N.Y. Yankee
32 Cal.
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- Feb 27, 2013
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Do you like them? What is your experience with them?
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Lee REAL bullets?
- Thread starter N.Y. Yankee
- Start date
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curator
45 Cal.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
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I like them for some of my rifles. A couple of things I have learned about them that may help you:
The .45, 50 and .54 caliber REALs come in two lengths. Pick the shorter one if your gun has slow twist rifling, or the longer one if 1 in 48" or faster.
Most rifles shoot REALs better if they are loaded with a wad between them and the powder charge.
You may need to experiment with how much lube is needed. Most (but not all) of mine shoot best with all lube grooves filled.
When casting them, use nearly pure lead with 1/2% tin added for better mold fill-out. A lot of accuracy problems with REALs can be traced to low quality castings. The REAL design is such that bullets can LOOK good but not fully filled out. Keeping the mold and melt hot (800 to 850 degrees) helps with casting quality bullets.
The .45, 50 and .54 caliber REALs come in two lengths. Pick the shorter one if your gun has slow twist rifling, or the longer one if 1 in 48" or faster.
Most rifles shoot REALs better if they are loaded with a wad between them and the powder charge.
You may need to experiment with how much lube is needed. Most (but not all) of mine shoot best with all lube grooves filled.
When casting them, use nearly pure lead with 1/2% tin added for better mold fill-out. A lot of accuracy problems with REALs can be traced to low quality castings. The REAL design is such that bullets can LOOK good but not fully filled out. Keeping the mold and melt hot (800 to 850 degrees) helps with casting quality bullets.
bubba.50
Barefoot Hillbilly
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2010
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Both the longer and the shorter versions shot grreat in my Great Plains Rifle and in every TC I ever tried them in. Just use plenty of lube. And while I never saw the need, a lot of people have excellent results by usin’ an over powder wad.
I've been shooting these since the molds first became available. All my shooting was in slow twist rifles. Per a review in Guns&Ammo magazine, I used the lower of the two weights offered in my slow twist rifles. They shot well. But as mentioned, it is a good idea to weigh them for consistency.
longcruise
70 Cal.
I loaded both sizes in a TC .50 and the five shot groups off the bench were all touching with both at 50 yards. Then to 100 and they became 12" groups.
I hunted with Maxi balls for about five years in the mid '70's and got good accuracy with them but went to balls for deer and 54 balls for elk and results were just dandy.
Another conical i tried was the Lee 450 grain 50-70 bullet sized down from it's 515 diameter. That one shot with excellent accuracy at all distances. Recoil was noticeable.
I hunted with Maxi balls for about five years in the mid '70's and got good accuracy with them but went to balls for deer and 54 balls for elk and results were just dandy.
Another conical i tried was the Lee 450 grain 50-70 bullet sized down from it's 515 diameter. That one shot with excellent accuracy at all distances. Recoil was noticeable.
