Author Topic: T/C Maxi-balls vs Maxi-hunters? (Read 4860 times)

DennyRoark · « **on:** November 03, 2009, 06:52:43 AM »

I'm going to put my reconditioned Hawken into service soon and am wondering about other's experiences with these bullets. Many many moons ago, I used to shoot a lot of Maxi-balls thru my old one with great accuracy at local meat and $$ shoots. However I wasn't impressed with their terminal results on deer. Two of them I removed from dead deer looked like they could have been reused (and all resulted in long tracking jobs)! The old girl didn't shoot Buffalo's or Great Plains very well, but the end results were usually bang/flop. I have read mixed reviews on the Maxi-hunters, but haven't shot any yet. My rifle is a .45 and I used to shoot 90 gr of 3F with the Maxi-balls. What say ye?

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2009, 08:39:48 AM »

Maxi Balls don't seem to have a very good reputation when it comes to taking game, however they do seem to be pretty accurate from our traditional guns. I obtained an older Maxi mold in .45 and began casting my own from pure lead and was happy with how they performed on deer from my .45 TC. I suspect that the commercial maxis are a bit too hard an with that small meplat they just don' expand well. Never tried the Maxi Hunter, they might be better

stubshaft · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2009, 09:59:02 AM »

I've used both of them mostly on hogs. It seemed to me that the Maxi Hunter with it's larger meplat just killed a little better. It was also slightly more accurate in my guns.

mechanic · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2009, 11:57:40 AM »

Maxi hunter shot well in my 1 in 45 Hawken. Same load you listed. About an inch and an half at 100.

necchi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2009, 05:04:09 PM »

I remember a topic like this from years back on another forum, the discussion turned to terminal ballistics and one contribution was from a retired game warden/CO from canada,
He told us about when they first allowed conical bullets to be used in ML guns for large game aka: Moose. The resulting season had many, and he stressed a large quantity,, of wounded and lost moose. Many more than the expected average, they found and dissected several animals for reasearch,(fly overs) and found that the conicals, maxiball/minnieball type, when entering heavy anmials had a tendancy to turn on impact then follow an odd random angle using it's rotational energy.
Issues of rotation rates, velocity, and the terms "keyhole" and "yaw" entered the conversation. So big bullets are fine on thin skinned creatures (pig), but the shooter should understand what really happens to long projectiles as they travel down range,,
IMHO;
The idea of needing more weight, moving really fast doesn't always = good terminal results.

DennyRoark · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2009, 04:50:12 AM »

I feel that a 127 gr .45 PRB is a very limited projectile. 70gr of Goex 3f was my most accurate load, and I literally bounced one off of a deer at 125 yds, found it in the mud with a whole lotta hair. Was flatened out a little with patch marks on one side/hair marks on the other. At the local shoots, I shot that load out to 75 yd mark, then went to the maxi-ball for the 100. Interesting thing was the 90gr charge with the maxi shot to the same point as the 70gr PRB at 50. I've just heard that the maxi-hunters aren't as accurate, but are made of softer lead. Looking for other experiences before I commit. Can't even get Buffalo's any more and Hornady doesn't make the Great Plains in 45. May have to try the "inline load", but only as a LAST resort.

On a side note, about 20 years agao, I drilled a maxi-ball out and tapped a #2 copper plated goose shot in one. I don't recommend this! The bullet blew up. Deer ran about 75 yds, but the biggest piece we found was about the size of a 22 bullet.

spooked · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2009, 06:23:51 AM »

Bought me a TC Maxi-ball mould online coupla years ago,cast some with soft lead..useless to me as with 70 grs pistol pyrodex in my .45 cal Cherokee it hammers my shoulder so bad that 10 shots will turn it black and blue, and i start to flinchin

..i can shoot a few of 'em outa my .45 CVA with 60 grains behind them without tearin my shoulder up to bad..Gonna hafta find me a heavier 45 one of these days.. $:-\$

DennyRoark · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2009, 10:23:45 AM »

Spooked, try puttin'g a throw pillow or maybe a folded up coat between your shoulder and the butt. It helps. I never seem to notice the recoil when hunting, tho...

spooked · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2009, 04:30:23 PM »

Back in the dark ages (1950's)we had an old tenite stocked 12 ga. Stevens which weighed less than five lbs. i think. The only one that didn't mind using it was a step brother who didn't have access to anything else. he used to fold up socks and put them under his shirt, NOBODY used that thing for casual shooting!
i've sidelined the maxi mold and got me a Lee R.E.A.L .45 that throws a 200 grainer..Gonna try that out in the Cherokee next time I shoot it, I'm thinking it'll suit me better..Wish they'd make one for the .32..

