Hi, Pourboy:
The Maxi-Ball is often critized for being too pointed and penetrating without doing much damage. That's why Thompson/Center brought out the Maxi-Hunter. At least that what folks say, but some of them might just be blowing smoke.
Lot's of folks, including Dr. Sam Fadala and myself, like the Buffalo Bullets and the similar Hornady Great Plains bullets. I've just used the hollow points, but Hornadys come in a solid point too. I'd test them before buying any moulds.
The bullets come prelubed, but try packing lube into the hollow base, on the ones that have it, and seating the bullet on a Wonder Wad. Sometimes it helps.
Lyman has a 395 gr. mould (#508656) with a wide flat nose. It looks about .335", compared to the .275" nose on the Hornady. It's a tapered design, so you size them in the barrel. It's not the Shocker bullet that Lyman sells. The Shocker is from the discontinued #508668 mould and has a smaller meplat, about .190".
A fellow smokepoler gave me some 467 grain bullets out of a Knight mould, IIRC. They have a .275" nose too.
The best lube I've used is Young Country Lube 103. Trouble is, we can't get it anymore <!--emo&
--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo--> Avoid any lube like Wonder Lube that promises to condition your bore. Eventually the conditioning builds up and accuracy goes to "broad side of a barn". If that happens, buy two new bore brushes and a can of carburator cleaner. You can guess the rest. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'><!--endemo-->
I've got a bit of Young Country left, but I'm going to try Emmert's home brew lube when I run out. You could try SPG or Lyman Black Powder Gold.
I've got a flinter, so I haven't used Pyrodex powder or pellets. Going over a 100 grains of black doesn't gain you much. The extra powder just blows out the barrel. I've heard good things about the Swiss and German powders, but haven't tried them. Apparently they perform better than Goex or Elephant, much like the 19th century Curtis & Harvey powder Ross Seyfried talks about.
Another new non black powder is Clearshot. Apparently it doesn't build up like black and doesn't rot barrels like Pyrodex. Don't confuse it with Cleanshot, which isn't as good, from what I've heard.
Always shoot downwind. :biggrin:
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
Jack
The Maxi-Ball is often critized for being too pointed and penetrating without doing much damage. That's why Thompson/Center brought out the Maxi-Hunter. At least that what folks say, but some of them might just be blowing smoke.
Lot's of folks, including Dr. Sam Fadala and myself, like the Buffalo Bullets and the similar Hornady Great Plains bullets. I've just used the hollow points, but Hornadys come in a solid point too. I'd test them before buying any moulds.
The bullets come prelubed, but try packing lube into the hollow base, on the ones that have it, and seating the bullet on a Wonder Wad. Sometimes it helps.
Lyman has a 395 gr. mould (#508656) with a wide flat nose. It looks about .335", compared to the .275" nose on the Hornady. It's a tapered design, so you size them in the barrel. It's not the Shocker bullet that Lyman sells. The Shocker is from the discontinued #508668 mould and has a smaller meplat, about .190".
A fellow smokepoler gave me some 467 grain bullets out of a Knight mould, IIRC. They have a .275" nose too.
The best lube I've used is Young Country Lube 103. Trouble is, we can't get it anymore <!--emo&
--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo--> Avoid any lube like Wonder Lube that promises to condition your bore. Eventually the conditioning builds up and accuracy goes to "broad side of a barn". If that happens, buy two new bore brushes and a can of carburator cleaner. You can guess the rest. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'><!--endemo-->I've got a bit of Young Country left, but I'm going to try Emmert's home brew lube when I run out. You could try SPG or Lyman Black Powder Gold.
I've got a flinter, so I haven't used Pyrodex powder or pellets. Going over a 100 grains of black doesn't gain you much. The extra powder just blows out the barrel. I've heard good things about the Swiss and German powders, but haven't tried them. Apparently they perform better than Goex or Elephant, much like the 19th century Curtis & Harvey powder Ross Seyfried talks about.
Another new non black powder is Clearshot. Apparently it doesn't build up like black and doesn't rot barrels like Pyrodex. Don't confuse it with Cleanshot, which isn't as good, from what I've heard.
Always shoot downwind. :biggrin:
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
Jack
