What sizing die and top punch for T/C Maxi-Ball?

[Sixgun Symphony]

I just purchased a Lyman mold for the .50 caliber Maxi-Ball with handles on ebay for $73. What sizing die and top punch to get for the Lyman 4500 lube sizer? I will likely use the Lyman Black Powder Gold lubricant, but is there a way to use Borebutter in the Lyman 4500?

[G W Wade]

Why???

[Larry Gibson]

I don't size my 50 cal Maxi's either. I lube the bottom groove by hand while watching a movie. Easy to get 100+ done which is a lot of ML shooting.

[Dusty Bannister]

"Lyman bullet lubes eliminate leading and improve the accuracy of cast bullets. Blackpowder Gold is specifically designed for blackpowder cartridges and can be applied by hand to muzzleloader bullets."

If you buy the sizer large enough to prevent reducing the bullet diameter, it will likely leak lube past the bands. Are you keeping in mind that the bullet is stepped to facilitate ease of loading from the muzzle. The bullet must be a tight fit or it could move away from the powder charge during handling. Even the instructions provided by the maker recommend lube be applied by hand to muzzle loader bullets. It is not likely you will find a top punch made for the bullet you intend to use. But you might be able to use a 50 cal top punch and epoxy to fit the nose for your intended purpose. I do not think you will be happy with the results of your expensive efforts.

[megasupermagnum]

The Maxiball is 2 diameters. The bottom two bands are just over bore diameter, and the top band is a little larger than groove diameter. My 50 cal TC mold drops the bottom bands at .501-.502", and the top band I think was around .515". So a .502" sizer should allow you to lube to bottom groove.

That said, I've never heard of anyone trying. Most of us either use our fingers, or pan lube. Dip lubing works well too if you have a large enough tube to cut the excess. I only lube the bottom groove.

[gwpercle]

You don't need to size the Maxi-Ball . As cast they will be the proper size for loading down the barrel .
Just lube them ... by finger or pan lube .
I guess you could powder coat them ...but I'm not into PC'ing so have no first hand experience with that .
Gary

[MT Gianni]

TC made a plastic luber for their own lube. You pushed a bullet in and exerted force on the tube of lube and it squirted around the groove. Surprisingly they are worth some cash if you can find them.
I think pushing one through a die would likely dis-form the top of the bullet.

[Walks]

Never heard of sizing Maxi's.
Cast 'em, lube 'em & shoot "em.

I have the T/C adapter to fit on their tube of lube. Use them for .50cal & .54cal, the .45 I use to lube sized bullets for Black Powder.
The T/C Bore Butter is good stuff.

Too bad Thompson Center stopped making bullet molds and the "Lubers".
They now sell Maxi's for a buck a shot.

You can find the lube tube adapters on ebay.

[M-Tecs]

As stated TC Maxi's are a stepped design that was not intended to be sized by anything other than the bore. Some good info here:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?67772-How-to-use-a-maxi-ball

[rkrcpa]

Too bad Thompson Center stopped making bullet molds and the "Lubers".
They now sell Maxi's for a buck a shot.

You can find the lube tube adapters on ebay.

These guys show them @ 30 cents apiece.

https://moyerscastbullets.com/rifle_bullets_info_page/rifle_bullets_pricelist

[Rickf1985]

It sounds like he wants to shoot BP and stay clean while doing it. :roll: Good Luck with that.

[Geezer in NH]

None they shoot as cast