There was a TV episode a while ago that was looking to cast silver bullets. As a precaution, for obvious reasons. Or Lone Ranger work.
It was done on Mythbusters. Poorly. And all their fault.
The problem was the bullet shrank a bit in the mold. Metal shrinks. You'd think they'd know that. It also undoubtedly had air bubbles in it as if not melted in a oxygen free atmosphere, silver will suck O2 into itself. But casting isn't my strong point. I do know that Mythbusters is behind me on the casting power curve.
I was thinking, because of misshapen and shrunken end result, that casting a bullet oversize and turning it down to proper size on a small lathe would have done the trick. I wonder why Mythbusters didn't think this? Maybe they had but there are only so much time and resources to devote to a episode's project.
Other bloggers have had better luck.
But sheesh, a little machinist work and you'd have a great bullet, Hollywood.
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5 comments:
I always take deep well hallow point ammo and simply fill the tip with molten silver.
In fact you can buy jewelers pure silver wire and melt it directly into the depression with a small torch.
Don't forget to touch up the tip with a file after it cools.
Spoke with a hobbiest jeweler. He uses a mold in a centrifuge to cast rings. He claims that solves the wrinkle problem. another hobbiest told me he would tie his mold to a rope and swing it around. I get the concept but can't bring myself to try it.
Perhaps Swaging might work?
You have to remember, the Mythbusters are not specialists in what they attempt. They make an honest effort with better than average budget, skills, tools, and access to experts, but they are not experts in what they are attempting.
That said they do make an honest attempt to demonstrate real science, and what I think they demonstrated there is to make a true workable silver bullet is no small feat.
Even easier, just buy silver shot (meant to be melted down for casting) and load in shot shells. Or cast your own buck shot and don't worry about a bit of shrinkage :)
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