Excellent BP 56-50 Bullet

Fox Creek Kid · May 30, 2005, 05:45:22 PM

I have been using the Rapine model 350-T (T for Taylor's) mould which casts at .512 - .513 from WW's. It has a very long lube groove that carries enough lube for sustained BP shooting. IMHO there is NO OTHER .50 cal. 350 gr. mould that has enough lube for more than a few shots with real BP. Before I bought this mould I had a custom one made as I was desperate to have something with enough lube. I'm sure this had to be a problem as well in the 19th century, but I've never read of it. So. if you want the real experience of the 56-50 by utilizing BP under sustained shooting conditions then I heartily recommend this mould.

Tuolumne Lawman · May 31, 2005, 11:59:08 AM

Howdy Pard,

Where did you get the mould? Buffalo Arms is out of theirs.

Bernie

Ed, 1st Va. Cav. · May 31, 2005, 03:05:32 PM

You can call Rapine directly at 1-215-679-5413. I've found Ray to be great at getting anything I've ask him for, including some custom work.

Ed, 1st Va. Cav.
N-SSA
NRA Lifer

Grizzle Bear · June 20, 2005, 07:12:20 AM

FCK, are you using straight wheelweights for your Spencer bullets?

Fox Creek Kid · June 21, 2005, 03:00:01 PM

Grizzle Bear, that's a big 10 - 4 good buddy!

Grizzle Bear · June 22, 2005, 07:27:06 AM

Okay. The Smith carbine bullets I was trying to use are pure lead, and with 34 grains of FFg they were stripping the rifling and going all over the place. Dropped the load to 27 g with the bullets you gave me, and they shot fine. Cast a few of the 350T bullets last night in the alloy I usually use for BP, 3 parts lead to 2 parts WW's. But if straight wheelweights work good, that is great, as I have a ton (almost) of wheelweights!

Fox Creek Kid · June 22, 2005, 06:57:55 PM

Griz, stripping the rifling has more to do with bullet length than anything else. I'd almost bet your problem was fouling. I've shot the Smith carbine bullets with good results but the bore fouled out rapidly as the lube capacity is pathetic, even for a 20 in. barrel & accuracy went out the window quickly. But that's history now as you have the "keys to the kingdom" with the Rapine 350-T!!

WW's are perfect for 99% of all shooting (BP & smokeless) as long as you keep the velocity under 1200 fps.

Black River Smith · July 05, 2005, 11:02:47 PM

Guess I am a little daft. I could not find the Rapine 350 bullet on Bullalo Arms site. Could you give their catalog # or a direct link to the exact bullet.

Thanks for any additional info

Black River Smith

major · July 06, 2005, 10:26:19 AM

The greas groves on the Smith/Maynard bullet are very small. With my Maynard I dip the nose in MCM and that lubes my Maynard cartridges fine. It might be worth a try with a Spencer.

Hell-Er High Water · July 06, 2005, 03:33:29 PM

Black River Smith,

I talked to Buffalo Arms recently and they don't seem to be handling the Rapine 350-T mould. I then called Rapine and ordered a two cavity mould direct from them. It is in transit now and should be here in a day or two. They indicated that they had more in stock for immediate shipment; this was last week. Their phone is 215/679-5413 and they will take a credit card order over the phone. I couldn't find anyone else that handled this particular Rapine mould either. Hope that this helps.

Hell-Er High Water

Black River Smith · July 07, 2005, 05:48:33 PM

Thanks for the info High Water.

Black River Smith

tommy4toes · July 13, 2005, 07:11:54 PM

another good bullet is the Romano .50 Maynard. It has a VERY generous lube groove. It casts at .518 w/20:1, which is perfect for my original with it's .516 grooves. Y'all might want to give it a try.
t4toes

Grapeshot · August 09, 2005, 09:20:34 AM

I just ordered Lyman's 515139 mold that they advertise on their website. Iy appears to have two lube groves and is touted to be for the .56/50 and as a lightweight for the .50/70. Will be interested in seeing how it will cast and how it'll shoot. Will give a report as soon as I get some time to cast and load some up.

Checking out N.E.I. web, I think I'll be ordering their Lakota Spencer. According to the picture on their website it has a very generous lube groove and a hollow base. This one might take a little longer to get.

French Jack · August 11, 2005, 06:29:41 PM

Just a comment here-- the Lyman 515139 bullet actually has three lube grooves. If you are going to use BP, lube all three grooves and crimp over the ogive just in front of the front driving band. If you are going to use smokeless (Horrors!), you can lube the two rear grooves and crimp in the front one.

Actually feeds better crimped over the ogive, though.

Grapeshot · August 11, 2005, 06:38:32 PM

Thanks for the advice. Will do tha once I mould up a batch.

Grapeshot · August 19, 2005, 09:42:12 AM

Lyman has my order on hold as there is an item on back order, so I ordered a batch of bullets from Buffalo Arms as well as one of their wad punches and a bag of .50 cal wads. Maybe now I can start shooting my Spencer.

Anyone else have any experience with Buffalo Arms' .512, 300 grain Bullets?

French Jack · August 21, 2005, 12:43:31 PM

I did not find the 300 gr. from Buffalo Arms to be what I wanted. They were a bit short, and did not carry enough lube for BP. Maybe would be better with either a grease cookie or 777.

Backstrap Bill · January 21, 2006, 01:03:17 PM

My experience with the Buffalo Arms 300 gr. agrees with French Jack. I found them useful to fire form my brass to the chamber & then moved on to other bullets.

Tuolumne Lawman · January 22, 2006, 10:14:54 PM

Quote from: Black River Smith on July 05, 2005, 11:02:47 PM
Guess I am a little daft. I could not find the Rapine 350 bullet on Bullalo Arms site. Could you give their catalog # or a direct link to the exact bullet.

Thanks for any additional info

Black River Smith

The BAC .512/350 is almost identicle to the rapine. I love my modified LEE I got from Daskota Widowmaker, and am selling my .512/350 BAC $65 including some Ohaus handles.

Sloan Dodgy · January 23, 2006, 10:44:15 AM

I've been buying 515139 bullets from MidwayUSA as I'm not set up for casting anymore. Starline cases, 32 grains of Graf FFg compressed a bit in a separate die and the bullet seated to just cover the top driving band is highly satisfactory at 50 yards; 1-1/2 to 2" groups (sitting, not benched) right at the sights. No lube problems, at least with a dozen or so fired at a time. Great fun!