Lee REAL in 1 in 66 twist

[Bigpete]

Gday all. I'm looking for info regarding shooting the 440gn 58 cal Lee REAL conical in a CVA Rocky Mountain Big Bore or similar twist rifle.
No,I'm not looking for opinions or suggestions to just stick with round ball. I already use round ball.
Thank you

 

[waksupi]

I doubt it will stabilize.

 

[CaptainKirk]

IIRC the REAL was designed for 1:48 or faster. Just sayin'. Good luck!

 

[Bigpete]

So already 2 OPINIONS rather than experience. Awesome

 

[waksupi]

So already 2 OPINIONS rather than experience. Awesome

Nope, gun builder with 45 years experience, barrel inspector for three companies, who knows a thing or two about barrels.

 

[Bigpete]

Nope, gun builder with 45 years experience, barrel inspector for three barrel companies, who knows a thing or two about barrels.

Yet you haven't actually tried it have you,and that's what I asked for.

 

[ppg1949]

I had used them in a CVA Kentucky rifle 1:66 twist exclusively when deer hunting when I was younger. I think there are two keys to getting an accurate load with them. 1. Make sure they all weigh nearly the same. 2. It is very important to spend range time developing a good load for accuracy. I started using them right after they came out. I read an article by Phil Spagenbaugh(?) in Guns & Ammo magazine. He was their black powder editor. He recommended in a 1:66 twist to use the lighter of the two weights available. I’m not sure if the 58 has two weights available. Good luck and have fun.

 

[morehops52]

Experience here. I have settled on Maxis as my projectile of choice. All my rifles are 1:48 and shoot them very well. I got a GPR (1:66) and couldn't get my Maxis to group to my standards. Another lucky RB shooter now owns that great rifle.

 

[Bigpete]

I had used them in a CVA Kentucky rifle 1:66 twist exclusively when deer hunting when I was younger. I think there are two keys to getting an accurate load with them. 1. Make sure they all weigh nearly the same. 2. It is very important to spend range time developing a good load for accuracy. I started using them right after they came out. I read an article by Phil Spagenbaugh(?) in Guns & Ammo magazine. He was their black powder editor. He recommended in a 1:66 twist to use the lighter of the two weights available. I’m not sure if the 58 has two weights available. Good luck and have fun.

Thank you,actual real world experience, not an opinion.

 

[Bigpete]

Experience here. I have settled on Maxis as my projectile of choice. All my rifles are 1:48 and shoot them very well. I got a GPR (1:66) and couldn't get my Maxis to group to my standards. Another lucky RB shooter now owns that great rifle.

Thats the maxi balls,not the Lee REAL which is a lot shorter

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

They key is to get the bullet length and diameter as close as possible and then as waksupi said it still may not work as some rifles just won't do it. The old Buffalo Ballet (no longer made) and the current Hornady PA (only in 50 cal) bullets were made as a RB replacement and are effectively as long as they are around.

I don't have the .58 cal REAL you mention but do use them in other ML's. I have one in .54 cal that meets the above criteria and will put up acceptable hunting groups to 75 yards or so out of a GPR with 1-66 twist.

 

[Bigpete]

They key is to get the bullet length and diameter as close as possible and then as waksupi said it still may not work as some rifles just won't do it. The old Buffalo Ballet (no longer made) and the current Hornady PA (only in 50 cal) bullets were made as a RB replacement and are effectively as long as they are around.

I don't have the .58 cal REAL you mention but do use them in other ML's. I have one in .54 cal that meets the above criteria and will put up acceptable hunting groups to 75 yards or so out of a GPR with 1-66 twist.

Why I'm choosing the 440gn REAL bullet to tryn

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have the mold for the .58 REAL if you want to try some. I can cast you a quantity for testing. they are the 440 grain size. I use them in a 1:48 Interarms (Lyman, etc) rifle. Have not tried them in my .58 flinter.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[SDSmlf]

Gday all. I'm looking for info regarding shooting the 440gn 58 cal Lee REAL conical in a CVA Rocky Mountain Big Bore or similar twist rifle.
No,I'm not looking for opinions or suggestions to just stick with round ball. I already use round ball.
Thank you

Not a lot of help here as I’ve not shot the Lee 440 gr 58 caliber REAL bullet out of a CVA Rocky Mountain Big Bore rifle, though I have shot both the 440 gr Lee and its 350 gr little brother out of multiple 58 caliber guns with twist rates from 1-48 to 1-60. The common denominators, at least with the guns I have shot both in, was the little brother generally performed better than the it’s big brother, slightly oversized wads between the powder and bullet improved accuracy and the heavier the charge, the worse accuracy became, though accuracy is a relative thing subject to varying opinions. For what it is worth, the 440 gr mold has moved on down the road.

That said, try them and see what you find. You have an offer from @ADK Bigfoot to send you some 550 gr examples ( I not seen or shot that size).

I can cast you a quantity for testing. they are the 550 grain size.

If it suites your fancy, I could send you some of the 350 gr ones (believe the ones out of my mold weigh 355 gr with the ‘pure’ lead I have), though I might be low on inventory (I am not sure Lee even offers the 350 gr mold currently), having experimented with them in a PH 1861 a few weeks ago (disappointing results) and it may be a month or so before my next casting session. PM if interested, would just ask for you to cover postage and cost of lead.

 

[morehops52]

Thats the maxi balls,not the Lee REAL which is a lot shorter

well I also tried Maxi Hunters which are HP. Made in two weights of which the lighter is shorter. None would group. While this is my experience, the it is generally accepted (with exceptions) in the ML community that RB's stabilize best at slow twist rates but will work in some faster twist barrels and smoothies. Projectiles such as the Maxi and Lee stabilize with a faster twist. That is not an opinion but information drawn from many, many shooters over many, many years. Now as an OPINION I would say you seem to want these to work in your CVA so why not try them and post your results here to add to the collective knowledge.

 

[Bigpete]

I have the mold for the .58 REAL if you want to try some. I can cast you a quantity for testing. they are the 550 grain size. I use them in a 1:48 Interarms (Lyman, etc) rifle. Have not tried them in my .58 flinter.

ADK Bigfoot

Thank you but I'm really only interested in the 440gn model. Also....I'm in Australia....I'd assume you're in America?

 

[SDSmlf]

Thank you but I'm really only interested in the 440gn model. Also....I'm in Australia....I'd assume you're in America?

Ok, offered to send you some 350 gr REAL bullets, but now that I see you are in Australia, probably not practical from North Carolina USA. You may want to update your forum profile to let us know you are in Australia.

Wish you luck on your quest with the 440 gr Lee REAL bullets.

 

[waksupi]

Yet you haven't actually tried it have you,and that's what I asked for.

I'm fine if you want to ignore what someone with experience with barrels tells you. I've only worked with barrels with 1-6.9" through 1-120" twist barrels, so obviously have no clue. I can see you are a staunch democrat, and are always right. My sympathies to you, as I am sure you are still grieving Kamela's loss.

 

[SDSmlf]

I can see you are a staunch democrat, and are always right. My sympathies to you, as I am sure you are still grieving Kamela's loss.

Great post, particularly relevant with the guy living in Australia.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Please note the edit of my original note: my mold is the 440 grain. (typo from fat fingers.)

SDS: I would love to have a dozen bullets from your 350 mold! I can trade you off some pure lead or silver money!

ADK Bigfoot