Being a cast bullet shooter for years, I was wondering if the same velocity issues with cast bullets and center fire cartridges applies to black powder?
The same detail applies to either smokeless or black powder. Lead is lead, even when enhanced with the addition of tin, or other modifiers like antimony. Pure lead will usually begin sticking to the barrel wall at 1200 FPS, adding up to 5% tin brings the velocity up to perhaps 1450 FPS, using linotype gets it up to 1750 or so but of course will not expand in game. Using a paper patch will get you up to 2000 FPS but the barrel must be cleaned every shot or the residues will tear the paper off when loading. Plastic has the same problems as lead. It gums up the barrel bore at even lower velocities than lead. Sabots are usually made of polypropylene, which can be made very soft or hard depending on ingredients, Most sabots are pretty soft, so they will load easily, some are harder and will stand higher velocity, but can be very difficult to load. Cleaning the barrel between shots always helps, at least a little, but is not what you do when hunting. Adding a gas check is useful to prevent g
