How Well Did My .58 Cal Minie Balls Shoot?

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    John from MD

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,893
    Socialist State of Maryland
    The alloy I was talking about is a Lead/Tin alloy. Tin gives a little hardness to the lead and makes if flow much better.

    OP, are you weighing your bullets? If not, you should as it is easy to get voids in large cavities.
     
    M

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,333
    HoCo
    Melnic said:
    grabbed by stuff and went to the range during an early/extended lunch. Only had about 1hr 1/2
    I took the .578 sized Lee minies and ran 50, 60 and 70 gr of 3F.
    It did better at 70gr 3F but still pretty bad IMO.

    I threw the .578 sized Lyman thin skirted ones I got from TOW and 3 out of 4 shots were almost touching at 50 yards.

    at .578, I have to use a short started to get it going, I don't think I should have to do that.

    I ordered a Lyman Mold. I think I may be done for now with this Lee mold. If bumping it up past 70gr is what is needed, I don't think I want to shoot it that heavy.

    I may try sizing the Lymans to .576 to see how it does and maybe order a .577 sizing die.
    Click to expand...

    I"m going to try this again another day. I had shot the Lyman with the good grouping when the wind was pretty calm. The wind had picked up and was gusting during the other shots and I just looked up ballistics for wind drift and it showed 1" / 10mph at 50 yards for a typical Minie. I think it was gusting to 20 or more yesterday by the time I was done. Another guy's frame fell over at the end.
     
    M

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,333
    HoCo
    So, I got this information from other forum(s) on what to use:
    RCBS die 580313 (yeilds a thick skirt)
    RCBS handles
    Thin skirt knob from Northeast trade company
    https://www.northeasttradeco.com/online-store/3rd-Piece-fir-58-cal-Hodgen-Moulds-p113461520
    MCM bullet lube
    https://www.northeasttradeco.com/online-store/OLD-TRAPPERS-PRODUCTS-c20288064

    I have to size the minie down to 578 or 577 though. I'll try both and see which shoots better.

    I'd been using crisco as it was cold, but now that its warming up I was going to make a batch of either lard/beeswax or crisco/beeswax. Well, since i was already ordering from NTC, I figured I'd try the MCM lube.

    Will give a range report once I've fiddled some more.
     
    John from MD

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,893
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Don't over lube the bullet. Just wash a thin coat on the scraping groves and put a dab in the cavity. Crisco will work fine until we are in the eighties. Make sure to keep it in the fridge when not in use. If you use 3F, you will have less fouling so loading will be easier. You may have to start at 50gns rather than the normal 60 for 2F.
     
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