Slinging.org Forum - Cast Lead Sling bullets

Ahnkochee

Tiro

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Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 26
Ko`olaupoko, Hawai`i
Gender: male

Cast Lead Sling bullets
Aug 20^th, 2024 at 3:09am

Anyone here make their own cast lead sling bullets? Back over 50 years ago my dad had a gill net making business here in Hawaiʻi. My job to help him out was to melt down old used wheel weights from the tire shop, and cast them in molds into net weights for the lead line of these nets. I would all day melting, and pouring lead into molds. I could cast a several hundred in a day.
The other day I was looking for something in my workshop when in the back corner of the shop I spotted an old bucket, and in it was several hundred net weights I had made over 50 years earlier. They weigh in at 27 grams, are about an inch long, and 3/4" in diameter, with a 1/4 hole running down the center length of each weight. I had a brain storm that these might make decent sling bullets. Is 27 grams too light? Iʻm guess due to small size, not the best ammo for a Balearic style, but maybe a pouch style sling maybe better at holding these? Anyways, hereʻs what they look like.

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Sling_Ammo_Cast_Lead_mini.jpg (53 KB | 24 )

He then took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the streambed and placed them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, and his sling was in his hand. And he began approaching the Philistine. David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  David thrust his hand into his bag and took a stone from there and slung it. He struck the Philistine in the forehead...

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xud9a - call me zud 👍 Funditor Offline Ringing Slocks ! Posts: 717 Nottinghamshire, England Gender:	Re: Cast Lead Sling bullets Reply #1 - Aug 20^th, 2024 at 6:23am I would say you have almost perfect (free) ammo there. After rocks and balls, lead is a game changer. Only downside is, unless you construct or have access to a suitable "butts" you will lose, more or less, 100% of your ammo. Have amazingly good fun.
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Thearos Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Take that Posts: 3417	Re: Cast Lead Sling bullets Reply #2 - Aug 20^th, 2024 at 9:11am 27 grams is well within the range of historical lead sling bullets from Greco-roman antiquity, I believe.
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Foresight17 Descens Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Cast Lead Sling bullets Reply #3 - Aug 29^th, 2024 at 11:01pm Hey brother, 👋 Yes 27 grams will work fine. I actually spent a couple of hours going through the British museums online catalog of historical sling bullets in their collection and found that the majority is between 27-44 grams. So 27 is light, but perfectly historically accurate 👍
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Q Junior Member Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 51 Gender:	Re: Cast Lead Sling bullets Reply #4 - Aug 30^th, 2024 at 4:41am Those are fine. I also cast my own, but fishing sinkers. Also in Hawai'i
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Ahnkochee

Tiro

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 26
Ko`olaupoko, Hawai`i
Gender: male

Re: Cast Lead Sling bullets
Reply #5 - Sep 4^th, 2024 at 8:54am

Q wrote on Aug 30^th, 2024 at 4:41am:

Those are fine.

I also cast my own, but fishing sinkers.

Also in Hawai'i

Aloha, what island and town, if you don't mind me asking. I'm in Kailua, on O'ahu.

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He then took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the streambed and placed them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, and his sling was in his hand. And he began approaching the Philistine. David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  David thrust his hand into his bag and took a stone from there and slung it. He struck the Philistine in the forehead...

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