Maxi Ball Casting

[gmww]

I just finished casting a bunch of Maxi Balls. I'm using pure lead. The thing I'm finding is the cast bullets don't match what is supposed to be the bullet weight. My .50 cals are running 361-364 grains to the listed 370 grains. :hmm: I've tried different temp. without success. The .490 round balls are running 177 and 178.

Also will 3-4 grains difference in bullets throw off accuracy a whole lot or am I being too anal?

 

[Bountyhunter]

Are you sure you are running pure lead?

If you have any alloys in there, they will throw lighter bullets as the alloys are not as dense as the lead. Just an idea.

 

[gmww]

I'm pretty sure. The lead I'm using is from the old plumbing. As a test, I cast a bunch of .490 round balls. They cast on average 177 and 178 which is what .490 should be. (177 grns. that is.)

I tried to lower the temp. but ended up with creases in the bullets which means it's too cold.

I would get a 370 grain Maxi ball every so often but that is the exception and not the norm. 361-364 seems to be the average. I may have to work up a load with these. I was just wondering if anyone else is using maxi-balls and what they were ending up with.

:hmm:

 

[jtmattison]

I just finished casting a bunch of Maxi Balls. I'm using pure lead. The thing I'm finding is the cast bullets don't match what is supposed to be the bullet weight. My .50 cals are running 361-364 grains to the listed 370 grains. :hmm: I've tried different temp. without success. The .490 round balls are running 177 and 178.

Also will 3-4 grains difference in bullets throw off accuracy a whole lot or am I being too anal?

I've experienced the same thing casting minnie balls. The advertised weight is 415 grains but mine all come out 425 grains.

It doesn't really matter as long as they all weigh within a couple grains of each other. Consistency is what you want for accuracy. The deer don't care if you shoot them with a 350 grain bullet or a 370 grain bullet. They die all the same.

HD

 

[BS]

I just finished casting a bunch of Maxi Balls. I'm using pure lead. The thing I'm finding is the cast bullets don't match what is supposed to be the bullet weight. My .50 cals are running 361-364 grains to the listed 370 grains. :hmm: I've tried different temp. without success. The .490 round balls are running 177 and 178.

Also will 3-4 grains difference in bullets throw off accuracy a whole lot or am I being too anal?

If your gun is sighted in for these bullets, and you use only these.......and a wad uner them..........they should shoot just fine.

I cheated and made a cutter that opens the front grove up to .512 and the middle to .502-.504 the base is just under bore size. [aluminum TC mold]

with the wad and bigger bullets, accuracy went from 4-5"s at 100 too under 1.1/2"..... :yakyak: