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Post by shootist---Gary on Nov 3, 2018 19:50:18 GMT -7
Hi Daniel. Last winter, at a local gun show, I bought a box lot of over 200 .45 cal. Thompson/Center Maxi Ball style bullets at a very reasonable price for my newly acquired .45 T/C Hawken barrel that I will put on one of my .50 cal. Hawken rifles. The barrel is in as new condition. After I returned from deer hunting, I put the rifle together, lubed some bullets, & tried to get it sighted in at 50 yds. It shot all over the target board. I cleaned it & it's been in the case since then. With deer season coming up, I decided to try it again, but after trying to figure out why it shoots so badly. Yesterday, I brought the bullets in, along with my digital scale, & weighed each one of over 200 bullets. They weighed from a low of 214+ gr. to a high of 225+ gr. Over 60 of them were between 223 & 224 gr.
My question is, How can I accurately trim the heavy ones in each weight bracket--221+, 222+, 223+, 224+ & 225 gr., to the even gr. wt.? My thought is to shave lead from the base of the Maxi Ball until it reaches the desired weight, but how can I do it evenly? I have a RCBS Rotary Case Trimmer-2 with a .50 cal. cutter head. If I size down a .45 LC, or .45-70 case, then expand the neck just enough to grip the bullet, then crank in the cutter head to shave lead. Do you think it will work, or do you have another solution> I really, at my age, & for all that I'll be shooting this rifle, don't want to spend good money for a decent new mould.
Thanking you in advance for your experienced advise. Gary
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Post by Bullshop on Nov 4, 2018 7:05:29 GMT -7
Gary
My first guess as to the inaccuracy your getting is not as much from the bullet weight variation as it is to the rifling twist rate of your barrel. Do you know the twist rate? If it is the standard used by TC at 1/48" and your bullets are longer than 1" length that is most likely what is causing your accuracy issues. Even at 1"bullet length with a 1/48" twist you are pushing the envelope for bullet stability.
Have you tried shooting patched ball in it yet ? My guess is that with a patched ball even with balls showing the same % of weight variation as your bullets the balls will shoot better.
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Post by shootist---Gary on Nov 4, 2018 8:38:27 GMT -7
Dan, My 2 .50 cal. T/C rifles, 1 scoped, the other iron sighted, both shoot well with the 320 gr. Maxi Ball. I've shot 3 deer with the scoped rifle at approximately 85 yds., & others at shorter distance. It cloverleafs 3 shots from a rest at 75 yds., with 90 gr. 2F Goex. That's what puzzles me about the .45 barrel. I just measured a 215 gr. .45 Maxi Ball, & it is just -3/4" long. As for shooting patched RB, I've never shot RB in any of my T/C rifles. My old Numerich Arms Hopkins & Allen "Minuteman" full stock .45 used to shoot very well with 60 gr. FF DuPont back in the early 1960's when I bought it. At 25 yds, with open sights, (& young eyes), I could split a RB on a German Bayonet, & break 2 clay pigeons. If I remember correctly, it has a faster twist rifling rate.
As for this .45, I'll try to put closely matched bullets together, then shoot 5 shot groups, varying the powder charges by 5 gr., also may try FFF powder, as some shooters say their rifles shoot better by using it. If all else fails, I still have plenty of your 405 & 500 gr. .45-70 bullets loaded with BP for the old Trapdoor.
As a side note, yesterday, in an antique shop, I bought a box, 18 loaded + 1 my case of Remington SN jacketed .45-70 for $28, & 1 full box 50 of .41 Long Colt, in the yellow Western Super X box for $19. I should have bought the other 2 boxes of the .41 LC, but didn't realize how scarce it is until I got on the computer last night. I might just have to drive 40 miles one way, to get the other 2 boxes.
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Post by missionary on Nov 21, 2018 6:58:44 GMT -7
Good morning Gary
Just read this and you should consider what Dan wrote. We had a caliber .50 40 years back with the 1-48 twist. It would put patched RB into tiny cloverleafs at 50 yards. 4-5 inch groups at 100 were easy. Tried all sorts of Maxi's and gave up after expending a lot of powder at many charge levels.
What twist are those TC rifles ? I one's I know about are in the 1-28 area twist rates.
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Post by shootist---Gary on Nov 21, 2018 19:26:51 GMT -7
Hello Missionary. All 3, plus an extra barrel are all 1 in 48 twist. My original .50, has a Bushnell 3 x 9 scope, & at 75 yards ( all I can get in my back yard, because of the creek & swamp) from a kneeling position, using T/C 320 gr Maxi Balls with 90 gr. FF Goex will print 3 shot cloverleafs. The open sight "kit" barrel I bought off ebay, also will do the same if I do my part. The 3 rd .50 I got from my S.I.L., I have never shot, but he took deer with patched RB. with it. The .45 barrel, I bought last Nov., then put in the open sight .50 stock just didn't want to shoot right. I am going to try shooting it Saturday, & if it doesn't do better, I'll take the scoped .50, & my 1884 Trapdoor .45-70 Gov't, loaded with 68 gr. of 1 1/2 Swiss & Daniel's cast 405 & 500 gr bullets. Short range shots get 405 gr, & long range, 500 gr.
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