What kind of conical is this?

[ETipp]

Someone gave me a few of these about 12 years ago. I have never fired one of them and I do not recall what the name of it is. I was thinking Buffalo Bullet, but I am not sure. What I do like about them is the deep hollow base. I mean that thing is deep, as in perhaps 5/16" to 3/8" deep. This leads me to believe that it will expand upon firing and hopefully expand more upon impact. Is my thinking correct on this?

I inserted this one by hand just a little ways down the muzzle of of my old smoke pole. I found that it easily slides down in, too easy when compared to the Maxi Balls I have shot the most. Is this due to allowance for the base to expand upon firing and will it expand enough to provide a good enough seal for good accuracy. It appears to be made out of fairly soft lead.

Do you think this will make an effective hunting bullet for my .50?

 

[deermanok]

It looks like some type of mini ball.
Could have been an old Buffalo Bullet?
The hollow base is supposed to expand on firing to engage the barrel rifling.
Give one or two a shot, so to speak.
Track of the Wolf Muzzleloaders sells bullets comparable to those.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

If it shoots well in your gun and you can put it in the right location, then yessir it looks like a very effective bullet.

 

[Whokalouie]

The thick skirt minne's take more powder to flare out skirt, thinner ones take less to engage rifling. This looks like a thicker skirt.

 

[ElDiablo]

I don’t think it’s a Buffalo Bullet. I don’t recall any without the crosshatch pattern on the sides. All of their .50 and .58s I have look like this.

 

[deermanok]

I don’t think it’s a Buffalo Bullet. I don’t recall any without the crosshatch pattern on the sides. All of their .50 and .58s I have look like this.


View attachment 28324

Wow, haven't seen one of those in years.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I don’t think it’s a Buffalo Bullet. I don’t recall any without the crosshatch pattern on the sides. All of their .50 and .58s I have look like this.


View attachment 28324

Are they still making those bullets?

 

[deermanok]

They went out of business some time ago. Too bad though. I used to like the Ball-ettes.

 

[phalanx]

Think I still have 3 or so boxes of those 385 Buffalo Bullets. Should probably shoot them up sometime!

 

[ElDiablo]

Yeah I have a few in the stockpile. Mostly .58s. If I had any of the ball-ettes I’d send them your way @deermanok!

 

[deermanok]

Yeah I have a few in the stockpile. Mostly .58s. If I had any of the ball-ettes I’d send them your way @deermanok!

I appreciate the thought. I have been shooting the Hornady PA conicals last couple years. They're very similar to the old Buffaloes.

 

[ElDiablo]

Yes, very similar

 

[4stringdude]

That looks a lot like the Lee improved Minie. I have the .50 and .54 cal molds. They are very accurate, but you need to work up the right load for them.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010204969?pid=382559

 

[CatamountRob]

Are they still making those bullets?

A couple years ago they were supposedly going to reopen, in Colorado maybe? They had a new website and were posting on a FB page, Anyway wherever it was it seems to have fizzled out.

 

[phalanx]

Ended up looking, two boxes of the 385s and one box of the 410, flat base and an unopened box of the 245gr ballets.

Jim, you can have the ballets if you like.

John

 

[deermanok]

Ended up looking, two boxes of the 385s and one box of the 410, flat base and an unopened box of the 245gr ballets.

Jim, you can have the ballets if you like.

John

Hey John, yes I'll take those Ball-ettes off your hands.
I'll pm you.

 

[phalanx]

Got the PM, they'll go out this week. Glad someone can use them.

 

[Bad Karma]

Lyman makes a mold for the improved minie bullet.

 

[ETipp]

That looks a lot like the Lee improved Minie. I have the .50 and .54 cal molds. They are very accurate, but you need to work up the right load for them.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010204969?pid=382559

Yeppers, it sure looks like the same one. I haven't weighed one or shot one yet but its on my to do list. If I can work up some good accuracy out of them, I might invest in a mold. My guess is, that base will, or should, expand rather nicely on a big game critter.

 

[eekjellander]

Yeppers, it sure looks like the same one. I haven't weighed one or shot one yet but its on my to do list. If I can work up some good accuracy out of them, I might invest in a mold. My guess is, that base will, or should, expand rather nicely on a big game critter.

Because the base is on the back end it contributes absolutely nothing for expansion(unless loaded backwards ! The front profile on a cast bullet expands with pure and hardness dictates rate of expansion along with distance /speed.
A flat nose is preferred in my case for max expansion at BP speeds (no gas check) , a deer hit with a Lyman Plains ,pick the calibers (I have them all) and adjusting alloy at your proffered yardage becomes fairly predictable Bang/flop ! Unlike the hollow base (have them too) that depends on charge to flair base(engage rifling) and thickness of skirt another variable to contend with (lousy SD 's)if you have a chrono) . In short great if your hunting indians and need fast reloads , but not so much trying to increase the fast food take (deer) Ed