54 Maxiball discontinued?

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Bfh_auto

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I am down to my last box of Maxi-balls and am only able to find 50 cal. If they have been discontinued, what is a good replacement. This in a Renegade that was mistreated and doesn't shoot round ball but does very well with these.
 
You can find a used mold on various sites' classified sections. I advertised for one and luckily someone sold me a mold at a fair price.

Some of the classified sites that auction items sell these at ridiculously high prices due to bidding "wars".
 
 
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If you do cast (or will) and can't find a mold you can have Tom at Accurate Molds create one for you or work up your own design.
 
No maxies for my 45 Hawken flintlock. Casting not as simple, as the alloy changes diameter, pure lead is not always pure.

I think the T/C bought ones were swagged?
They were very accurate in my ML.
I do cast, just lazy. Have the round ball mould.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I currently don't have the time to learn bullet casting but will look into it for the future.
 
The price for Maxiballs is very high just for 20 chunks of lead. I've been casting my own .50 cal. Maxiballs for over 3 decades with backings from xray films. It's not pure and that makes it harder. They have killed over a dozen deer for me with no problems.
I now have molds for .45, .50, and .54 Maxiballs.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I currently don't have the time to learn bullet casting but will look into it for the future.
Click to expand...

Casting is rather easy.

When I bought my lead (recycled lead piping) it was $1/lb. That's 7000 grns to a pound. Granted I paid for my melting pot, molds, gloves, etc. my .50 cal 320 REALs with cast 21 conicals with a little leftover for $1 and I don't pay shipping for them either. I also don't have to worry about availability. I just go to the garage and come back with some. It easily pays for itself rather quickly.
 
 
It has been so long since I shot my TC Renegade I forgot how much Pyrodex to load under the maxi ball. I bought mine new in 1976. I think it was about 30 years ago I bought a coffee can full of hand cast maxi balls at a gun show. They were neatly put into the can with thin cardboard between the layers. The can was very heavy, I have no idea how many there are in the can. I got lazy and this was easer than casting my own 54 maxi balls--- I do have a TC mold I bought soon after I got the rifle. Now that I am retired I have been thinking of taking the rifle to the range, and maybe deer hunting with it.

Question; Is the Pyrodex Select that much better than the regular Pryodex RS ???
 
Wis-Harpo said:
It has been so long since I shot my TC Renegade I forgot how much Pyrodex to load under the maxi ball. I bought mine new in 1976. I think it was about 30 years ago I bought a coffee can full of hand cast maxi balls at a gun show. They were neatly put into the can with thin cardboard between the layers. The can was very heavy, I have no idea how many there are in the can. I got lazy and this was easer than casting my own 54 maxi balls--- I do have a TC mold I bought soon after I got the rifle. Now that I am retired I have been thinking of taking the rifle to the range, and maybe deer hunting with it.

Question; Is the Pyrodex Select that much better than the regular Pryodex RS ???
Click to expand...
I have never gave pyrodex a chance. It is real black powder in percussion or blackhorn in my inline.
 
Bfh_auto said:
I am down to my last box of Maxi-balls and am only able to find 50 cal. If they have been discontinued, what is a good replacement. This in a Renegade that was mistreated and doesn't shoot round ball but does very well with these.
Click to expand...
iF YOU WANT TO CAST. I believe moose mold has molds is stock if not it would only take a few weeks I believe
 
I just bought a like-new .54 TC Renegade barrel to drop into my Hawken stock. It seems to be somewhat tight, and is ripping heavy pillow ticking patches asunder. My next two steps are 1), try conicals, or 2), try lighter patching. I have elected to try both, since I'm taking the rifle on a deer hunt in a couple of weeks.

Like the OP, I can't find Maxi-Balls or Maxi-Hunters (my preference) on the local shelves. I used to be pretty fond the hollow base/round nose Buffalo Bullets, but I haven't seen them in years. Today I grabbed a box of Hornady slugs, and will see how they shoot. I also hit Hobby Lobby and picked up two thicknesses of cotton twill material. My money is on the slugs, though. I can always put the Green Mountain RB barrel back in place if the Renegade barrel betrays me further.

There are a few vendors on Gunbroker that sell their own cast Maxis, minie`s, and few other styles, so that might be an option.
 
AJumbo said:
I just bought a like-new .54 TC Renegade barrel to drop into my Hawken stock. It seems to be somewhat tight, and is ripping heavy pillow ticking patches asunder. My next two steps are 1), try conicals, or 2), try lighter patching. I have elected to try both, since I'm taking the rifle on a deer hunt in a couple of weeks.

Like the OP, I can't find Maxi-Balls or Maxi-Hunters (my preference) on the local shelves. I used to be pretty fond the hollow base/round nose Buffalo Bullets, but I haven't seen them in years. Today I grabbed a box of Hornady slugs, and will see how they shoot. I also hit Hobby Lobby and picked up two thicknesses of cotton twill material. My money is on the slugs, though. I can always put the Green Mountain RB barrel back in place if the Renegade barrel betrays me further.

There are a few vendors on Gunbroker that sell their own cast Maxis, minie`s, and few other styles, so that might be an option.
Click to expand...
Try using Mother's mag wheel polish on patches. It takes about an hour of polishing because it is a gentle abrasive, but it helps with excessive fouling and makes it easier to load. The track of the wolf link shared earlier should help you find bullets.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Try using Mother's mag wheel polish on patches. It takes about an hour of polishing because it is a gentle abrasive, but it helps with excessive fouling and makes it easier to load. The track of the wolf link shared earlier should help you find bullets.
Click to expand...

Good tip, thank you. I wonder if smearing the mag polish in the lube grooves of a slug and just firing them with a light load might not work pretty well.

Neither of the new patch options helped me, even with a felt wad as a backer. The Hornady Great Plains bullets grouped into 3 1/2" at 100 yards, pushed by 85 grains of Triple 7 2F. The load shot pretty flat, I was surprised. The Renegade barrel is redeemed. The Green Mountain round ball barrel gave me even tighter groups, which I expected. I'll take both barrels to camp, but I really want to hunt with the slugs. I've never killed any game with a slug from a muzzleloader.

So, the OP might consider the Great Plains bullets. They weigh 425 gr, and are easily equal to the Maxis in all respects.
 
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