The Lee 50 cal ML target shooting bullet, the Lee 500-354M is an odd bird. Look at it:
I want to use these for BEAR! but of my 4-50 cal ML rifles only my kit built Traditions flintlock Mountain Rifle with a 1:48 twist groups them near well enough. I cast this bullet in pure lead per Lee instructions and they drop 357 gr at .503" for me. They have a very flat nose, many micro grooves the full body length that holds tumble lube well and a thick skirted base.
Between the high weight and the flat nose design, I want to kill BEAR with these.
I don't do anything special with these bullets. They thumb start easily. I have tried charges from 70 to 90 gr with BMZ, other subs and genuine BP. They all shoot the same and the best I can shoot this bullet is 1.3" @ 50 yards for 5 shots with 80 gr BMZ and a pan prime of genuine 4F BP. I prefer my ML hunting rifles to shoot 1" at 50 yards to call them accurate for BEAR hunting and the Modern Minnie falls short for me.
I really like the bullet and wonder if anybody else does better with them? I shoot them offhand with a TriggerStick monopod as I do when I hunt. I don't bench rest shoot these at all.
I only use tumble lube on these, either Lee LLA or Whites 45:45:10. I seat them firmly at 80 pounds practiced with a scale. Man I wish they grouped better, but they sure make nice paper punched holes in paper like a good wad cutter bullet.
Have you tried these, how do they shoot for you?
Gary