12.7x44 - to cast or not to cast?

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Metman2

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I'm thinking about loading for my m/1867 rolling block (year 1871), and after checking the various "authoritative" sites (dutchman, castboolits), I still have a question or two.

First, a few facts:
The barrel slugs at .515" - pretty deep rifling that leaves a rather hexagonal slug. I'm already set up fine for reloading, but I'm not set up for casting. I'm not prepared to start just for this one gun. It's unlikely I'll be shooting hundreds of rounds through the old rifle. I may even decide I don't like it - so rather than get too involved, I wonder if there's a lower-budget solution, e.g. commercial .500 lead bullets. No expectation of 1000yd accuracy, or absolutely authenticity of the Swedish Army round, but safe, reproducible, reasonable grouping at 50-100 yds would be nice.

Question:
Can anyone suggest a viable commercially-available lead projectile?
e.g. Hornady Great Plains .500? I realize it's a muzzle-loading bullet. Since they are hollow-based, the skirt might flare enough to give a decent seal.

There is some information on paper-wrapping hollow-based bullets, that might lead to my lower-budget solution, but I haven't seen too much on it. Most guys shooting this calibre seem to be prepared to cast and lube-size their own .510-.515" bullets.
 
That size is closest to the Sharps .50 of usually .512" to .515" and many molds are therefore available, I have and use at least 10 molds for the .50 Sharps. The best accuracy will be achieved with dead soft or at most 30-1 mix of lead. If you cant find soft bullets of the size you want, you can paper patch some from just over .500" up to .515, but note that bullets should still be of soft alloy.....I make bullets from 425gr. to 700grains for my "poison slinger" , 50/90 Sharps.
 
I cast, but you should be able to find a guy somewhere who casts the oddball boolits and sells them.

That said... I started casting for one .50 roundball muzzle loader, now pretty much most of the cals I like can't be bought commercially and I have to cast :p :D

If you can find a bullet roughly the right weight and diameter, get it as close to diameter... if it's a bit undersized make sure it's as close to pure lead as possible and it'll bump right up to bore diameter with a good charge of black powder. Well lubed grease grooves and a wad will help with accuracy and keeping fouling minimal and soft, I'm still learning in this department.
 
Thank-you all for you replies and suggestions. I have a few initial contacts, and with time I'll be able to try a few different bullets. Hopefully I can settle on something decent without too much experimenting: my access to outdoor range time is limited :(. Who knows? Maybe I'll even decide to start casting a few of my own!
 
Thank-you all for you replies and suggestions. I have a few initial contacts going to try a few different bullets. Hopefully I can settle on something decent without too much experimenting (as my access to outdoor range time is limited :(). Who knows? Maybe I'll even decide to start casting a few of my own!
 
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