Which NOE for a 44 Smith

[echo154]

I am looking to buy a new NOE mold for my 4" 629 44. I like the keith clone and was set on that.....then I saw the RD 432-265.....I like the idea of 240 hp or 265 fp.....anybody have experience with it in a Smith?

[Hickory]

I don't know what your financial state is, but you can buy both, one at a time, and make your own decisions. And have some fun doing load development.

[echo154]

Im a county star packer....funds are scarce....I have a lee 240 swc but its not the best.......just got a NOE 460-405 a beauty......got me wanting a good one for my 44 too.

[Hickory]

Well, you picked one of the best mold makers out there.
The 240 boolit will do just about everything you will want it to do, and be a little less punishing to you S&W.
The 265 gr Ranch Dog design is a great boolit for lever guns and will shine in any Ruger with maximum loads. But, a steady diet of heavy boolits in a Smith will wear it out a lot quicker than a Ruger.
I own 6 S&W revolvers and load my ammo 6-10% under maximum for deer. In all my years of killing deer, I've only recovered 1 boolit, so, a reduced load will kill a deer if that is the job you plan for your boolit choice.

[echo154]

Thanks

[dkf]

NOE also has an SWC 245gr solid and lighter with HP. http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=247

[Bucking the Tiger]

I have really liked the Keith clone that NOE makes. I have 5 cavity solid and 4 cavity hollow point moulds that I have cast and shot thousands of bullets through 3 S&W .44 Magnums and could not ask for better. A great bullet from a first class mould maker. NOE moulds are worth the money.
I have shot these bullets slow( Keith's "gallery" load of 5 grains of Bullseye) to full on with Alliant 2400 and Ramshot Enforcer and have been well pleased.

[John Allen]

I have the keith one and use it pretty much exclusively for my 44.s I shoot it in all of them.

[echo154]

How fast can you push the Keith design without leading or a gas check and does it weigh 240 with the hp or is that for the fp?

[John Allen]

Get a gas check version if you want to push it and you will be fine.

[echo154]

OK….I have decided to start with the NOE mold as I have a 240 swc from LEE. i ordered the NOE 430-265…FP-HP…figuring I can use the 240 Grn HP in my smith and the 265 Grn in the S/W or Winny when I catch one. I bought…and received in TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!! the 430 -265 NOE in 3 days!! Thanks NOE….now It's a brass, two cavity…..any suggestions on getting it ready to cast….I usually heat it in the oven at 380 for 10 minutes at least three times after I scrub it good with dawn but I see where others apply concoctions to "patina" it. HELP?