the late 19th century were effective on bison because of a peculiarity of bison anatomy - their lungs are connected, so all you had to do was penetrate deep enough to put a hole in 1 lung and it would cause both lungs to deflate.

Agreed, The lead both hard cast and pure, have taken game for hundreds of years. Elk I have taken with pure lead 58 cal round ball under 100 yards would be found in the off side under the hide .
Elk I have shot with the 45-70 were with my own cast 418gr at 1700fps, but not overly hard around 14-17 with my testing, I have not recovered one of those both pass throughs but I know they expanded well in test media such as water and wet paper. I use that mix with 38-55 260 gr and 45 colt 318gr in rifles at 1700fps for the 38-55 and 1500fps for the 45 colt as well. (all powder coated)

I think my curiosity was more for African game hunters and what their limitations or regulations are on such bullets, I know back in the day Lead was all they had in Africa (well, anywhere for that matter) also used on all dangerous game, I wonder if it is still used and what's the performance?
Many manufactures obviously push their very expensive bonded and solid bullets and market that you can or should, use nothing less! as you know a well made cast bullet with proper alloy will smash bone and drive a straight line in just about anything that breaths.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Meplat and Momentum are surefire ways to touch game.
I think that people still use lead here and there in a black powder setting, but with the cost of a lost animal, it's going to be a loud and easy argument in favor of a .375 TSX, A Frame or Raptor.