wow that's seriously pointy !
We're talking major damage here.

If we're going for pure conjecture (my favourite kind of history lol)
I'd say the bronze glandes would have only been used by the sharpshooters.
That's definitely the equivalent of a modern snipers round !

I don't think a lead and copper alloy would work due to the very different melting points.  The lead would be turning into gas long before the copper melted.  Maybe another metal?  Antimony, maybe?  Bill

Bill Skinner wrote on Mar 28^th, 2011 at 8:57pm:


Wiki says lead has a melting point of 327 C while copper 1084 C.Lead has a boiling point of 1749 C,so it should stay a liquid at the casting temperature.I'm planning some bronze casting and I'll probably test this lead-copper alloy too.Is there any metal denser than copper except tungsten,lead,gold and rare metals? Mixing 50-50 lead and copper would get some nice hard,and heavy projectiles,if I'm imagining correctly

Masiakasaurus wrote on Mar 29^th, 2011 at 10:57am:


Thanks,so it's possible to alloy copper and lead.If i'm casting some.i'll surely post some pics.

Mauro Fiorentini wrote on Mar 30^th, 2011 at 4:43pm:

Agreed,those archaeologist probably did never use a sling,or not familiar with the shape of sling bullets...Is there any info of it's weight?

Jlasud, I just read about your willings to melt bronze;
if you're in need of help, ask away, I've been melting bronze for years using Recent Bronze Age technology 
For example, your mixture of 50% copper with 50% lead is incorrect; I'd suggest a maximum of 30% lead, which is yet one of the highest percentage.
The bullet depicted in the photo, for example, must have less than 20% lead, judging by its patina and its preservation status.
Greetings,
Mauro.

Mauro Fiorentini wrote on May 6^th, 2011 at 5:43pm:


Thanks Mauro! currently i'm working on the bag bellows,but as i get to the business,and have questions,you'll be among the first to ask from. What would happen if i'd mix 50-50 lead and copper? would it mix properly,or what could go wrong?

jlasud wrote on May 8^th, 2011 at 6:18am:

You're welcome! It's always a pleasure to help!

jlasud wrote on May 8^th, 2011 at 6:18am:

Actually, that is not a dangerous mixture: it will work and everything.
I assume that you're putting 50% lead because you want the copper to melt quickly. If I'm right, know that even a very small amount of lead will reach this objective. As I can remember from findings, and as I've experimented, the minimum amount of lead is about 6%. This will make a very hard bronze tool, such as a chisel, for example.
Higher amount of lead means that the item will be more fragile, but even easier to work - for example, bronze axes generally had about 10-12% lead in them, because they had to be hammered on the edge: with less than 10% lead, hammering would be very dangerous, because it would eventually break the edge. On the other side, muscolar armors, or some types of helmets, had a higher percentage of lead, 15% or more, because they had an elaborate design and it was hard to achieve it, using less lead. In fact, these kind of protections were particularly weak against pierces, and were mainly used for triumphs and decorations.

Back to your mixture, I consider it incorrect just because it would be a waste of lead: such a high amount of it would be useless, you'd better cast a whole-lead bullet, then.
I don't know the difference between a bronze and a lead sling bullet, but I think that a bronze one would be harder, and, for example, would not deformate when it hit a shield - it would surely pierce an iron helmet. It should even weight less than a lead one, and may go farther. But these are suppositions; I suggest you to use the chisel percentage, 6%, at the beginning, and then augment it.

You're involving yourself in a very exciting research project; I envy you!
Can you share some pictures of your bellows??
Thank you, and good work!
Mauro.