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.

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

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...

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.

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

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

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

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