Anybody use mini balls for deer hunting?

[Arkansas Paul]

May be a silly question but I'm going to switch from using .45 caliber XTP bullets in sabots to a bore sized bullet.
I'm shooting a modern muzzleloader, a CVA Optima Elite and use loose Pyrodex.

In looking at bore sized bullets, the Powerbelts look and sound good but I'm cheap and don't want to have to spend that much money.

So I'm looking to cast some myself. I figure a 350ish grain lead pill will hit a deer like Thor's hammer.

Is the mini ball a decent choice for whitetail hunting?
If not, what would you guys recommend?

Thanks.

[roverboy]

I don't see why it wouldn't work good, especially cast from pure lead. 350 gr. is a big chunk of lead from a .45 caliber. I know there's heavier but, its still heavy. Should be awesome.

[Arkansas Paul]

It's for a .50 cal.
I was using .45 caliber bullets in sabots.

I'm wanting to step up to a full bore .50 cal bullet.

I was thinking the same as you in that it would work well for deer. The mini ball should give great expansion with pure lead I would think.

[carbine]

They will work very effectively. Check state law, some only allow a round ball for deer of at least 45 cal.

[Arkansas Paul]

Thanks.
Here in Arkansas there aren't many restrictions. Just has to be .45 caliber or larger. No projectile restrictions.

[big bore 99]

With that size slug, I'm sure any deer properly hit will be a goner. I shoot 525 grain minies out of a .58 and I've seen people shooting in competition on teams cutting a 4X4 in half.

[Arkansas Paul]

I think I'll order a Lee mini ball mold and see how it works.
Hopefully it will give sufficient accuracy in my CVA. If not, I'm sure I can sell the mold easily enough and they're inexpensive to start with.

[johnson1942]

read idaho rons sticky on paperpatching. go a little heavier on the bullet and paperpatch it. resize them to .492 then wrap or wrap then size so they can go down the bore. if you want accracy and hitting like thors hammer then see what idaho ron does in paperpatching. that 1/28 twist barrel of yours probaby could shoot a 500 to 550 grain bullet best. a 350 might spin out as it is a little short for a 1/28 twist.

[Arkansas Paul]

I'll definitely check that sticky out.
Thanks.

[beroen]

I would try a minie ball lubed with bore butter.

I would not discount trying patched round ball it's more than sufficient weight to kill a whitetail
And extremely accurate. Way less variables induced to the projectile Lube patches with bore butter.

Real black powder is more accurate than "pyrodex"
But more work also.

See what groups best you might need to try a few different thickness patches. Or size round ball CVA should have a recommendation somewhere.

[725]

This year, I'm using a Lee .45 "Improved Miniball" in my rebarreled Gonic. Great accuracy with bore butter.

[Nobade]

Real black powder is more accurate than goex
But more work also.


And what is Goex if not real black powder?

-Nobade

[roverboy]

It's for a .50 cal.
I was using .45 caliber bullets in sabots.

I'm wanting to step up to a full bore .50 cal bullet.

I was thinking the same as you in that it would work well for deer. The mini ball should give great expansion with pure lead I would think.

Sorry, I read it wrong. I've never shot Minie Balls but, I used to shoot 350 gr. Maxi-Hunters in my CVA Staghorn .50 1/32 twist and they shot pretty good with 90 gr. 777. Did a good job on a 160 lb. 7 point a few years ago.

[fouronesix]

what would you guys recommend?
Thanks.

Short answer- in 50 caliber, the most accurate load you can find.

There is a huge difference between a Minié ball and other conicals. The fast twist of that rifle is another variable as to what will work. Any 50 cal conical is more than adequate for deer if it is put in the right spot and to do that it has to be accurate. Velocity is not the most important part of the equation. Most 50 cal conicals will go right through a deer. "Thor's Hammer" is just a saying that doesn't mean much.

[LEADHOPPER]

I shot a 50 cal Maxi-ball out of my CVA inline with 90 grains of 777. I lube with 50/50 bore butter and beeswax. I tried the straight bore butter but just made a mess with it. I pan lube them and put them away for later. Lube stays in the grooves until you shoot them and have not had any leading at all. Was surprised how good it grouped at 100 yards. Hopefully this weekend I will put some brown on the ground with one.

LH

[TCLouis]

Remember if you cast true Minie balls they have a hollow base and fairly mild load will blow a skirt affecting accuracy.

Still get deer killing power at the lower level.

What is the twist on that gun, or did I just miss seeing it?

PM me I may have a plan for you to try depending on when opening day is!

[fouronesix]

CVA Optima should have a 28" twist.

[Hanshi]

Sorry, no. Prb all the way for me.

[beroen]

And what is Goex if not real black powder?

-Nobade
Lol I meant pyrodex!

[bob208]

i have seen some friends use a .58 minie ball on deer. has about the same efect as a 12 ga. slug.

one thing to watch for if a true minie , they have a habit of working forward in the barrel if you carry the gun in a hariszonal posistion.

[Arkansas Paul]

Considering the mini's construction that makes sense.

I think I may just go with the Lee R.E.A.L.

Should I just get some bore butter and use that for lube or maybe pan lube them with some NRA 50-50?

[triggerhappy243]

well think of me friday. taking my renegade to the range and shoot some of the r.e.a.l. bullets.

[triggerhappy243]

and i do use bore butter.... sparingly.

[rsrocket1]

The 250g REAL works fine for me in my 50 cal Optima Pro. I was told and do use an overpowder disc between the bullet and the powder. I get better accuracy with T/C yellow sabots and Lee TL452-230-TC, but that adds $0.20/shot so I bought the Lee REAL mold and started shooting with that. So far while I've achieved <1" groups at 50 yards with the sabots, I'm at 1-2" @ 50 with the REAL's, but I'm still playing around with the loads to see if I can get better accuracy.

Lubed with 2:1 Beeswax/Vasleine, zero leading even after 2 dozen shots in an afternoon.

[triggerhappy243]

rained out. try again tomorrow,

[smilin jack]

i have seen some friends use a .58 minie ball on deer. has about the same efect as a 12 ga. slug.

one thing to watch for if a true minie , they have a habit of working forward in the barrel if you carry the gun in a hariszonal posistion.

Yes, I've had a minnie work forward from the powder (kept checking with the ramrod). Solved later when I got some card wads and put one over the slug to hold it in place. The minnie was 577611 Lyman and the bore is 0.580".
Worked up a hunting load with powder loaded, then greased felt wad, then greased 58 cal minnie, then the card wad on top of the slug. The rifle holds a tight group if cleaned between shots.

Dave

[triggerhappy243]

AR paul, let us all know how things went with the bullet choice.