Flat point bullet accuracy

[BlancoBoy]

Recently I bought Lee 575 minie bullet mold, because the 578 bullets, which I shoot before, were a little too tight for smooth shooting. Too much time was spent for hammering bullets down into muzzle.

Once I started to cast 575 bullets with the new mold, I discovered that new bullets had a much flatter nose. When compared 578 and 575 (right) bullets the latter has much-much flatter top as can be seen on the picture under link

Two bullets

Now I'm stumbled, whether I got faulty molds or is this a feature? How does it affects accuracy? By theory the flatter nose should have more stopping power but I'm more interested about accuracy. I'd like to get opinions should I send reclamation to seller or to leave the case as it is. Also what is the general theory when comparing accuracy of round nose bullets versus flat point?

 

[azmntman]

Seem long enough that if the rifling does its job should be just fine :hmm:

Don't know about accuracy differences in general, all my BP accuracy testing and load work up has been with PRB

 

[BrownBear]

...whether I got faulty molds or is this a feature?

Go to their site and look at the pics. You got what you paid for. Also look at the skirts. They're thicker on the 575, allowing heavier powder charges and a little higher vel if you want.

I've fired both in a number of my 58 caliber rifles, and in all of them, the flat nose shot better. I haven't whacked any game with it, but several of my buds find it to be one of the best game bullets around. That big flat nose smacks through flesh with lots more enthusiasm.

 

[BlancoBoy]

I did check the pictures both on Lee site and resellers as well. According to pics they look completely similar. I suspect that the same pictures are used for both products.

But I understand that the difference shouldn't be a problem.

 

[hawkeye2]

The Lee mini has a very long bearing area which is a big plus. The flat nose also punches a much cleaner hole in a target even though it isn't a wad cutter making it easier to score. It has a reputation as being an accurate bullet but the Lee "trash can" 575-470-M is even more so. Its only drawback is that the flat nose will shed velocity much faster than a pointed mini. That the flat nose smacks game much harder might be a good trade off there. Oh, it also has three good size and properly shaped grease groves.

I bought one of those molds many years ago and milled 1/16" off the nose end. I had also intended to turn a new base plug to give a deeper cavity with a thinner skirt which is a common modification for target shooting. I got rid of the carbine I was intending to use it in and my wife and I shoot a 315 grain .575" Rapine mini in our muskets and had no use for the Lee so I never did any more with it. I have acquired an original '61 Springfield and the Lee fits the bore perfectly (I had cast up a couple hundred and just found them a couple of months back) so I will start using it and may do the base plug mod. The Lee 575-500-M is somewhat similar to an original Civil War mini.

You should be sizing your mini for the best accuracy and to reduce fouling as well as for ease of loading. A proper fitting mini should be .001" smaller than bore diameter and a maximum of not more than .002" under. An under size mini won't grip the rifling well and also allows some blow by increasing fouling. If you can't insert one in the muzzle even after firing a few rounds (using a good lube) with your thumb and forefinger it is too tight and needs to be sized.

 

[Coot]

Hawkeye is correct. You should not be hammering minies down the muzzle - this defeats the whole idea behind the minie being quick to load and the skirt expansion providing the gas seal & engaging the rifling. I have shot a lot of the Lee "trash can" mines with their flat nose & they are quite accurate. Use a sizing die to get the correct diameter mine for your gun & both you loading ease and accuracy will improve.