Flintlock maxiball question?

[PA Hunter]

Been using this Pennsylvania Hunter .50 cal flintlock since about 1984 for deer hunting with round balls. Recently a friend loaded or cast me some lee maxi balls I believe my question is what is the proper way or best way to load these to test? Do I need like a wad behind them like a bore button between maxiball and powder? Do I need a piece of shot card in there too?I have been using 90 gr ffg powder down barrel I tried shooting two of them just lubing them on the rings by hand and pushing it down barrel on the powder. I know this is a 1/66 twist barrel for round balls but these interest me if I can get them to group.This gun may be loaded sitting around loaded for a week or the whole muzzleloader season too if that matters. This is for the Pennsylvania flintlock season mostly teens to 20 degree range also with snow out but in and out of a cabin for weeks .

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I always just lube them and push them down on top of the powder. Don't think they'll work well with 1 in 66" though

 

[ElDiablito]

A dry wool wad is never a bad idea under most conicals. Unless it’s super short, I too doubt it will shoot worth a damn in a 66 twist.

 

[Ditt44]

The most commonly recommended method is a wad over powder and lube ONLY the bottom most groove. I have done that with the maxi-ball and maxi-hunter in my .50 Renegade and they've been decent. I just do not care for the recoil nor need the bullet over ball. My go-to is a flint PA Hunter Carbine these days with 70 grains 3F, .490 ball and .018 patch. The proverbial 'shoots better than I can' accuracy.

In place of the maxi I would suggest the Hornady PA Conical, if you have not tried them. 240 grains and exceptional accuracy. Impact point for my carbine is a couple inches lower than the ball depending on distance, but east/west is not an issue. That will work in your 1:66 barrel far better than the longer, heavier maxis.