Maxiball or Great Plains?

Ethan Grotheer · Nov 6, 2013

Hey just curious what performance recommendation on game you guys might have for a .54 renegade.. I want to use a conical and I'm looking at the maxibAll and the Great Plains and input from those that have used them.
Thanks

Roguedog · Nov 6, 2013

Never used either one but I can comfortably say that either one will do the job if you can do yours. On deer sized game it would likely be a toss up. Both are gonna make a big hole!

Jeff

Kapow · Nov 7, 2013

The Great Plains will probably be twice as accurate as the maxiball. I would use the maxiball for elk but the GPB for deer.

fleener · Nov 7, 2013

do they still make lyman shockers? I used these quite a bit and they are good. I have not bought any for years. I tend to find something I like and buy a bunch of them just in case they quit making them.

Fleener

Walks with fire · Nov 7, 2013

You will probably find the Hornady Great Plains to be more accurate in your Renegade. The TC Maxi would probably need a wad under it to shoot well since it has a flat base. They didn't shoot well enough for me and the HGP bullet is a tack driver. I don't see much need to lob a bus at a whitetail deer though. Like many here I am finding the patched ball works quite well enough on deer.

Walks with fire · Nov 7, 2013

That's the beauty of the patched ball. It never changes or goes out of style. It works the same as it always did. No looking for this or that; just plain jane simplicity. All you need is some real black powder, flint, ball, patch material and lube and your good to go.

hoochiepapa · Nov 7, 2013

My nephew shot a rag horn bull at about 80 yards with a maxi, it killed the bull, but was not deformed at all. I have had perfect mushrooming and performance with G. P. out to 110 yards.

Kylongrifle · Nov 7, 2013

Ive had a hawken .54 and now have a renegade .54. The both shot maxiballs well, the renegade seems to like them even better than the hawken..The hawken like great plains bullets but I haven't had a chance to shoot them in my renegade yet..there was no difference in accuracy between the two in my guns.

gunner69skmc · Nov 7, 2013

You will have to try both in your gun and see which one shoots best. If your rifle shoots patched round ball good then use it.

Ethan Grotheer · Nov 9, 2013

I went ahead and ordered the Great Plains given it had a hollow point and I'm just chasing deer with th ml this year..
My choice of conical is embarrassing but it really come down to I don't think I can get a ball started very fluidly to reload when standing on a 12" platform of a ladder stand. I've used conical a in my 50 with great results as far as loading quite easily and still getting good accuracy.

Spikebuck · Nov 10, 2013

Whatever shoots best in your gun. For me, the GP was more accurate. I like the hollow base to expand easier and fill the rifling better.

Little Wattsy · Nov 11, 2013

The great plains is the superior of the two in my experience.
Someone mentioned a "big hole" which is ironic since all projectile outta that gun will be pretty much .54 (+ or - a smidge) in diameter when the hit the critter.. THAT being said when I switched to .535 round ball that I could pour myself and killed a handful of animals up to some BIG ones (buffalo and elk) I quit spending the money on the store bought bullets and figured I now had powder for free on the difference....

Patocazador · Nov 13, 2013

This may not be relevant but in my 1:48 twist 50 caliber, the maxi is very accurate but the Great Plains not so much. .54 may be totally different, however.

Mad Professor · Nov 17, 2013

GP shoot great out of my 1-48 58 cal lyman and 1-28 GM barrel 54 TC.

Both are overkill for deer. I've seen the 58 ventilate a deer then pass through a 8" hardwood.

Another conical to consider is the buffalo bullet, it is great in a fast twist 50. That is more than you need for deer too unless you are in the wide open country.

Rat Trapper · Nov 17, 2013

In my TC hawken 50 & 54 caliber the Hornady great plains bullet with a felt wad shoots best. In my TC hawken 45 conicals don't shoot well at all?? It does shoot very well with patched round balls. Use what ever your rifle likes best both the round ball and the conical will do the job. As the animal gets bigger than deer, then I'd lean towards the conical.

Vaino · Nov 17, 2013

The Maxiball in my .50 TC Hawken loads w/ difficulty after the first shot. So, went to the Buffalo Bullet for easier loading. Both the Maxiball and Buffalo Bullet are very accurate....Fred

Rat Trapper · Nov 17, 2013

The harder those conicals load the better they shoot for me. My 50 cal TC Hawken loads very hard with the Hornady great plains bullets, but the groups it produces are worth the trouble.

Ethan Grotheer · Nov 17, 2013

Ordered and shot the Great Plains Thursday.
I just used 80 grs of ffg but I found that a starter was still needed to get it going but once it was lipped it slid pot has butter.
I got my holes touching each other 3" high at 50 yds .
I believe this should be pretty right at 100 yds? and found the recoil to be non noticeable.

Spikebuck · Nov 17, 2013

In my .54, a GP loses about 6" between 50 and 100 yards. So I would sight in 2-3" high at 50 and at 100 I was a few inches low. Should work for you. I used 90 grs.

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