I took my .45 T/C Hawken with the GM LRH barrel on it out today to do some shooting with home cast 230 gr Maxiballs. This rifle with 80 gr of Pyro P will shoot really tight groups all day long and is my best shooting 100 yd sidelock using 200 gr Hornady 10mm XTPs and blue Harvester EZ Load sabots.
So I started with the 80 gr load at 50 yds with the Maxis. These loaded very easily (too easily) so I wasn't expecting much. I mean a thumb start and easy slide down the bore.
Target was set at 50 yds and bore swabbed between each shot with T17 and dry patch. The first three shots produced a 4" or so group and 10" high. OK, lets try 90 gr of Pyro P. Wow that was even worse. I mean a 3 shot group about 6" and still about 10" high.
So there I was, scratching my head wondering how a barrel can shoot saboted bullet so good and suck at shooting conicals. So after cleaning the bore with a couple T17 patches and drying it I decided to try a 70 gr charge of Pyro P. Not really expecting any better.
I taped up the holes in the target because I couldn't really see them at 50 yds and fired 3 shots with the 70 gr charge. After the third shot I walked up to the target and could not believe it. All 3 shots were touching making a nice neat cloverleaf. Still about 6" high but at least I know the rifle will shoot the Maxis. I'm going to stick with the XTPs for now. But the Maxis will be a good back up.
I would have thought the heavier charge would have compressed the base of the bullet more making for better accuracy. But obviously that's not the case. Anyone else experience these results of heavy vs light loads and maxiballs?

You have to stop inventing new words.

I would use spell checker but I figure that's what you're here for. It gives you something to do.....

Besides, I need the "p" elsewhere.

Thank you. I appreciate the work.

I wonder what the velocity of that 70 grain load is. I would think it quite adequate for a hunting load. Seventy grains of Pyrodex P should produce about the same velocity as 80 - 85 grains of GOEX. Very little recoil I presume?

A friend of mine hunts with the 50 caliber maxi ball. He shoots 70 grains of pyrodex rs and that is his hunting load. He shoots a New England which as you know is not a fast twist. But he told me that at 70 yards it blew through a buck and left a wound that was hard to believe. I would think out of a 45 caliber they would be faster and probably as deadly. Where did you find that caliber? I have the same barrel.

Dave I got that from GM a while ago. In fact I think you put me on to it. They were having a sale. I think it was like $129 with shipping or something like that.
Semi - the recoil is mild. Especially when you compared it to the 90 gr charge I tried earlier. I guess I am going to have to chrony it next time out. And also the 200 gr XTP for comparison. I know the XTPs are devastating on deer.

I was wondering where you purchased the maxi ball. Do you cast them yourself?

Yes Dave
Lyman makes the mould. Midway USA has one left on clearance:
http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/500...eter-245-grain