While going through my huge stack of old Muzzle Blast magazines I recently acquired I found a feature article from May, 1964 entitled "Round balls that Explode".
A gentleman by the name of George Huebner, Lyman's design engineer invented this and I am looking to see if anyone has heard of it and is it really safe to use?
He took a pure lead .45 caliber round ball and drilled a 1/4-inch deep hole in the sprue using a #11 drill bit. He then inserted in the hole a drop or two from an eyedropper into the hole and installed a gas check over the hole to retain the water. The results were to say the least impressive, 3 results stand out: 1. penetration of the hydraulic-balls is slightly less than the regular balls, 2. the expansion of the hydraulic-balls is very much greater than the regular balls and it takes place at a much lower powder charges, 3. much greater deformity and fragmentation of the hydraulic balls.
I am including 3 photos from the article. The one that stands out the most is when he shot through solid wax blocks. The normal ball exited with a 7/8-inch hole (about normal) the hydraulic-ball exited with a 2 1/2-inch hole (impressive).
A little help here please.
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT IN ANY WAY SUGGESTING ANYONE DO OR TRY THIS!