Moulds for a new Ruger 77/44

[vandeusenps]

Hey guys, recently purchased a new wood/blue 77/44, and I'd like to start casting for it. For those of you that have experience with one, please let me know what designs have worked best for you, accuracy-wise. Any help would be appreciated!

[Camba]

I have a Lee 240gr tumble lube with GC, and an RCBS 250 Keith but I have not started any load tests yet. I will be checking to see others respond to learn from it too.
Camba

[Blackwater]

I can't recall what the twist is on the Ruger, but I'm thinking it's something on the order of 1:20". If so, any bullet wt. will likely stabilize. My Marlin has the slower 1:38" twist, and I got the Lee 200 gr. RNFP 6-cav. mould for it and most general shooting. For deer, a buddy has done VERY well with 296 powder and the 200 gr. Horn. JHP's at 26 or 27 gr., which is a bit less than the max. listed in most manuals with that wt. of bullet. For large deer, the 240/250's may be better, but frankly, I can' t imagine ANY .44 bullet not doing well on thin-skinned game like deer. He's getting pass through shots with that lighter/faster 200 gr. JHP's. I don't plan to shoot the plain based Lee 200's very fast. Just don't need to for most of what I'll shoot with it, which is kind'a nice, really. Less recoil, less cost, faster casting, and more pleasant to shoot in a long day's practicing, and cheaper on our precious lead supplies as well. These days, that's always a factor that shouldn't matter, but these days does.

[Tatume]

My brother has one, and found that the magazine is very short. He got a custom mold with a very short nose in order to get a relatively heavy bullet in the magazine.

[Camba]

My 77/44 takes longer boolits. I use the RCBS 250gr Keith just fine. My rifle is a blue with walnut stock. I heard the new SST 77/44's have a faster twist and shorter magazine. I don't know how true that is.

[altheating]

I use a LBT 432 280 LFN, 2400 powder (not max load) and wolf primers in my 77/44. 2/1 wheel weight to pure. The barrel was lapped using LBT lapping compound. At 50 yards it will consistently shoot cloverleafs. 6" gongs at 100, 8" gongs at 150 yards and 12" gongs at 200 yards with holdover. I took a buck with the above load at 152 yards. The autopsy showed the bullet took out the left shoulder, exited behind the opposite shoulder. Both lungs showed a 2" wound channel and lots of "purple" color around the wound channel. I tried several other Boolits before the LBT mold was purchased. None of them were as good as the LBT design.
Another thread on the 77/44 is at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?257479-Ruger-77-44-mold

[vandeusenps]

Thanks everyone for your input.

[vandeusenps]

Mine has the 1:20 twist. So far, accuracy with jacketed bullets has been ok...or maybe I'm expecting too much. Getting about 2" at 75 yards. Anyways, are gas checks needed for velocities in the 1700 to 1900 fps range?