Lyman 44/40 boolit Diameter

[casterofboolits]

Was browsing the Lyman 49th Edition Handbook 44 Spec loads and they list the 427667 as being sized to 430 for the 44Spec. However, the Lyman on line catalog states it is sized to 427/428.

Anyone here know what size this mould actually drops?

[Blammer]

I have one, want to buy it? :)

I recall it drops around 427 dia.

[runfiverun]

the old 44/40 guns are specced to 427 diameter bbls.
the new ones might be either 429 430 or the old 427 depending on who makes them.
some die sets are built the same way.

[blackthorn]

I picked up a Winchester single cavity mould at the gun show a couple of weeks ago. It is a single cavity mould with integral handles. It is marked 44 W.C.F. on one handle. Can I assume the mould is likely to drop a 427 bullet?

[cajun shooter]

With Lyman moulds of recent production it is a coin toss as to what they will drop. Of course you may change that a few thousandths by the alloy used and some smoothing out of the cavities. Both Marlin and Winchester started to making the 44-40 guns with bores that will chamber and fire the same bullets as the 44spl and 44 mag which is wrong. The mould that blackthorn purchased will most likely drop bullets that are closer to .425 as the original rifles were built with that size bore. My Ideal 44 -40 tool drops bullets that are that size and the sizing part of the tool also measures at .425. The correct size that has been around for years is .427 and all my guns slug out at that size. I have two USFA's revolvers, one Uberti revolver,one Uberti 1873 rifle and one Rossi 1892 and they all are with .427 bores. Be very careful if you have any of these guns because they will not chamber and fire the j bullets meant for the modern day 44 spl or mag. I fire both .428 and .429 lead bullets in all my guns with very nice results.

[casterofboolits]

Thanks for the info guys.

I was intrested by the bullet sizing diameter of .430 specified by the 49th Edition Hand Book. I wondered if the mould actually dropped boolits large enough to be sized .430 for the 44 Russian/44 Special.

The handbook also says the #427666 was sized to .429 for the 44-40. Blammer says it drops .427 which is the info I was looking for.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details.php?entryID=18

The on line Lyman catalog say .427/.428

I would be intrested in buying a couple four cavity 427666 moulds if the boolits could be sized to .430, but totally not intrested at 427/428. Only intrested if this boolit could be used for the 44 Russian/44 Special

Thanks again for the info.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Lyman manuals for many years listed their #42798 as the original design for the 44-40. It was listed at 205 grains. At one point they offered the bullet in two sizes- .429 and an undersize version at .427. What either actually cast at is anybody's guess. It would also depend on the alloy being used. Any recent mold has a good chance of being undersized, and to use one in a 44 special or Mag could be kind of a risk in terms of proper fit. In older vintage revolvers, 73's and 92's with worn innards, it would be wiser to slug the bores, barrels etc, first before making any choices . LLS

[runfiverun]

there are no rules in what diameters gun bbl's are.
there's supposed to be's and i measured mine at's.
there's what they say they were, and what they are.
just look at 9mm bbl's of newer manufacture. 355,356,357 all are being used.
my 44-40 won't chamber over 428 but the bbl is 430, my old dies won't seat 430 boolits.
the 38-40 is just as big a pain with all the comb'os available.

[cajun shooter]

There are no "RULES" but there is "STANDARDS" that are given for each caliber. When you look into a cartridge book, you will see these sizes. Some companies adhere to these standards and others don't. If you read Mike Venturino books, he speaks of this often. Some may require a little work that make them shooters and others will never be more than a wall hanger. The original drawings of the 44-40 show a bullet that is the old Lyman 42798. What I was saying about the old moulds was to let you know that you can't go on what a company claims it will drop bullets at. The custom mould makers will hit it dead on but not production types. One simple reason is the wear on the tools after so many have been produced.

[w30wcf]

casterofbullets,

I have a double cavity 429666 and it drops bullets at .431" diameter. However, since mold cherries are resharpened and replaced from time to time, diameters can vary.

w30wcf

[JRHYS]

w30wcf, Interested in selling your 429666 Lyman mold? Thanks, Jerry email jerry-pc@comcast.net

[sliphammer]

RCBS makes the 44-200 CM which is a great 44-40 bullet and drops bullets larger than .430The mold may have been designed more towards the newer 44-40 saami specs than the earlier Lyman designs. Check out the RCBS site specs on #82307