Sizing cast .44s

[mdi]

I just cast up about 200 240 gr SWC for my 44s and I am going to tumble lube some and pan lub some. I was playing with some as-cast .4315" bullets and discovered they would fit into the throat of my S&W 629 (snug push through) but not my Dan Wesson 44H. I haven't slugged the bbl of the DW yet. Should I size the bullets to fit the throat or the bore? I have a Lee sizer in .430" and .431" and the as-cast sizes with WW is .431" to .432".

Thnx...

[pjh421]

Shoot 'em as-cast.

Paul

[Calamity Jake]

pjh421 said it, Shoot 'em as-cast. At least in the smith.
Slug the throats on the DW and size to that Ø for it.

[mike in co]

slug the cylinders.....gotta fit there first.

mike in co

[Bob Krack]

Rather than start a new thread, it seems logical to me that a boolit that is over bore size will have to grow in length in it's travel into and through the barrel. Not lot's and lot's, but the alloy has to go somewhere.

I had intended to ask if I had a .431 bore with .422 lands, would a .430 boolit fill the bore - since the lands displacement would also have to go somewhere?

I have never had problems (that I was aware of) with using even .003 or so over bore size. (wheelweights water cooled)

Vic

[dwtim]

Really? I have no problem with .432" bullets in my DW 44VH... As long as it's the base band and not the driving band. If it fits, it shoots.

[cabezaverde]

How do you guys lube these non standard size bullets? i.e. How are you lubing a .433 bullet when dies are not made in that size? Are you using LLA or opening a sizer?

[Down South]

How do you guys lube these non standard size bullets? i.e. How are you lubing a .433 bullet when dies are not made in that size? Are you using LLA or opening a sizer?
Course they make dies for over size boolits. You can order any size sizer you want. It’s a special order from Lee or you can hone it out yourself. Star will make any size you want. Other brands make sizers to order too. We even have some fine folks here who can build what ever size you need.

[Boerrancher]

I had intended to ask if I had a .431 bore with .422 lands, would a .430 boolit fill the bore - since the lands displacement would also have to go somewhere?

Vic

I have never had any luck with shooting anything that was not at least bore size unless it was kept under 1200 fps. I have a 30-30 with a 309 bore and unless I get my gas checks and boolit up to around 311 it won't shoot, a standard 309 boolit won't shoot well over about 1300 fps.

You can try it but I would use a soft alloy, like range recovery, or pure lead in a 20 to 1 lead to tin ratio. This will allow the boolit to obturate a bit better and fill the bore. I have a good friend who shoots 20 to 1 lead to tin out of all his rifles and does quite well at the upper limits of 30-30 velocites and has no problems with leading.

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[pjh421]

Try LLA or JPW in both guns on your as-cast boolits. The ton of time & money you save might be your own.

If it doesn't work out you can always pursue the more traditional methods...and this comes from a diehard Star user.