Casting my first .44 specials very soon.

[Animal]

Howdy folks,

Up until now, I've cast for the .45acp and nothing else. I've had it pretty easy, it seems like my 1911 has been totally happy with COWW alloy. Now I'll be casting the Lee TL 240gr SWC for a 4in CA Target Bulldog.

I've got a small stash of stick-on wheel weight ingots that I've been saving for an occasion such as this... a very low pressure round under 830fps seems like a good occasion for a softer boolit alloy. I'll use this boolit primarily as an option for home defense, and possibly for extra security in the country.

I'm thinking of mixing a 2-1 coww/soww alloy. I'm thinking this should shoot fairly clean and allow for a little bit of expansion. My throats and groove diameter are both .431, but I've had nothing but pleasing results with .430 commercial cast.

Do ya'll reckon I'll be wasting time experimenting with a softer alloy? Or do ya suppose it might be beneficial to try it out?

[Larry Gibson]

I use that Lee TL 240 SWC in my own 44 SPL, mid range 44 magnum and 44-40 loads. I suggest you add 2% tin to your COWWs and then mix that alloy at 50/50 with the SOWWs. That alloy works for me.

BTW; I've found 5 gr of Bullseye in 44 SPL cases to be an excellent load under that bullet.

Larry Gibson

[Animal]

Very cool! What kind of results have you had? I can't wait to get started.

[Larry Gibson]

I shoot the 44 SPLs mostly out of an old Hawes Western Marshal and they run consistent 2" at 25 yards. In my Colt Anaconda and Ruger FTBH will do better with the midrange lodes in Magnum cases. The 4" Anaconda will shoot the 44 SPL load into 1 1/2" if I do my part. My Ruger Vaquero 44-40 is well regulated with that bullet and is as accurate as I can hold. I size them at .230 and lube with BAC BTW.

Larry Gibson

[huntnman]

Larry is dead on center (as usual). 50/50 mix workes well for me. I use same mix for most of my hollow points.

[Animal]

Good deal. I bought a cast-iron muffin pan with the fish engraving specifically for the softer alloy. I've been looking forward to using it.

[runfiverun]

treat the 44 special like a 45 acp and all is good.
I add another grain of powder to my specials over what I use in the acp and get right close to the same results.
oh that 240 swc does right well over 4 grs of titegroup in my lever guns for a medium light load that will clean a half sized lever silhouette rack.
now if I could hold still enough for that to happen, and if half the turkey's weren't surrounded by a force-field, the world would be right.

[Foto Joe]

I was lobbing 44 Specials out of my Marlin at a 100 yd target yesterday, you're about to get hooked on a different caliber. The biggest problem I have is scrounging 44 Special brass.

[gunshot98]

Yall all make me want to go and buy a 44 gun. Funds ever get right i will do that. Good reading also from some folks with a lot of knowledge. Thanks.

[Animal]

Yall all make me want to go and buy a 44 gun. Funds ever get right i will do that. Good reading also from some folks with a lot of knowledge. Thanks.

Yep, the same bug bit me a few weeks ago. Looks like it's your turn! [smilie=s:

[Duster340]

Welcome to the "special" addiction Animal [smilie=s: I got it bad as well and am now casting/shooting 208 WC & 214 SWC boolits in my Bulldog. Will be hitting 240 SWC casts before too long!

[paul edward]

Had good results in a 3" CA Bulldog with 4 grains of Bullseye or 5 grains of HP-38 using 218 grain bullets cast from a moderately soft alloy.