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2009, 09:15:43 PM »

Quote from: spooked on November 04, 2009, 04:30:23 PM

Back in the dark ages (1950's)we had an old tenite stocked 12 ga. Stevens which weighed less than five lbs. i think. The only one that didn't mind using it was a step brother who didn't have access to anything else. he used to fold up socks and put them under his shirt, NOBODY used that thing for casual shooting!
i've sidelined the maxi mold and got me a Lee R.E.A.L .45 that throws a 200 grainer..Gonna try that out in the Cherokee next time I shoot it, I'm thinking it'll suit me better..Wish they'd make one for the .32..

Actually someone did make one, somewhere around here I've got one in .32. Ain't seen it in a while, but I have a pouch full cast up fer takin 'yotes that have been called in close.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2009, 03:04:19 AM »

I believe that the Maxi-hunter was developed because of complaints of the Maxi-ball punching straight on through a deer with no expansion. This was bewildering to me as I didnt know what these guys really expected it to do considering the bullet and especially the velocity that it was shot at.

I took my first deer with the Maxi-ball back in 81'...tanned out that hide and it had beautiful cookie cutter holes through either side in the lung area. Shot placement is the key. You take todays handgun hunter (which includes myself) it is very desirable to use a good hardcast bullet that is going to punch on through the vitals even at a rakish angle.

If you do want a little more expansion, IMO-the patched ball is the way to go. I had great results with these on over 20 more deer (out of the .50 cal) after taking the first and before switching to handgun only.
Maxi-ball
Maxi-hunter
Patched ball
If you got em, use em...Think shot placement...The Muzzleloader is not a 7mm mag spitting a 150gr corelock out at 3,200fps

spooked · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2009, 05:23:53 AM »

Quote from: Cuts Crooked on November 04, 2009, 09:15:43 PM

Quote from: spooked on November 04, 2009, 04:30:23 PM
Back in the dark ages (1950's)we had an old tenite stocked 12 ga. Stevens which weighed less than five lbs. i think. The only one that didn't mind using it was a step brother who didn't have access to anything else. he used to fold up socks and put them under his shirt, NOBODY used that thing for casual shooting!
i've sidelined the maxi mold and got me a Lee R.E.A.L .45 that throws a 200 grainer..Gonna try that out in the Cherokee next time I shoot it, I'm thinking it'll suit me better..Wish they'd make one for the .32..

Actually someone did make one, somewhere around here I've got one in .32. Ain't seen it in a while, but I have a pouch full cast up fer takin 'yotes that have been called in close.

hows about a picture of them .32 maxis, would You be interested in selling that mould or casting a bunch would you?

snicker · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2009, 09:27:15 AM »

spooked, sent you a pm.

Terbltim · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2009, 04:41:21 AM »

On the original question:
I never used a Muzzle-Loader of less than 50-cal and never used anything but round balls for hunting so I can't offer a personal opinion.
I've seen a few deer taken with each of those bullets (-Hunters & -Balls) but never saw a notable difference. Nor did the shooters make any wild claims about them.
A good shot seems to produce efficient kills with reliability no matter what.

For almost 10 years (about 1974 thru 1984) a 50-cal muzzle-loader was my primary hunting long-arm since I could technically be afield with it every day of the year because muzzle-loaders were specified as legal for everything everywhere in my home state, a fact which provided a lot of choices depending on immediate situations.

That said, My rifle was a T/C Hawken cap-lock and it shot reeeal good with round balls. The Maxi-Balls [from the mold that I got with it] shot okay but the R-Bs were notably better [ragged holes to 50 yds and neat holes at 30yds and less] so that's what I used ... for everything.

My load, then and now is/was 70gr of 3-F.
Pyrodex (of similar granulation, Pistol, I think) proved to be just as reliable and I used it a lot too. With that one load I was ready for anything.

I shot squirrels as far as 60 steps and "barked" several that were closer than 30 steps. Many gray-fox fell to that gun too, shot between the eyes usually. Just whistle at 'em and they freeze and stare, making a perfect target. I could show-off by cutting branches from trees with that gun.

