Casting for Inlines

[Swampman]

In the interest of economy and self suffciency I'm thinking about getting a .50 caliber mold. The Lee Real Bullet & the Lee Modern Minne moulds seem very reasonably priced. I've cast bullets & round balls for my traditional guns. These would be used in my 700ML, Omega, and my MK-85.

The Lee Modern Minnie weighs about the same as the Hornady FPB. I've heard the Real Bullets work well in the fast twist barrel???

Have any of you had any luck with these bullets in fast twist barrels? Any other suggestions?

[mechanic]

Swampman,

I use the Lee REAL mold in my 50 cal. (320) grn. with good success.  I lube with wonderlube or Crisco.  The only problem is that you have to push them fast enough or they will tumble.  I shoot loose powder, 85 grns.,  I get 1.5" avg. groups at 100 yds. from a 1 in 28 twist barrel.  I tried them in my traditional with a 1 in 48 with poor results. 

I drop in water and use them just as they come from the mold, with lube added of course.
Ben

[1sourdough]

 I have molded & used the Lee REAL mold with 320grn bullets. They shot pretty good in my Knight. I hunted one season with them & took one deer. One thing to keep in mind is you need to keep them tight on the powder once loaded. After they slide down the barrel they are not as tight in the bore as a sabot. Some teflon tape helps & I would keep the barrel up & check it once in awhile until I was sure. Using pure lead(soft) is also the way to go. A 'Minnie' with a bunch of fine ridges would also work well I think.

  I have also molded 44cal lead handgun bullets & put them in a sabot for the M-L. These were double duty bullets as I also loaded them in the 44spcl/mag. They did fine on the one deer I shot with one.

[mechanic]

I've not had the problem Sourdough has about the bullet being loose.  Mine gripped good and tight as they were seated.  Perhaps a little difference in bore dia. or mold tolerance.  I don't size them, and lube them with bore butter.

[mcgiiver]

The Lee Modern Minie is a target bullet which will not tolerate heavy charges needed for hunting large game. They are accurate in my inline with 1:24 twist but only at charges of 40-45 grains equiv. of Pyrodex P. Above that the skirts start to blow out ruining accuracy. They work ok for deer.

[mechanic]

The Lee Modern Minie is a target bullet which will not tolerate heavy charges needed for hunting large game. They are accurate in my inline with 1:24 twist but only at charges of 40-45 grains equiv. of Pyrodex P. Above that the skirts start to blow out ruining accuracy. They work ok for deer.

We must use different molds.  Mine has three lands which grab the rifling.  Is not shaped like a traditional minie.....

[roostertail]

I also have an Omega.  I cast my own T.C. maxi balls for my flintlock.  I tried these in my Omega with 100 grains powder and with Hornady FPB, also 100 grains.  They shot within inches of eachother, but the Maxiballs shot a tighter group.   Had no tumbling problems.  My son shoots a CVA Wolf.  We get some that keyhole out of that gun.



















hornady

[Cheesehead]

I do the same as 1sourdough. I have a quantity of cast bullets for 44 mag 45 Colt and 45-70 that work double duty in my Savage 10. Some of the cast are store bought and some home made. Full bore bullets are not recomended for the Savage since it is desgned for sabots. Home made bullets are the way to go for me since I get the ww lead for FREE.

Cheese

[gunoil]

going to get a lee real mold fore my rem700 54cal  thanking about the 300gr.. is there a easy way to lube them lube the 320 gr fore a 50cal. got more on me than the bullet thanks WORM

[mcgiiver]

The Lee Modern Minie is a target bullet which will not tolerate heavy charges needed for hunting large game. They are accurate in my inline with 1:24 twist but only at charges of 40-45 grains equiv. of Pyrodex P. Above that the skirts start to blow out ruining accuracy. They work ok for deer.

We must use different molds.  Mine has three lands which grab the rifling.  Is not shaped like a traditional minie.....

I am thinking what you have is the Lee Improved Minie, its sort of like the Traditional Minie, but more snub nosed. The Modern Mine is hard to mistake, its very square in the nose and has about twenty fine grease grooves.

[dean51]

 I just got a lee minie mold,3 grooves 360gr. I am using liquid alox tumbled twice ,Will this be enough lube or should I go with a different kind?  It will be used for deer hunting max 75 yards any ideas as to a good pyrodex load? Thank you

[mechanic]

I just got a lee minie mold,3 grooves 360gr. I am using liquid alox tumbled twice ,Will this be enough lube or should I go with a different kind?  It will be used for deer hunting max 75 yards any ideas as to a good pyrodex load? Thank you

I've not had much success with conventional lubes and black powder or subs.  Usually you wind up with a lot of gooey tar.  I use bore butter or Crisco.  Kinda gooey to mess with but works.

Go easy with that big bullet.  I wouldn't try any "magnum" loads, and you probably won't need such.  I shoot 85-90 gr. Pyrodex select with good results with a 320 gr. bullet.  Every gun is different, and every application.  I seldom shoot over 100 yds, and mostly much less.

Ben