.500 Minnie ball accuracy

[Ferryboatcaptain]

Bought the lee .500 mold to use in my sears and Roebuck percussion ML . As cast they were right at .500 and more like a shotgun pattern than a group . I put one thickness of aluminum tape on the mold and brought it up to .505 . It fixed the problem and I’m sure I can do well enough for 60 yards shots and maybe a little more . FBC257864257864

[Ferryboatcaptain]

I used my homemade lube from deer fat , candle wax and olive oil.

[mooman76]

Did you try any lower powder charges? It might work better. Over powder wad might help too, it's worth a try.

[C. Latch]

I bought a Lee minie mold when I had a .54 Hawken and it just never shot that well for me. I was told that the Lee minies have thin skirts and will blow the skirt with more than ~60 grains of powder. Yours certainly seem to be doing well enough to smack a deer.

I am hoping in the next few days to experiment with the Lee .515-450 (50-70 bullet) sized to .510 for my 1-28" Green Mountain barreled Hawken.

[Ferryboatcaptain]

Did you try any lower powder charges? It might work better. Over powder wad might help too, it's worth a try.
1 and 2 are buck smackers . I’m not worried about 3or 4 .

[megasupermagnum]

I couldn't get a Minnie to shoot in mine either. A great plains bullet worked much better. Finally I got a round ball load that shoots well enough to 75 yards, and stuck with it. So much less fuss. The Minnie was developed to extend volley fire range, not accuracy.

[carbine]

In general, Minie rifles have shallower grooves (3-5 Thou) than round ball (6-10) rifles. Less blow by because grooves are completely filled. That is my belief

[Ferryboatcaptain]

I had forgotten how much fun the old muzzleloaders are . The .500 Minnie was my 1st mold I ever bought . I got a pan at a thrift store and a buddy gave me some soft lead . I used a old gas smoker and melted the lead down . Making my own boolits made it more fun for sure . I’m turning 54 this week and definitely can’t see sights like I once could . FBC