When used on deer it made one-shot kills without exception. The deer would normally take the hit and then run like a scalded dog for about 40 to 60 steps which seemed to be the "tether" that goes with a good shot.
Never recovered a round ball. They all went through except one.
That one was a shoulder hit that knocked the deer flat. It struggled for a moment and expired too. I wasn't really looking for bullets back then so I didn't go digging in the gut-pile if the bullet wasn't in the meat.
I took a bunch of deer with that gun.

Since I was using accuracy as my primary tool, power, penetration and other types of bullet performance never became an issue. I've been fascinated to read [through the years] about the "performance" of the Maxi-Balls and others but could never bring myself to forgo the accuracy of the R-B for something that seemed so controversial as those bigger bullets.

In all these years I haven't read one remark anywhere that made me think the bigger bullets were any better than a well-placed round-ball.

DennyRoark · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2009, 04:45:10 AM »

Terbltim, my original post was about accuracy of maxi-ball vs maxi-hunter. I had heard things like the hunters didn't shoot as well. 50 rb is about the same size as a 45 maxi, if I remember right.

Quote

I feel that a 127 gr .45 PRB is a very limited projectile. 70gr of Goex 3f was my most accurate load, and I literally bounced one off of a deer at 125 yds, found it in the mud with a whole lotta hair. Was flatened out a little with patch marks on one side/hair marks on the other.

Anyway, the maxi-hunters performed very well, with a 4" group at 100 w/90 gr Pyro RS. 3 of the 5 nearley touching. Maybe could have done better, but the click from the trigger (see What's wrong with my T/C lock?) was causing me to anticipate and flinch some. Gun season opens Monday here, headed out to the cabin later today!

Terbltim · « **Reply #15 on:** November 28, 2009, 12:06:59 PM »

Four inches at 100-yds will get-er-done"!
With 3 nearly touching and the 4th making the group bigger you only need to take careful aim and get that bullet where it belongs.

If I remember correctly, the 50-cal round balls were around 170gr.

If that 45-Cal Maxi weighs that much, just aim good and be calm while you squeeze the trigger and you'll have something to brag about when you come home.
Good luck be with you.
tim

Dillohide · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2009, 12:02:45 PM »

The Maxi-balls and Maxi-hunter are about the same accuracy in my 54 caliber Renegade. The Maxi-hunter is a heavier bullet. What disturbed me the most about the Maxi-ball was that I had one slide out the end of my barrel while hunting in West Texas. It was warm and that T/C grease just took it on out along with my powder while walking. After that I was so self conscious of keeping the barrel pointed up that I finally stopped using them. I've since put a 58 cal green mountain barrel on it and shoot PRB's with 90 gr of Pyrodex RS.

catman50plus · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2010, 07:38:59 AM »

I have shot the Maxi, for 32 years. They were the best as far as a group would be. We use to cast a few up every month (400 to 600) and that would get us through the summer. Never dreamed lead would get as expensive back then, but, we did shoot more than most people did, and we found the Maxi, to be fine out to 200 yards as far as group, with no scope. Never had a deer get away that was shot with one either. That bullet and load we shot would silence more than a few that thought a muzzle loader would not shoot, or out shoot the old 30/30.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2010, 10:54:57 AM »

I switched from Maxi-Balls to Maxi-Hunters, when the Maxi-Hunters were first introduced, because the M-Balls WERE pencilling throug the whitetail deer I shot, and running off, requiring tracking, second shots, etc.

The Maxi-Hunters just put them down, with virtually the same kind of shots (probably a function of their heavier weight) - so I never used M-Balls for anything afterwards, except target practice.

.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2010, 08:44:08 AM »

I have a Hawkens Carbine in .54 cal. with a 1 in 24" twist. It shoots a Barnes Expander with 85 grs. of Goex 2ffg extremely well and is my deer hunting load. Now it gets a little expensive shooting them often, so I needed a good conical for practise shooting. I ended up trying the R.E.A.L bullet and it shot great. I ended up getting a mold and started pooring my own now bullets.

Now as to the question at hand, the Maxi's. I never did get them to shoot in my Hawkens. Never used them in the field, so I can't give any qualified opinion on them there. However, I must admit that the Maxihunter did shoot a little better then the Maxiball. But not by much and to my standard.