R.E.A.L. Bullets

rebs · February 20, 2017, 07:21 PM

Tell me about these bullets in 50 cal please. Are they accurate ? Are they good to load and shoot ? A guy in our club casts them with I believe he said a Lee mold and sells,them pretty cheap. They would be for my new englander 1/48 27" barrel. Are they hollow base ?

Hawg · February 20, 2017, 07:34 PM

They're not hollow base and require a pretty sharp rap with a short starter to get them started. REAL stands for Rifling Engraved At Loading. They shoot pretty decent tho as do TC Maxi Balls and the Hornady Great Plains.

Old Stony · February 20, 2017, 08:51 PM

I've used these in a 50 cal. TC Hawken in the past with very good results. Had excellent penetration on deer.

FrankenMauser · February 20, 2017, 11:51 PM

I have a .54 cal mold sitting here for my .54 Hawken, but I've never fired any of the bullets, because I can't get a good bullet to drop from that crappy mold.

Anyway...
While trying to decide between a few options for a conical bullet, I did a lot of reading on the REALs (.50 and .54).
Reviews are very mixed.
Some people love them.
Some people can never get them to work.
Twist rate matters.
And most people that do get them to work swear by a lubricated wad under the bullet.

With your 1:48" twist rate, I would expect the 250 gr .50 cal to be the best option. The 320 seems to only do well in faster twist barrels.

rodwhaincamo · February 21, 2017, 03:36 PM

I have a .50 cal 24" barrel with deeper grooves meant for PRB with the 1:48" twist. My 320 grn REAL keyholed when I didn't use a wad and was about a foot left and a bit low. The next two with a wad were nearly touching and just below the bull at 50 yds using 70 grns of 3F Triple 7. I bought the mold after that! I haven't worked on them though.

rebs · February 21, 2017, 03:37 PM

which wad did you use ?

rodwhaincamo · February 21, 2017, 09:16 PM

I punch my own from 1/8" hard felt bought from Durofelt with a custom punch made from a retired machinist on a traditional forum. My grooves run around 0.520" according to Lyman and he suggested slightly over that for a tight fit. For $10 + shipping I did well I think for the punch (I also have one for my pistols).

http://durofelt.com/image_26.html

dr1445 · February 22, 2017, 05:52 AM

i have used them in several inlines and find you can customize the fit.
http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...-mold-diameter

Sure Shot Mc Gee · February 22, 2017, 06:25 AM

Allot of fellows like those REAL bullets no question about that. But when I want to shoot a conical ball {which is seldom} my go too are these (link) They seem to be pretty accurate out of my 1-48 twist. Although I can cast just about any bullet I want. I found these sabo to be easy to load and reload with a fouled barrel with just a ram rod to drive it home. And that is a plus when hurried in the field for that possible second shot requirement.

Dinking around with a short starters nub then its 6" rod than the rifles ram rod certainly isn't a step and time saver in anyone's book.
You have to think about things like {the above} when your a muzzle loader hunter?

https://www.prbullet.com/

rebs · February 22, 2017, 06:27 AM

Thank you guys for the information. I appreciate it

February 20, 2017, 07:21 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	R.E.A.L. Bullets Tell me about these bullets in 50 cal please. Are they accurate ? Are they good to load and shoot ? A guy in our club casts them with I believe he said a Lee mold and sells,them pretty cheap. They would be for my new englander 1/48 27" barrel. Are they hollow base ?

February 20, 2017, 11:51 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I have a .54 cal mold sitting here for my .54 Hawken, but I've never fired any of the bullets, because I can't get a good bullet to drop from that crappy mold. Anyway... While trying to decide between a few options for a conical bullet, I did a lot of reading on the REALs (.50 and .54). Reviews are very mixed. Some people love them. Some people can never get them to work. Twist rate matters. And most people that do get them to work swear by a lubricated wad under the bullet. With your 1:48" twist rate, I would expect the 250 gr .50 cal to be the best option. The 320 seems to only do well in faster twist barrels. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 20, 2017, 07:34 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	They're not hollow base and require a pretty sharp rap with a short starter to get them started. REAL stands for Rifling Engraved At Loading. They shoot pretty decent tho as do TC Maxi Balls and the Hornady Great Plains.

February 20, 2017, 08:51 PM	#3
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I've used these in a 50 cal. TC Hawken in the past with very good results. Had excellent penetration on deer.

February 21, 2017, 03:36 PM	#5
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I have a .50 cal 24" barrel with deeper grooves meant for PRB with the 1:48" twist. My 320 grn REAL keyholed when I didn't use a wad and was about a foot left and a bit low. The next two with a wad were nearly touching and just below the bull at 50 yds using 70 grns of 3F Triple 7. I bought the mold after that! I haven't worked on them though.

February 21, 2017, 03:37 PM	#6
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	which wad did you use ?

February 21, 2017, 09:16 PM	#7
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I punch my own from 1/8" hard felt bought from Durofelt with a custom punch made from a retired machinist on a traditional forum. My grooves run around 0.520" according to Lyman and he suggested slightly over that for a tight fit. For $10 + shipping I did well I think for the punch (I also have one for my pistols). http://durofelt.com/image_26.html

February 22, 2017, 05:52 AM	#8
dr1445 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2009 Location: CT Posts: 199	i have used them in several inlines and find you can customize the fit. http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...-mold-diameter

February 22, 2017, 06:25 AM	#9
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Allot of fellows like those REAL bullets no question about that. But when I want to shoot a conical ball {which is seldom} my go too are these (link) They seem to be pretty accurate out of my 1-48 twist. Although I can cast just about any bullet I want. I found these sabo to be easy to load and reload with a fouled barrel with just a ram rod to drive it home. And that is a plus when hurried in the field for that possible second shot requirement. Dinking around with a short starters nub then its 6" rod than the rifles ram rod certainly isn't a step and time saver in anyone's book. You have to think about things like {the above} when your a muzzle loader hunter? https://www.prbullet.com/

February 22, 2017, 06:27 AM	#10
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Thank you guys for the information. I appreciate it