.50 RB in a .50

[mini14]

Anyone have any luck with a .50 RB in a .50? I poured a few, when i get my new gun i'm going to see how they fit.

[docone31]

I had a tight fitting Minie that I had to pound down the bore, but I never tried a ball that tight.
Bring a nylon hammer with you to the range.

[Jim]

Best to use a .490 or .495 RB in a .50. Groove size ball is kinda' tight. Not only are you going to have to pound the hang out of it to get it in, that will destroy the patch and the ball.

[beemer]

I have killed several deer with a patched .490 RB in a 50 cal. using 70 gr. of 3F Goex. All were solid hits from 30 to 60 yds. and went through the deer. They run a 50 yds or so and fall down. My BIL used the rifle for several more, same load and same results. My 40 cal. does about the same. Round balls are all I shoot in my ML's, you just have to be aware of their limitations and put it where it belongs. Hope you enjoy your new rifle.

Dave

[mini14]

See i got a .50 lee mold for free and was hoping to have a use for it but i guess i'll have no such luck. i guess i'll just keep it for multi ball zombie loads in the 12 gauge!

[northmn]

.500 RBs were often used by bench shooter and started using a false muzzle where they were kind of swaged into the bore. I have used 451 patched RB in 45's but they take special care and are mostly a targe proposition where I use a brass loading rod. That being said they can be used for the one shot for a hunting load also. They require a very good short starter, ideally one with a 50 cal jag for starting, and then a good long starter. They also are lube critical and work best with a very wet patch if for targets. If for hunting a good slick grease lube. Barrels have to be kept pretty clean as they load very hard in a dirty barrel. Saying all this I generally used a 445 in a 45 as the tighter ball was not all that much more accurate.

DP

[DIRT Farmer]

If you have a good smooth barrel, and use pure lead, a .500 in a .50 barrel will work fine. It will take a smart rap on the short starter but once the ball is formed to the bore, it will slide down a clean, smooth. A lot of target shooters use a .505 with a patch.
In my 40, I use a .400 and 0.020, once the ball is started, it will slide down. In my hunting rifle, I load a .495 with a 0.020 patch because the looser fit makes loading with out a short starter easier in the field.

Some moulds were listed as 50 to be used in a fifty. Cast a few and see if they are under sized.

[mooman76]

Some older guns have larger bores. There was allot of non-standardized guns built. I have a really old 32 and it has a large bore. I can easily get a .320 ball down the barrel and probably could go a might larger. For it's age, it shoots surprizingly good.

[MoldyJoe]

Mini-14, What are you shooting it in? Have you slugged it? I have a Thompson Center that I have to pound .490 RB's in, and I've shot others that kind of roll right down with out a thick patch. Like most, usually the end of the barrel is the tightest. Slug and Mic it, see how close you get. Joe

[mini14]

the gun is on order, should be here this week. Traditions pursuit LT. I more or less want to shoot RBs just for plinking.

[mooman76]

There's a .490 lee mould for sale in the selling section under muzzleloader for $15.