Which boolit for .44 Spl?

[Juan Jose]

I'm looking for accuracy. I already have a Keith type 245 gr. (Lyman) mold. I was wondering what other designs have a reputation for bullseye accuracy in the .44?

[Binky]

I don't think that the 44 spc. if very fussy. At least my 4 aren't. You already have what most will tell you is the optimum bullet. And I shoot it most. But I have also shot much lighter bullets, from 200 gr. to a GC which is supposed to weigh in at 255(I think). My guns(three Smiths and a Ruger along with 5 different 44 mag pistols and rifles) don't seem to care what the bullet weight is. Find a load they like and they shoot better than I can.

[Thumbcocker]

Some think highly of the 240 grn, rn for accuracy and duplicating factory level loads.

[runfiverun]

I switch back and forth between the 667 and the 421.
they both go on top of unique.
[shrug]
I guess a 200 gr wad cutter might do better but I doubt I can.

[murf205]

I've tried several but the one that keeps delivering the best groups is the Lee 240 gr GC boolit. BUT, like Binky said, 44 specials really don't care. My WW 429421 Lymans never disappoint either.

[MT Gianni]

If you have a Keith type non gas checked 245 gr you probably have all you need. You can debate round groove vs square groove but with todays lubes it really is a small difference. I have a special and have had 5 44 mags and really could have done it all with the 421. I have owned and disposed of the 421215, 208 Lee wc, 3 429421's, 429421 hp and a couple of lee's. I currently have a 429421, Lee 310 gr and a SK 265 gr. If pressed I could live with just the 421.

[beagle]

I've tried the 429421, the 429667, 429383, an old 429251 and a 429336 as well as some lighter 200 grain bullets. I keep going back to the 429421 in my Ruger .44 Special. Gives me the best accuracy. Also the 429215 and 429244 if we're talking GCs./beagle

[waco]

IMHO Montana Johnny and Beagle have it right. The 429421 is super hard to beat. It's a classic. My 29 loves this boolit with 8gr of Unique or 19gr 2400

[lotech]

Like others, I've experienced good accuracy with the standard Lyman #429421 as well as the hollowpoint version, both sized at .431" or .432", wheelweight alloy. However, the last several years I've been using the SAECO/ Redding #420, a plain base flat nose design. Bullets are around 200 grains cast from wheelweight. I did have to have the mold opened up to cast a .432" bullet, again sized at either .431" or .432".

I've found overall accuracy with the #420 to be slightly better than that of the heavier Lyman bullets. I shoot these at around 900 fps using Bullseye powder. Recoil may be a little less than with the heavier bullets at 850 fps, but I can't really see any difference.

[Shuz]

I have found the Lyman 429421 to be the most accurate boolit in the .44 magnum. I realize you are inquiring about the best boolit for the .44 Special. When I want .44 Special performance outta the .44 mag case, I use the 429421 and 7g of Trail Boss.

[MT Gianni]

A slight side track but when I want slower velocities with magnum cases I paint the primer green for low power and red for magnum power if I use the same bullet. Fingernail polish from the sale bin or dollar store lasts for decades.

[runfiverun]

I do like Gianni but I put the polish on the nose of the bullet.
the 2400 loads in the mag cases get the red dot.
I use felt markers on the primers to denote loads when testing.

[EMC45]

I like the Lee 200gr. RNFP in my special. I have shot the 429-421, but think the 200gr works better.

[Larry Gibson]

Juan Jose

Referring to your request for a 44 SPL "accurate" load;

I think you'll not find a more accurate cast bullet for the 44 SPL than a well cast 429421 over 5 gr Bullseye. For a heavier load Skeeter's 7.5 gr Unique has always given exceptional accuracy for me with the "Keith" bullet.

The Lee TL430-240-SWC when well cast is also a very accurate bullet at 44 SPL velocities over 5.5 gr Bullseye.

However, you may find a 200 gr RNFP such as Lee's 429-200-RF. Over 5-6 gr Bullseye I find it quite accurate and very pleasant to shoot.

I also shoot a lot of Lyman 429360 SWCs (245 gr) at 44 SPL velocities in 44 SPL, 44-40 and 44 Magnum cases but it is discontinued. You might keep your eye out for a Lyman 429360 mould to try down the road.

[LAH]

The Lee 200 & the Lyman 429667.

[rintinglen]

The 429-421 and 429-383 are my most accurate 44 Special boolits, though I have a 432-230 WC by NOE that also I like.

[Kosh75287]

Take a look around for a .429" 215gr. SWC like this one: http://www.beaniescastbullets.com/images/44-2152.JPG

Shot boxes full of these through a S&W 624 and a Taurus 431. Gave WONDERFUL accuracy, from 750 f/s to 1150 f/s. It's not the most aerodynamically favorable bullet for longer shots, but from 0 to 50 yards, it shoots VERY well.


