Best 50cal projectile for hunting

[nkbj]

The Lyman 508 mold that I have will not enter the barrel without sizing (no surprise since the bore is .501!). But, I have .499 and .501 sizers from past projects so I'll give it a try while I'm waiting.

Ron, do you twist and clip tails or do you have a bare spot in the middle that you seat on a card?

Oh, never mind...I just looked at the picture and figured it out. Time for more coffee.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I use overpowder wads that are oversized so they fit the bore very snug. WOW yours is .501? I don't remember what mine are but REALS in mine push down with my thumb. No rubber mallets for them. Is your barrel blued? Ron

 

[nkbj]

I ran into some LHR's for a good price. Mine appears to be not recent production (serial #014717) though only now out of the plastic. A lead bullet run through a Lyman .501" sizer slips in pretty tight, but slips in. Guess one of the things to try is gonna be sizing the hind end of .50 bullets, leaving the front big and loading them as maxi's. It's worked for me in other pieces so's maybe on this one too. But, I gotta try out the paper patch. I've got a package of paper around here somewhere...
Read where you said you had a snug fit at loading. Do you have a close measurement on the bore dameter of your LRH(s)?

Oh, just reread your post: Yes, my barrel is blued, the GM matt.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I will try to get a measurement on that barrel tonight after work. Ron

 

[excess650]

"Why would not a hard cast( wheel weights) 400-430 grain bullet put that buffalo down just as well??? A hunter went to Africa a few years back with his Marlin 45-70, loaded with stout loads and 420 grain CorBon bullets. He killed two Cape Buffaloes with one shot, passing through both animals, in the chests."


The Marlin 45-70 has a 1-20" twist, so is able to stabilize those conicals MUCH better. The .458WM has an even quicker twist to ensure penetration.

Most of the traditional looking 50cal MLers are 1-48" twist or slower, so work better with a PRB or short conical.

IMO, the .50cal PRB is an adequate deer projectile, but I would prefer a .58 or .62 PRB for larger, tougher game.

 

[cratwelder]

In response to the comment about usuing the 50 because they kill moose with recurves...try this.......shoot a 5 gal bucket of sand with a ML, or a 338 magnum at 25 yds....then shoot same bucket with a broadhead out of a 55 pound recurve same yardage....see which one goes all the through the bucket.....I have taken quite a bit of money off guys at the range with this.

 

[Kentuckywindage]

a 338 magnum isnt a round ball nor a bow and arrow.

A .490 round ball with 100gr powder will penetrate 5 to 7" of sand, depending on how i mix it.

 

[William O.]

Take a look at these; http://www.prbullet.com/ul50.htm
The "Keith" bullet has a nice wide meplat, great for penetrating and leaving a nice wide wound channel. They have a bullet slection chart so you can see what weight conical is going to give you the best accuracy for your rifle's rate of twist. You might also want to look at the Buffalo bullet "ball-et", half ball, half conical. I've used these out of my trade rifle (1:48 ROT) and they are very accurate, especially with a fiber wad between powder and ball. http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produ...=3625&osCsid=813d04ec81ac72532312b59e9670f2b2 http://www.thegunworks.com/custprodgun.cfm?SubCat1ID=61&Cat1Name=Round Balls & Bullets
Increase your powder charge a bit as well, as long as accuracy doesn't suffer. Since you are using T-7 just subtract 15% from what your max. powder charge is and don't exceed it. Your owners manual should list the maximum for RB as well as maxi-ball type conicals when using traditional black.

Bull,

Have you, or other forum members, shot any of the "Keith" bullets out of a 50 cal 1:48 ROT. I was thinking that they might be fun to play around with.

Bob

I have a .54 that is a 1:48, and the round nose conical which is identical to the "Keith" type bullet from Dead Center, is very accurate. It has a somewhat hollow base which expands into the rifling when fired I think, plus they are a snap to lube, just squeeze a little around the knurled part and they load easy.

 

[nkbj]

Hey KentuckyWindage,
Man those are some fine looking shooting box samples for display to naysayers. How big around are those babies?

 

[nkbj]

The paper patch mould came in. The man is an artist. Check out the execution of the depth adjustment on the base plug. If I ran the numbers right it should end up about 450 grains max.
It's time to fire up the melting pot and see what that Green Mountain .50 LRH barrel will really do.
Now, where in the world did I put that paper? http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/50LRH-450GRPPHB.jpg