Lee 44-310 diameter?

[centershot]

Okay, I've finally made the decision to start casting! I'm shooting a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum and a .44 mag Contender. I want to use the Lee 44 cal 310 gr. bullet in the 1894, so I slugged the bore last night, it miked .4309". Question for any of you who use this mold; What do your bullets measure "as cast"? I'm thinking I will need a bullet .432-.433" to be successful inthis rifle, and that seems to be on the high side for a 44 mag.


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[44man]

The 1894 should have the Ballard rifling instead of the Micro groove. Mine loves the Lee boolit. My boolits measure .431 and I use a .431 die to seat the checks and lube. I have had 5 shots touching at 50 yd's with the lee, 20.5 gr's of 296, Fed 150 primer and Felix lube. Drops deer like crazy.

[centershot]

Thanks for the input, 44man! Yes, my rifle does have Ballard rifling (thankfully!!), but I'm concerned about the bore diameter. Common wisdom says to goe 1-2 thou over bore size with a cast bullet, does your gun have a .429" bore or is a groove diameter bullet OK?


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[1Shirt]

My lee mold drops them at 4315. They shoot very well in my early 444 Marlin w/micro grooving at and above 1600fps regardless of what the books say.
Good luck.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Newtire]

1-Shirt,
Same thing here with my gun. Probably same thing as you have. Likes that Lee 310RF at .431". I used the .432 on the new RanchDog bullet I just got the mould for but aim to give it a try with the .431"

44 Man,
That's exactly the load I use in my Ruger Rifle. 20.5 296 with the Lee 300 gr. Any ideas on the RanchDog TumbleLube we just got on the group buy? MJine drops out and checks at 277 gr. I have used 17.5 gr. 2400 with no signs of pressure. Wondering what would be a good load with the 296?

[44man]

I didn't get the tumble lube boolit! I like reguler lubes, so I can't say. Keep us informed though.

[44man]

Centershot, I never measured the bore because it shoots so good I don't find a need. I don't want to know anything I don't have to, might make it worse, hee, hee.

[centershot]

No problem 44man! I've read enough here to convince me that it's certainly worth the effort. I'm gonna' order the mold this week. Guess I'll need some gas checks and alox too!



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