ordering maxi ball mold- sizing?

[hithard]

Going to order a maxi ball mold for my 32 cal. Measurements are .340 and .317
I could be off by .001 +/- , I'm thinking band measurements of .320, .324, and .328

What experience have any of you have?

Thanks

[curator]

Hithard,

The Maxi-ball was designed to have the top band be slightly larger than groove diameter and the bottom band at land diameter. The middle band somewhere in between. That arrangement kept the slug centered in the bore and sealed against gas leakage. A soft lube filling the space between aid in sealing and helped keep fouling soft for reloading without wiping the bore each time. Most Maxis were also made not too long for stabilizing with the rifling twist common in that caliber, mostly 1 in 48" twist. A .32 round ball requires a twist of at least 1 in 48", a maxi-ball longer than .32" will require even more twist. For example: .32 diameter, .64" length requires a twist rate of 1 in 24". I have several Lyman Maxi-ball moulds in .45, 50, and .54 caliber all make boolits too long to shoot accurately on the standard 1 in 48" twist. On the other hand, the Lee R.E.A.L. designs are shorter and give excellent accuracy. My .32 Cherokee would shoot nice clean key-holes using the Factory T/C .32 Maxi-balls with its 1 in 48" twist barrel. I finally gave up on conicals in this gun instead resorting to 2 & 3 ball loads when extra punch in needed.

[HARRYMPOPE]

the 1-48 Crockett shoot TC 32 Maxi's just fine.I have never had a problem stabilizing any maxi (54-50-54) in a 1-48 twist TC barrel.

As for twist my 1-72 twist 14# Benchrest 50 caliber shots the 395g Lyman Plains Bullets nearly as well as RB.And my .50 1-32 Lyman shoots patched RB like a champ even with 100g of powder.

George