Accuracy test: Lyman Plains Bullet .50cal 395gr

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I did this test a little while back when the weather was still warm :D

Ok, went back out again, exact same load but I used the larger 4 1/2" red bullseye to aim at. Without a doubt this is a guaranteed accurate load! First shot I swabbed the bore completely clean, and as it shows, its aprox 1 1/2" higher then the follow 2 shots on a dirty bore. I can handle that during hunting season!

This 3 shot - 100 yard group measures 1 3/4" There is no possible way I could hope to shrink this down! ( I think? ) I'm using a german silver front sight and a traditional lyman great plains rifle rear sight. Pretty "primitive" but I see them super clear and have had no trouble in the past with them. If anything, I will have to drift the rear sight over a touch to the left to bring the group more towards the center.
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I used the Traditions St.Louis Hawken .50cal 28" barrel with 1:48 twist and 80gr Alliant Black MZ with the home cast 395gr Lyman Plains bullet. Outstanding bullet! What's crazy... Its shooting same POI as my patched round ball load! Perhaps using a better performing powder like Pyrodex Or Goex would help shrink my groups a wee bit?

The 395gr Lyman Plains Bullet has a BC of .160 according to Lyman. I run the lead a little harder at 7.5 BHN as it performs amazing in these shallow groove barrels and on big game, it puts the hammer down on them with excellent expansion.
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Target was shot from 100 yards. 1 3/4"! I think had I taken one more shot, it would have grouped with the 2 lower, fouled bore shots and been well under an inch... But you know what that means right? More testing!
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If you're going to try a good, real black powder, that would be either Old Eynsford or Swiss. Honestly, I don't think you're going to get much improvement over what you already have with that group. I'd stick with it and take it to the woods.
 
Wonderful pic! I have always struggled with getting the bullets out of lube, you solved it for me. We only use bullets in my wife's .54, I shoot roundball in everything, so I guess I had PRB on my mind all those years.
 
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