.45 sith 1:48 twist-what's better Lee REAL 200 or 250 Grain?

[Gray Fox]

In a .45 T/C Hawken with a 1:48 twist and 80 or so grains of ffg BP which do you think will shoot more accurately, the Lee REAL 200 grain or the 250 grain? Thanks for any input. GF

[rodwha]

My .50 cal has seemed to show promise with the heavier 320 grn REAL. But then I haven’t tried the lighter 250 grn version. But I’d venture to guess both, maybe with differing charges, can be quite accurate.

[curator]

Gray Fox:
You might try both and see what works best in your rifle. I have good results with the 200 grain REAL in my 1 in 60" twist .45 caliber rifle and have found just as good results with either the 200 grain or the 250 grain REAL in other .45 caliber rifles with a 1 in 48: twist. Three things I have learned from playing with these slugs that may help you. First, weigh your boolits and shoot the heavy ones. REAL boolits are very sensitive to variations in size and weight. Light slugs will also be somewhat undersize which really affects accuracy. Cast them hot from pure lead with a tiny (1/2%) amount of tin for good mould fill-out. Second, use a hard card or thick felt wad under the boolit. Third, experiment with the amount of lube you use on them. I have found that filling only the bottom groove is best in MY rifles. YMMV.

[megasupermagnum]

Do you also use a lubed wad, or is just one groove enough lube?

[curator]

I don't use a lubed wad, either a .125" card wad or dry 1/8" thick hard felt under the boolit. My rifles seem to prefer only the bottom lube groove to be filled with lube. I uses 50/50 bee's wax/lard lube. Others I know seem to like all the lube grooves filled. My two .45s are both made with fairly shallow rifling. Deeper rifling might need more lube.