For a heavier load Skeeter's 7.5 gr Unique has always given exceptional accuracy for me with the "Keith" bullet. That load also works well with the 215gr. projectile above.

[azrednek]

Been a lot of years but I was punching some nice tight groups on paper using the discontinued Lee full wadcutter. Believe it weighs about 185 and if my memory is correct I was loading it with 4 or 5grs of Bullseye. I was shooting them with no sizing, rolled in Lee goo, dusted with motor mica and cast from large truck wheel weights.

Mri initial goal was a comfortable practice load for my Charter Bulldog but was surprised with the shot to shot accuracy out of my S&W M-29.

[6bg6ga]

I use the Magma 210gr swc and 240gr swc for my 44 mag and they both are extremely accurate.

[Juan Jose]

Thanks guys!

[W.R.Buchanan]

It should be noted that Elmer Keith designed the 429421 in the 1930's and when reading this thread it is obvious that it is still considered the best boolit for .44's ever made. There are several close variations of the mould, H&G 503, RCBS 44-250KT, my personal mould is a Mihec mould with interchangeable HP and Solid Pins.

Hard to go wrong with that one.

Randy

[FISH4BUGS]

I have tried many different bullets but the one I find the best is the TRUE Keith designed (not the Keith-type) bullet - the Hensley & Gibbs #503. I shoot them over a light load of 5.5 gr WW231. You can go as high as 6.5 of 231 but I just plink away with them @ 5.5 gr.
I shoot them from a Ruger GP 100 (neat gun) and a 6" 5 screw pre-29 S&W 44 magnum - I shoot that one all day long.
I don't want to shake the 29 loose over time so I shoot light cast bullet loads. That same bullet can be loaded over 296 for magnum velocities if you wish.

[Forrest r]

Hard not to find an accurate bullet for the 44spl's, shot a lot of different designs over the decades. Shot anything from the keith's already mentioned to the thompson designs like the 429215/429303/h&g#142. Any wc bullet does extremely well in the 44spl's, this nose pour 200gr wc from a cramer molds shoots bugholes with several different loads.
https://i.imgur.com/VXjBR60.jpg

It's just me, I've found I like the lighter 175gr to 220gr bullets in the 44spl's and the 240gr to 270gr bullets in the 44mags. I've owned firearms chambered in 44spl since the 80's, mostly bulldogs and 24's/624's. Nose pour bullets shoot lights out in the 44cal's, I cast 4 different bullets that are nose pour and 3 of them are hollow based designs that flat out shoot. The hb bullets I cast/playing around in a 2 1/2" bbl'd buldog, 44spl.
https://i.imgur.com/fo57jjU.jpg

Top left: Keith 429422 hb swc. It's the swc (429421/503/etc) bullet keith designed that is hollow based to make it lighter. It also makes it extremely accurate.
Top right: Mihec 220gr hbwc
Bottom left: H&G #142 thompson design
Bottom right: A 211gr flat nosed hollow based bullet from a raphine mold that has had a huge hp put in it.

Seems everyone is bringing up the keith swc. Here's what keith wrote/had to say about the 429422 235gr hbswc.
https://i.imgur.com/PrgSQGI.jpg

Several years ago I was happier then heck to buy 1 of mihec's hbwc molds for the 44cal's. The mold case a 220gr hbwc that had a small taper on the nose for crimping/better alignment in forcing cones. Along with 2 crimp grooves/grease grooves. I couldn't cast up some bullets quick enough and tested them in a 6 1/2" bbl'd 624. Tested them seated flush, crimped in the top lube groove, bottom lube groove along with filling both lube grooves, 1 lube groove, tumble lubing them, tumble lubing + filling the lube grooves. Yup, had to turn some around to make huge hp's.
https://i.imgur.com/VorIu2C.jpg

It's pretty hard to just pick 1 bullet for the 44cal's/44spl. If I had to it would be the h&g #142 220gr gcswc/200gr hpgcswc. I have the mihec 503 clone mold with the hp pins others have posted about in earlier posts. I've found the h&g#142 more versatile in a wider range of firearms chambered in 44spl. It's a thompson gc designed swc that is light enough (see keith article pictured above/lighter 235gr hbswc bullet) to do extended/long shots in the 44spl but still have enough meplat/nose to thump anything it hits. The gc design can be used in anything from snubnosed revolvers to lever actions doing 2000+fps. Typical thompson designed bullet that can be usedwith either a gc or plain based.
https://i.imgur.com/3DawiR1.jpg

just another opinion from a caster that has 30+ years with firearms chambered in 44spl that were used for nra bullseye in the 24/624's and sd in the snubnosed bulldogs. Put a lot of lead down range in the marlin lever actions (1895's)/44spl combo along with putting gas plugs with larger holes drilled in them in the ruger semi-auto rifles/44automags to use light 44spl plinking loads in them.