First post and a puzzling question

[DrBlackhawk]

Long time reader, finally posting for the first time. Relatively new caster, but have done a fair amount of reloading. Have been casting from Lee and Lyman molds but finally ordered my first serious mold, a .432" 110gn wadcutter mold from NOE Moulds.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=133&osCsid=7p3gpd4nhr7uprnvau760t0dm1

In doing some serious searching, I realized that I definitely do not have load data whatsoever, and cannot find any. What would be the recommendation for working up something for this? I'm not looking for anything crazy, mostly a cheap target load to replace all the .22LR I used to shoot. I have Red Dot, Green Dot, Alliant e3, and 700x on hand. Gun is a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Was thinking Red Dot would be my choice. Start at 2gns and work up?

Again, where should I even start?

Thanks,

MC

[MT Chambers]

Strange mold to start with, I believe they are meant to be stacked 3 high and then reloaded that way and meant for very short range self defense loads.

[MtGun44]

I'd start with the "cat sneeze" class - use something like Red Dot or Bullseye or TG, fast pistol powder
that is position insensitive, and use something like 2 - 2.5 gr and then work up until it does what you
want.

Bill

[Linstrum]

What MtGun44 says is about the only option you have. Red Dot, Green Dot, Alliant e3, 700x, Bullseye, and Tight Group will all work. I'd add Unique to the list, Unique and Red Dot are my favorite go-to light load powders, plus Unique and Bullseye have both been in continuous production for about 113 years now because of their wide range of usefulness. Good Luck!

rl 1,212

[RedHawk357Mag]

You might find my recent post about this similar mold helpful.http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?237177-NOE-44-cal-tri-wt-wad-cutter

[gray wolf]

As a first Mold I hate to say it But I question your choice, Would you like to share why you want to shoot such a light unstable bullet in a 44 mag ? The pistol was built around a 240 grain bullet, As another poster said He/I
believe that bullet was made to be stacked as in one on top of another and not as a single bullet projectile.
IMHO I don't think it can be driven very fast and probably will feel like a 38 target load with questionable accuracy. Why do this in a 44 mag. ? I would agree with this post.


I'd start with the "cat sneeze" class - use something like Red Dot or Bullseye or TG, fast pistol powder
that is position insensitive, and use something like 2 - 2.5 gr and then work up until it does what you
want.
Just keep in mind that 2.5 or 3.5 grains of a fast burning powder like BE or tight group
will hardly show in a 44 mag case, so be careful not to double charge a case.
In no way am I trying to insult you, I am just trying to understand what your doing.

[DrBlackhawk]

Thanks everyone this is extremely helpful. I started with a Lyman 429421 and really like that bullet design. It is incredibly accurate out of my Blackhawk, the only issue I'm having with it still however is my throats seem to measure right around .4335... Fairly oversize. My Lyman mold seems to drop at .4325. There's a lot less leading compared to when I first started loading cast bullets; I'd get bullets from a large manufacturer that were sized at .430", but still a fair amount of leading. RedHawk, thanks for posting your thread as well. That is very helpful. Thanks everyone.

[gray wolf]

I think I need another cup of Coffee.

[DrBlackhawk]

As a first Mold I hate to say it But I question your choice, Would you like to share why you want to shoot such a light unstable bullet in a 44 mag ? The pistol was built around a 240 grain bullet, As another poster said He/I
believe that bullet was made to be stacked as in one on top of another and not as a single bullet projectile.
IMHO I don't think it can be driven very fast and probably will feel like a 38 target load with questionable accuracy. Why do this in a 44 mag. ? I would agree with this post.


Just keep in mind that 2.5 or 3.5 grains of a fast burning powder like BE or tight group
will hardly show in a 44 mag case, so be careful not to double charge a case.
In no way am I trying to insult you, I am just trying to understand what your doing.

I started with a Lyman 429421 and I really like the mold but I was looking for a bullet design that uses very little lead, feels like a 44 special target load. Maybe 800fps. Just looking to ring a steel plate with it for fun. Mostly just looking to shoot a lot more without buying a second, smaller caliber pistol or spending more on lead. Again, just looking to replace all the .22LR shooting in my life that no longer exists. Unfortunately I can't really find any free lead in my area so I'm stuck buying it from RotoMetals.

[gray wolf]

Ok, now I understand, Sounds like your all set.

