Author Topic: Shot my .54 Hawken with R.E.A.L'.s (Read 818 times)

PJ · « **on:** May 10, 2003, 05:11:26 PM »

It loved them 120grs of Clean Shot and a 380gr REAL,sure shot good @50yrds groups were 1".Moved to 75yrds groups 1.5" I plain on using this for blackbear this year should put a hurt on them.

simonkenton · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2003, 04:14:51 AM »

That should be one of the best black bear loads ever devised.

Robert · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2003, 08:08:36 AM »

I want to hear more about this. I took my old 50 to a party yesterday up on Mt Adams. Some folks were re-newing theit wedding vows and Ye-hawing it up. There was another group of people camping close with a bunch of kids though, so we never torched it off. We still have it packed in the trunk, along wih my old cannon, and I definately have the itch, so maybe we will go try some of these new balls today. Hey Paul...You ought to get a mini-ball mold for that thing, at least a round ball. Round balls are the easiest thing to learn to start casting, and for just target shooting, I think wheel weights will work just fine. I am not sure, but I beleive that most people use pure lead just so they will expand a little on game. I have used W.W. balls in my 50 and havent seen any difference, but there may be a reason I dont know of. Not to worry though..if you get the molds, I have an ample supply of plumbers lead as well.
Hey, keep you eyes open as you are passing old houses that are being worked on. If they have a pile of old cast iron sewer pipe in the yard, there is a usually more than a pound of pure lead in each joint. Make sure to wear gloves though, the insides of these pipes is gross. Just beat on the joints with a large hammer and it breaks up easy.
Most people will give it to you for free if you agree dispose of the pipes for them.

PJ · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2003, 08:48:12 AM »

I have the REAL mold but,don't know how to mold to good.Bullets looked ok well some did

They sure shot good I used wheel weights.

River runner · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2003, 12:45:19 PM »

Every now and then I see where some of the folks are using wheel weights in their muzzle loaders, I know of no better way to fill those grooves with hard to get out leading in a muzzle loader than to use anything but pure lead. Don't know why this is, but it is, and it adversely affects accuracy, those old smoke poles were designed for lead, the purer the better. Now if someone can convince me I'm wrong I'm all ears. Now for the smokeless loads they seem to work ok as long as you keep your velocities up a bit. RR :grin:

PJ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2003, 02:06:52 PM »

OH......OK

Thanks for the info.

River runner · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2003, 05:31:20 PM »

PJ, just saying if your accuracy goes south, it may very well be due to leading from those wheel weights. I went that route with my Sharps, using wheel weights, worked fine for a while then using the same load (BP) I couldn't hit the proverbial barn door. Went so far as to take the rifle to my local gunsmith, who quickly diagnosed the problem, had something to do with the antimony in the wheel weights, lead and tin (in very limited amounts) is supposed to be ok, but when ya get into the antimony and other contents in WW ya start to have problems, or so I'm told. RR

PJ · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2003, 07:51:10 PM »

I did't mean to sound like an ass.Some guy on here PM'ed me saying I was full of SH_ _! That I got 1" groups @ 50 yards using the R.E.A.L.'s made of wheel weights.Thank you for the info. I will try some pure lead.And leave the WW's for my 44Mag.