LEE Real Boolits

[siamese4570]

I tried the LEE REAL 320 grain boolits in my 50 cal T/C (1:48" Twist) and they didn't seem to stabilize. Wanted to try the 250 grain boolits before I buy the mold. Figured that the shorter/lighter boolit would be easier to stabilize with the 1:48 barrel. Does anybody out there cast these and could I buy/beg a few to try.

Thanks

Siamese 4570

[Old Ironsights]

Yes. PM me with details.

[Cactus Farmer]

I shoot the light (185 grn?)45 REAL bullet in a 1-66 twist and it does real well........hope your lighter boolit experiment works as well.......

I pan lube with 50% bees wax and 50% rendered sheep but fat,then wrap in a square of Saran wrap twisted up on the front end. I load plastic and all. Keeps your fingers clean and I can't find any plastic fouling in the bore.......

[home in oz]

I wondered about the .54 Cal Real Boolit. Is that accurate?

[Blammer]

I had the same problem with the Lee REAL bullets in 50 cal.

the 250 one works great the 320 is marginal on stability for me. I am also shooting a TC renegade with 1:48 twist

[Larry Gibson]

I've just the opposite problem; the 325 shoots well in my 1:28" twist TC Blk Mtn Magnum .50 cal and the 250 doesn't. All about the twist, as usual.

Larry Gibson

[mainiac]

I have shot the 320 gr. real in my investarms .50 hawken (1-48) alot. It shoots almost as well as round ball, and has never shown signs of instability.

[Maven]

"I've just the opposite problem; the 320 shoots well in my 1:28" twist TC Blk Mtn Magnum .50 al and the 250 doesn't. All about the twist, as usual."

Hmm, this is a poser! My experience with REAL's was similar to Larry's: The 320gr. one shot better than the 250gr. one in my .50cal. Knight Bighorn (1:28" twist), but neither was as accurate as the Lyman & T/C Maxi-Balls (~370gr.). However, in my .45cal. T/C Hawken (28" bbl., 1:48" twist), the REAL and Lyman & T/C Maxi-Balls shot equally well: 4 - 6 shots touching @ 50 yds. from a rest with 70 - 80grs. Pyro. RS when I paid attention.

Since some have reported success with REAL's in twists as slow as 1:66 and as fast as 1:28 (1:24 too?) in various calibers, I have to question Larry's assertion that it's "all about the twist...." Could it be that the REAL's bearing length/cal.; how well they fit a given bore; powder charge and granulation; type of lube used; and how carefully they're cast (Their bases must be flawless.), have as much to do with accuracy (or inaccuracy) as twist rate? Btw, I almost always use a cardboard disk (writing tablet backing, shirt cardboard, etc.) cut with a 7/16" and 1/2" arch punch (.45cal. & .50cal., resp.) under REAL's and Maxi-'s and lube both with either T/C Maxi-Ball lube (ca. 1980), T/C Bore Butter or one of its clones and can't complain about them, except maybe the cost.

Just some food for thought.

[PatMarlin]

My TC Hawken 50 cal really likes lyman's 504617. Forgot how heavy it is, but my rilfe likes heavies.

[mikenbarb]

I run both sizes thru my Traditions LR hunter with great success and accuracy up to 200+ yards. It has a 1/28" twist so its a pretty fast twist. I load them over 80gr. American Pioneer powder and I also use Pyrodex Select with 75gr. and they are both great loads. I found that the REAL slugs like lower velocities out of my smoke pole.
PS- I got much better accuracy after I switched to bullshops NASA lube and it made a 2" improvement in accuracy @ 200yds. Plus the bore stays cleaner longer.[smilie=w:

[Larry Gibson]

Maven

Well it is about the twist. The shorter and lighter REAL is supposed to shoot better in slower RB twists of 48-66". The heavier is supposed to shoot better in the faster twists. Take for instance RBs in a 28" twist. Everyone says they are not accurate at 100 yards. They are right if they push that RB over 1800 fps. Goups at 100 yards look like improved cylinder. In my rifle groups at 50 yards will be 2" or less and at 100 yards groups will be 16"+. Howver, drop the velocity to 1750 fps and I get the same 1.5" goups at 50 yards and 3" groups t 100 yards. It is pretty much the same with the 250 REAL. Load it up to a certain point in the 28" twist and it does fine at 50 and 100 yards. Push the 250 REAL up the the same max load that the 320 REAL shoots well in out to 200 yards and it also shoots 2" groups at 50 yards and 12-14" groups at 100 yards and forget 200 yards. In my friends 48" twist Hawkin that same 250 REAL max load shoots accurately to 200 yards.

It is about the twist when you begin to push them above a certain velocity. As you mention; they must be cast well ad loaded properly. I also use a thin felt wad under them and either TC Bore Butter or my own BP lube (60/50 beeswax/olive oil). Mikennarbs load is probably about max for good accuracy. I use 75 gr(V) 777 fffg for best accuracy with the 250 REAL. I use 85 with the 320 REAL with excellent accuracy out to 200 yards. I also prefer the MaxiBall and use an original TC mould that casts them at 350 gr out of 1-16 alloy. I push these at 1525 fps and they will kill an elk! Accuracy is 7 shots (one down the spout and 6 in speed loaders) in 2 at 100 yards without cleaning or wiping the bore.

Larry Gibson