[mdi]

Try to find a load for .44 cal. round balls. A round .432" ww bullet weigh about 124-126 grains. I have loaded balls for my .44 Magnums with 3.0-3.5 gr. W231 (BTW, now that's a real hoot to shoot! I tried them in my Ruger SBH 7 1/2", and my 6" 629. I could get 1" groups @ 20 yds. with no recoil and just a pop! noise, less than my Single Six).

[Larry Gibson]

Was thinking Red Dot would be my choice. Start at 2gns and work up?

Bingo!

Just make sure with the low end loads that the bullets leave the barrel. As the barrel fouls (the powder and primer residue are not completely consumed or blown out of the barrel with such loads) the friction increases and the psi may vent at the barrel/cylinder gap and not have enough to push the bullet out the barrel. A close range target helps in such load development because you can see the bullet hole.

Larry Gibson

[rintinglen]

102391102392102393102394

Umm--I have that mold and I think you'll find more joy if you give it a little more thump than has been suggested. Those powder puff loads just don't cut the mustard, and the ultra soft recoil means that you can stick one in the barrel and drive another behind it without noticing. I use 3.5 grains of Red Dot or Bullseye or 4.5 grains of WW-231. Be advised they will not shoot to point of aim, so plan on developing your Kentucky windage skills.

For more fun though, load two in a 44 Special case over 3.8 grains of Red Dot. You can put three in a 44 Mag case, but the bottom one will need to be sized .428 or smaller. 5.5 grains of WW-231 is what I use for these.

[runfiverun]

I second the suggestion for more powder.
I use a 160gr boolit in my 45's and shove it along with 4 to 5grs of clays.
it's pretty accurate for a boolit that's bigger around than it is long.

[DrBlackhawk]

I traded and sold a few things to put an Aimpoint on my Blackhawk so no worries about point of aim though I do appreciate the concern. Rintinglen, got to ask though, what happens when I stack two in there? Do they just stick together ala completely inelastic collision or what?

[Bullwolf]

Try to find a load for .44 cal. round balls. A round .432" ww bullet weigh about 124-126 grains. .

The old SPEER #11 Reloading Manual had a few recipes for both 44 Special and 44 Magnum round ball loads, however it's now somewhat dated. (from 1987)

44 SPECIAL .433 Dia Speer 120gr. ROUND BALL
Test pistol 4 inch Charter Arms Bulldog

SR4756 -3.4 grains =494 FPS
SR7625 - 3.2 grains =482 FPS
Unique - 3.0 grains =470 FPS
Win 231 - 2.8 grains =488 FPS
700 X - 2.3 grains =509 FPS
Green Dot - 2.4 grains =498 FPS
Bullseye - 2.3 grains =504 FPS
Red Dot - 2.2 grains =506 FPS

------------------------------------------------------

44 MAGNUM .433 Dia Speer 120gr. ROUND BALL
Test pistol 10 inch Dan Wesson revolver

HS5 - 5.1 grains =545 FPS
SR4756 -4.1 grains =580 FPS
SR7625 - 4.0 grains =538 FPS
Unique - 3.6 grains =566 FPS
Win 231 - 3.4 grains = 554 FPS
700 X - 3.4 grains =584 FPS
Green Dot - 3.0 grains =545 FPS
Bullseye - 2.9 grains =549 FPS

The loads shown for the SPEER lead round ball are intended for us as gallery or indoor short range target loads. Accuracy can be very good up to 50 feet.

------------------------------------------------------

Maybe the older data will help get you in the ballpark.




- Bullwolf

[DrBlackhawk]

Funny, my 49th Lyman doesn't list any interesting loads like these. An old reloading book has some interesting stuff in it that seems to be lacking in the new ones...

[cbrick]

I'd start with the "cat sneeze" class. Bill

I much prefer the mouse phart class myself but . . . . [smilie=1:

Yep, very odd to start with a 110 gr boolit for a 44 Mag. I'd suggest loading two of them in each case and use data for 220 gr. Then expect very little accuracy, it's an up close & personal type of defensive load.

Rick

[DrBlackhawk]

Mold came yesterday, cast a few last night. Loaded some up this morning, just stacking them one high. I don't really think it's that odd of a boolit, it's a lot cheaper than buying a 9mm or 38spcl pistol and I can't really find .22LR in my area to shoot either! Seems like a great substitute to me! I cast with a Lyman 429421 when I want some punch but these will be for 7 to 20yd max punching paper and hitting the gong. Expect a range report tomorrow evening.