Lee “rifling engraved at loading” bullet

[Crow Creek]

Anybody had experience with this bullet/mold from Lee? I am building a .58 Alan box lock w/ slow twist and am considering giving it a go.
Tom

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Some of these come in two sizes per caliber: a heavy one and a light one. If you have the option, go with the shorter one if you have slow twist rifling.

ADK BIgfoot

 

[deerstalkert]

I use them sometimes for giggles in my .54 with a GM 1-70 twist. ADK is spot on. the lighter, shorter one works almost as good as a PRB.

 

[Crow Creek]

Thank you. Load easy?

 

[Crow Creek]

I only find one for .58 in their catalog. I will give it a try.

 

[kyron4]

I've had good results with a lubed felt wad between the powder and bullet.

 

[deerstalkert]

sorry Crow, i got sidetracked and just saw your post.
Yes they are easy to load and Kyron4 is spot on about the lubed felt wad. i found in my .45 SMR the wad over powder and under the REAL reduced the groups by 1/3.
as old and shaky as i am maybe i should refer to them as patterns!

 

[Rudyard]

Of late I've found the 50 cal TC ? bullet exellent & for my 58 barrels that short Lyman flat truncated nose & hollow base seems to get good shooting I've mostly shot RB but happy to try alternates . where applicable .
Rudyard

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Crow:

I have that mold if you want to try some.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[smokepolehall]

I have the Lee REAL mold in .45 200 gr the .50 in the 320 gr & the .54 in 300 gr. I found as said a dry wool wad helps seal base of conical. I also have learned threw the years that REALs do not take kindly of large powder charges.

 

[Crow Creek]

Thanks for replies. Its on its way from Lee. I always have used RB so this will be interesting.

 

[Bedford County Doc]

I have a CVA Hawkin that I built from a kit in 1979 that LOVES the Lee REAL. And, I get the best groups by fingering in Wonder Lube before loafing over a 110 grain powder charge...

 

[Okie Hog]

Bought the molds and tried the REAL bullets in .50 and .54 calibers. Never got good accuracy; gave the molds away and went back to patched round balls.

 

[fubar22]

I've tried them in both .50 and .54 TCs. Not all that impressed with the accuracy.

 

[smokepolehall]

Accuracy & i know most will say moa at a hundred yards. HAHA i dare say 95% will be glad to get 5 shots in an 6" bull at that range unsupported. So lets go to the real deal, i have found depending on load combo that you can get 3" -4" groups off the table/bench with the REAL's. Certainly will be in the vitals for deer/hogs/bears.

 

[deerstalkert]

glad to know i am in a 5% group! i can't see a 6 inch bull at 100 yards.

 

[ppg1949]

I have them in .45, .50 and .54 caliber. I have used them extensively especially in .45 caliber. I started using them in the early ‘80’s after I read a review of them in Guns & Ammo magazine by Phil Spangenberger. In the article he suggested for slow twist rifles to use the lower of the two available weights regardless of caliber. That’s what I do and I believe this to be good advice for the best accuracy. Along with a cushion wad of sort type over the powder.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have several REAL molds, probably all of them as a matter of fact. That said, I have not tried them all extensively but have had good results with the ones I did try to work up loads for. I suggest trying the felt wads (lubed and unlubed), tumble (alox) lube, and smearing your lube of choice on them at the muzzle. Frankly, all seem to shoot about as well as I can and minute-of-deer groups at any distance I have any business shooting iron sights at.

 

[longcruise]

I tried them in 50 and 54. Both shot cloverleafs at 50 yards. At 100 they opened up to about 12"

 

[SPQR70AD]

I have a .58 cal hawken 1x48 twist and after using patched RBs which were pretty good I saw the mold for a REAL bullet got it and it worked great. no more patches or ball starter. REAL easy to load a good payload. like another guy said about fingering lube I do that with crisco no felt wad used