REAL vs. Improved Mini

[Pistolero45]

I could use some advice.

Recently I bought a .50 barrel with 1/28 inch twist for my TC Hawken.  I have no interest in sabots, and I plan to continue using open sights.  I like to mold my own bullets and have been satisfied with LEE molds.

Does any one here have experience with LEE's REAL bullets (320 grain), or LEE's Improved Mini (360 grains) in a .50 cal 1/28 twist barrel?  If so, please let me know how this has worked for you.

Mark

[moto357]

a modest load behind the improved minie works good in a 1-28

[ihookem]

I am thinking of the same thing in my Encore. I have a Lee mould  365 gr. and like to make my own bullets but accuracy was not good after a few rounds. I got some TC bore butter that says t17 on it. Should I lube the bullets with this stuff or is  something else better? Don't mean to derail the thread but it is much like the question I was asking.

[ihookem]

Is anything better  than Bore butter to lube muzzleloader bullets?

[billy_56081]

I've used LEE liquid alox on my improved minnie with clean shot. Works very well.

[wiley]

You might check these out:
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=2dedd1e68d5b06b8213a59c8bb1be76e&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=5dadafd809b601a67c77adcd3834ac1d

[ihookem]

Just another question, I think I have my Encore figured out but need some help. I am shooting lead bullets from a Lee mould, 365 gr. I get good groups but need to clean  the barrel every round. I was told to put bore butter in the grooves of the bullet so I don't have to patch after every round. It makes the bullet go down very easy but I loose accuracy. Has anyone else noticed this? Also, does seasoning the barrel with borebutter really help against fowling?

[Nobade]

Funny, I was shooting those same two bullets yesterday out of a 1:28 Green Mountain barrel. Neither would shoot with FFFg, but worked much better with FFg. The minie' started working well at 60gr powder, the REAL worked well at 80gr. The minie' required a fouling shot first - the first one out of a clean barrel would go just anywhere, then the next 4 or 5 would go into pretty much one hole (50 yds) then they got hard to load and groups opened up. The REAL didn't need a fouling shot, didn't ever group quite as well, but still held maybe 2 inches. I could get 6 shots before it needed cleaning. Both were run through a lubrisizer, sized to .500 and lubed with Pearl Lube (soy flakes, Crisco, and toilet bowl rings) The minie' was much nicer to shoot, the REAL really tenderized my shoulder after a while. Either would be fine for hunting, round balls are much nicer for target and plinking and equally accurate.

[mechanic]

I use a REAL bullet in a 1 in 28.  Good accuracy with 80-90 grains.  Gets bad with more, gets worse with less.

[ihookem]

Thanks Nobade and Mechanic, I shoot 80gr. of 777 and will stay at that. And I hear ya Nobade, those 365 gr. bullets makes my shoulder sore after about 8 or 9 shots. I can try something else for lube cause borebutter really opens up the groups.

[Semisane]

I use a REAL bullet in a 1 in 28.  Good accuracy with 80-90 grains.  Gets bad with more, gets worse with less.

That's been my experience too Mechanic.   But I found I could bump the powder up a little if I use a felt wad under the REAL.