Harder or Softer Roundball?

[Sharp Shooter]

What would you rather shoot? A softer roundball that would expand or a harder roundball that would stay it's shape a little more and get more penetration? For antelope and deer I am thinking a softer ball would work well. For elk I might want a harder ball for penetration.

Now, doese anyone know of any balls that are harder or softer than eachother? I know Buffalo makes a really soft roundball but is it softer than Speer or Hornady? They all claim that they make them out of pure lead.

[jaybe]

From my experience, which is admittedly limted, when it comes to roundballs, shot placement makes a BIG difference. I shot a deer at about 50 yards, hitting it behind the shoulder, and had good expansion and penetration. Another one at roughly the same distance I shot at a quartering-to angle. This ball went through the shoulder blade, then broke into at least 4 pieces. Enough got into the "boiler room" to do the job, but the difference in terminal performance was amazing.
I don't know how much difference there is in hardness of lead balls, but IMO I would opt for a little more penetration than risk fragmentation from a too soft ball.

IM jaybe

[cayugad]

I always shoot a pure lead roundball. I want that roundball to engrave to the rifling on the way out. There is no advantage I can see for shooting a hard roundball. If it is penetration your after the pure lead one will do the job just fine.

I want that roundball to penetrate and then when it hits something start to flatten out and bounce around. A hard one will just poke a hole through the animal.

Also when shooting conicals, you want pure lead also. Otherwise you can tend to lead the bore of the rifle up a lot faster...

[Sharp Shooter]

I think that a Hornady, Speer, Buffalo, or a good cast roundball would to the job. I think Hornady's are about right... soft, but not too soft. I am going to shoot some sand and wood and see what happens.

[lemoyne]

Well good luck on the harder RB's I tried that years a go the harder they are the quicker they cut up the patch. Lee

[jaybe]

The RB that I had break apart was a Speer .490 ahead of 90 grains of RS. It may have been a fluke, and as I said, it was only one of two deer I had shot with one - not really enough evidence to form a solid opinion.

IM jaybe

[Sharp Shooter]

I think I will just use a Hornady. They work great for many people.

[lemoyne]

Sharp Shooter,Good choiceHornsdy and Speer is what I ended up with when I don't cast my own,I interchage them freely with out any problem. Lee