Using minie bullets in modern in-lines

[smokeeater]

I am considering the purchase of a bullet mold for some type of minie bullet for my 50 calibre CVA Mag-Hunter in-line muzzle loader. It has a fast twist
of 1 in 28, and I would like to know if anyone has had any success with trying minie balls in a configuration such as I described. I also have looked at the specs on the R.E.A.L. molds, as well as the modern minie, target design molds. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated......thanks

 

[Mark whiz]

I've had no good luck with maxi-balls, maxi-hunters and that sort. Now I have shot the Hornady 385gr Great Plains Bullets and the No Excuses 485gr Lead conicals with very good results. About 90gr of 2fg 777 powder is as high as you want to push them.

With my Knight, the key to using conicals seems to be higher bullet weights and medium powder loads.

 

[plumberroy]

most minies do not have a heavy enough skirt to stand heavy charges most people shoot in inlines If you get something with a thick skirt it might work Lee target minies start going away a 100 grains of powder in a 58 it would take less in a 50
Roy
Disclaimer : this is the opinion of a
middle aged hillbilly plumber that
has been down the raod a time or
two and are based on my personal
knowledge and experiences offered
to hopefully help you since we live
in a free country you have the right
to have a different opinion,
Some one asked the question
I am just trying to help
Roy

 

[sourdough44]

I have used a Lee 'REAL' 320 grn 50 cal mold. The conicals shot very well in my Knight. The load gave pass through on the deer I shot with it a few years back & it went 20yrds or so. Be sure & use pure lead so the bullet is soft enough to engrave in the rifling. I usually put a 50 cal fiber wad under the conical. The thing to watch out for is the conical rising off the powder charge while carrying your gun. One idea is to try teflon tape around the bullet to hold it tight. Last Dec I used a home cast 240 grn 44 cal bullet loaded in a sabot to take a deer. It worked great but I still like my Lee conicals. I always do some type of home cast in my M-L, though I have a few name brand bullets around.

 

[Curator]

I have used both the Lee Real and hollow-base minie in my T/C Omega with good accuracy. The REAL seems to work well without a lot of fuss, but did shoot more accurately with a felt wad between it and the powder charge. The minie bullet needed a wrap of paper tape to keep it against the powder charge. Minies also shoot much better (particularly with heavy charges) when loaded over some kind of granular filler. I use cream of wheat, measuring about half of what I am using for a powder charge. The filler prevents blown bases, helps the charge burn cleanly, and improves accuracy.

 

[scrat]

Same thing i have a lee real bullet mold in 320. Accuracy is rather well. i like it alot. i picked mine up from leeprecison direct as the shipping is only 4.00.

 

[Pancho]

Being a powerbelt fan and knowing that they've just re-invented the minnieball I too have bought minnieball molds from Lee for 45,50,and 58 cal. So far due to weather I've not been able to give them a fair chance at accuracy but based on my experience running r e a l maxieballs and roundballs the minnie takes a lot more patience to get good rounds. Hotter lead and a hotter mold.
Once the weather breaks I have a lot of guns to shoot the minnies in and will let the forum know what I think. It is a long process trying something new in a muzzleloader sidelock or inline.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

It has a fast twist of 1 in 28, and I would like to know if anyone has had any success with trying minie balls in a configuration such as I described.

I have a Lyman Deerstalker carbine with a 1 in 28 twist -- I bought it just for that twist, and it wouldn't shoot minie balls accurately. I measured the twist and whoops! it was a 1 in 48 twist!

Lyman sent me a new barrel, and I've been using this gun for more than a decade now, with the Lee Modern Minie Ball load. I use liquid Alox as my lube and they shoot very accurately. A 90 to 120 grain charge of FFG is about right.

 

[smokeeater]

Appreciation for quick response

I hope everybody that responded to my questions will accept my appreciation for their quick response. You-all have been very helpful and I am now convinced to either get the REAL or the modern minie in as heavy a grain as possible. Hopefully it will shoot well in my CVA both for target practice and the big buck who keeps eluding me...... Thanks again....