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How much powder to use with 45 cal Minie bullet?
Folks,
I cast up some 45 cal Minie type bullets recently with a Lyman mold, from soft lead. They were well lubed with TC Bore Butter.
The Lyman mold is:
Lyman #445599 .45 Cal. 255 Grain Hollow Base mini Ball Mould Blocks
When I shot them in my TC Hawken 45 (1/48 twist I believe) with about 50 grains of FFg, they did not shoot particularly well. They appeared to stabilize (as there were no keyholes) but did not group well. With the same powder charge, a patched round ball of .445 diameter shot quite well, about a 2 inch group at 50 yards.
An experienced muzzleloader at the range told me that for a 45 Minie ball, you need 90 grains or for it to bump up and shoot well.
Can anyone tell me:
1) How soft a 45 minie ball needs to be? I cast these out of lead I could indent with a fingernail.
2) How much powder you need to properly expand the skirt of the Minie, but not too much to blow its skirt off?
3) What twist rate is required to properly stabilize this Lyman .445 Minie?
Thanks! This is the first time I have tried something other than a round ball in a muzzleloader.