Lee REAL bullets

[cattleskinner]

Hey, I figured that since I won't pay for $3.00+/gallon of gas, I won't go and pick up the sabots Fuzzy told me about.  I've been thinking about using the Real bullets for deer, and found a guy who casts them.  In fact, I got 50 real bullets, and the same amount of Maxi-balls for $5.00 total.  What I was wondering is if any of you used them, and how they shot?  Easy to load/seat/etc?  Thanks.

~~~Amos

[millwright]

I have cast, and shot, lee real bullets in my huntsman.  The 325 gr 50 cal. load very easily.  These bullets must be lubed well.  Keep the powder charge at 100 grs. or less for best accuracy, at least in my gun.

[tscott]

I have shot Hornady .490 round ball at 50 yards to get on paper in sighting in (2, .010 pillow ticking lubed). Best 3 shot group I'd say 1.5"!!!.
.295 hollow cj Powerbelts are touching at this distance. So I use those for hunting. Whether at the range or in the field, I would have great confidence in either out of my Huntsman. I do get frustrated trying stuff full saboted bullets. Any of you guys have any ideas. Do they make thinner sabots... I mean at 6'5", 207.... I can snap ramrods with the best of them....Trying to get sst's down!!!

[cattleskinner]

Millwright,

What kind of lube do you use for the real bullets?  Reading my lee manual, it says to use liquid Alox, but after using maxi balls, and seeing how much lube it uses, it makes me wonder.  I'm thinking of just trying bore butter, and a felt wad under the bullet.  I don't remember ever using more than 85gr. of powder in my hunting loads, however at the range is a different story.  Sometimes I'll go up to 100gr. "just to see how much it recoils".  Anyhow, I figure if these bullets shoot good in my huntsman, I might just have to break down and buy a mold, and try my hand at casting bullets.  Sabots, powerbelts, and store bought conicals, while working good for me in the past make me cringe everytime I go to the cash register.  What kind of accuracy were you getting with these in your huntsman?  Oh yeah, I have the 320gr. version of the real bullet too if it matters.  

~~~Amos

[cattleskinner]

Tscott,

I've tried the sst's in my muzzleloader too, but never more than a couple shots at the range.  I have the same problem as you in getting them down the barrel, plus I don't have any different tips for the ramrods to keep from deforming the tips of the bullets.  I've heard that the sabots from Harvester have thinner petals that make for easier loading...might be something to look into.

~~~Amos

[millwright]

I have used Lee Liquid Alox with good results.  Just put the bullets in a ziplock bag and put in a little liquid alox and mix them all up.  Put the bullets on wax paper for 24 hours to dry.  I have had the best luck with super lube 1000 but it is time consuming to lube each bullet by hand.  Hope this helps