T/C Maxi-ball tight fit in T/C barrels?

[encore3006]

I use PRB's in my T/C sidelocks with great success. I recently tried the Maxi-ball in the same sidelocks but experience extremely tight fits to the point where I need to "hammer" them down the barrel. The lube on the Maxi-balls is old and essentially dry. I have been trying the Maxi-balls in the New Englander and the Grey Hawk. My prior experience with Maxi-balls has been with the Encore with a QLA. But these bullets are tough to seat throughout the length of the barrel in the New Englander and Grey Hawk. Both have very clean bores and in spite of the seating effort they are very accurate.

Any suggestions?

[Nobade]

Lee style push through sizers are your friend here.

[Semisane]

Lee style push through sizers are your friend here.

That might be the answer.  Lee has a .501 sizing die (http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/textcart.cgi?&acct_num=1277647081.25&CODE=1250&CATEGORY=Bullet+Casting)  What is the diameter of the factory Maxi's?

[encore3006]

The factory Maxi's have a rear/base bearing band of .500" - .503" and a forward bearing band of .505" -.506" The T/C manual suggests shooting them as cast and not re-sized so as to maintain the tight fit at the forward bearing band. My New Englander measures approximately .500" at the lands and .508" at the grooves.

I may need to clean off the old lube and re-lube.

[deerhunter]

Are you sure you cast them from pure lead?  Pure lead shrinks after casting to the correct size.  if you cast them from wheelweights, they will be too hard and not shrink as much and cause the tight fit that you are getting.  Wheelweights are not pure lead, they have tin, and are good for pistol bullets, like .38+ps but not muzzleloaders.

Just one more thing to worry about.  I shoot a TC renegade, and have good luck with TC 370 maxis, and 320 Lee real bullets.

[necchi]

  Pure lead shrinks after casting to the correct size.

B.S.

[Landngroove]

I occasionally shoot T/C Maxi-Balls in my T/C Hawken, Renegade, and White Mountain Carbine. The Hawken and Renegade are .54's, and the WMC is a .50. I find the Maxi-Balls very easy to load in all these ML's. I too have had older Maxi's that the lube has dried up. Just clean it off, a toothpick works well in the lubricating grooves. Re-lube with Bore Butter. This works well for me.