Anyone Shoot the 45 cal Minie from Lyman 445-559?

[Steeltrap]

Has anyone shot the 45 Cal Minie from this Lyman mold? I'm interested to see what kind of accuracy anyone's getting as well as what powder charge they are using.

Now, I know that PRB's are less costly to shoot but I have a physical issue that makes loading a single projectile with a patch or button more difficult for me.  I can load a PRB, but it's more difficult than simply loading a projectile that requires nothing. (And I don't like plastic sabot's at all)

For my 50 cal I shoot the Hornady Pa., Conical with great accuracy and for my .54 Cal i shoot the Lyman mold Minie. However, for the .54 Minie I have to flare the base a bit more so the projectile "stay's put" when I take the rifle hunting. That's not difficult as I simply flare them all on a press using a Lee brass expander and a light "bump".

So, if anyone has tried these I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

[Bob Roller]

Many hears ago I shot some of these hollow base 45's and they worked well but I don't remember the powder charge or what the bullet weighed when cast in pure lead.I remember these as a sorta/kinda pistol bullet.
Bob Roller

[45-110]

Most of those minies where shot from a Numrich drop in muzzle loading barrel for the Springfield trapdoor. Late 60's or so. Metal ramrods where the norm, so 2-3 firm taps flared the skirt just enough to hold the bullet in place on the powder. I hunted for yrs with that combo as that was what my dad bought for me. They did shoot ok. Maybe around 50 grains of powder.
kw

[Steeltrap]

Thanks Gents.

The .445 RB weighs in at about 130gr. These 45 cal Minie's are listed as 250gr.

Right now shooting a .440 PRB over 65gr FF out to 100 yards provides about a 5"-6" group. This is tossing out the flyers that every so often seem to occur. I think the flyers occur from perhaps cutting the patch during the load process.

I'll pick up the patches on the next trip out. Last trip the range was too busy for that.

But if I can get a decent group from these Minie's I'll shoot those instead.

[45-110]

Minies are not designed to be shot at high velocity, too much powder will blow the skirt out (extreme flaring) when it clears the muzzle.
kw

[Steeltrap]

I've posted this before, but here is a pic of the .54 Cal Minie shot at 100 yards (bench). The load is 100gr FF BP.  The recoil is stout, and the deer fall over when hit.  I lube these with SPG Lube and I also flare the hollow base with a Lee Universal Expander Die. The flare part keeps the Minie down the barrel against the powder.

[Daniel Coats]

I used 70 grains ffg under the.45 great plains bullet in a flintlock Hatfield rifle back in the 1990s. Never shot it on paper but very confident on twigs treetop squirrels and 100 yard mule deer. It seemed to always hit what I pointed it at!

Oh guess what I got stupid and sold it!

[Steeltrap]

I used 70 grains ffg under the.45 great plains bullet in a flintlock Hatfield rifle back in the 1990s. Never shot it on paper but very confident on twigs treetop squirrels and 100 yard mule deer. It seemed to always hit what I pointed it at!

Oh guess what I got stupid and sold it!

We've all done something like that. I once had an Encore barrel in .243 that shot sub 1" groups at 200 yards. I still don't know why I sold it.