44 special

[lukewmtdew]

How soft can I go with 44 special? I have more lead pipe than I do wheel weights kind of would like to use the pipe more than the wheel weights?

[btroj]

If using traditional loads in the 750 to 900 fps range I would use 60/40 lead/wheel weights and have at it. Might even get by with 75/25.

[Frosty Boolit]

I use 40:1 lead to tin in my .38 special loads. pressures are similar right?

[lukewmtdew]

Thanks guys

[lukewmtdew]

I tried pretty close to 50/50 already it shot fine with a lee 240 tumble lubed boolit but they left a little leading (maybe antimony wash) right as the rifling started

I wish there was an easy way to measure the bore right there I was thinking of getting my hands on a pin guage set

[Larry Gibson]

If using traditional loads in the 750 to 900 fps range I would use 60/40 lead/wheel weights and have at it. Might even get by with 75/25.

+1 but I would add 2% tin to the COWWs before the mix with lead. That balances the antimony with the correct amount of tin for a better solution in the lead. Then when mixed with the other lead (pipe) you can avoid the probable antimony wash lukewmtdew mentions (hope no one gets excited on this thread over the non capitalization of his logon but that's how he did it......).

I also recommend a good quality softer lube such as an NRA 50/50 or Lar's BAC.

Larry Gibson

[35 Whelen]

I've been working towards softer alloy for my .44 Specials myself. In fact I just traded quite a bit of linotype and type metal for pure lead.

Last December I mixed 50/50 WW/Lead and got around 9.5 Bhn which was perfect for my HP's at 950 - 1000 fps. I used all those up, mixed an identical alloy and for who knows what reason, these came out to around 11 Bhn. Re-melted the whole batch, poured off 1 lb. and added another lb. of lead which got me down to around 10 Bhn.

I'd really like to get down closer to 9 Bhn especially for my HP's.

If you keep your velocities with in reason, I don't know why you couldn't keep your bullets pretty darn soft.

35W

[rintinglen]

No reason why you can't go soft and still get good results. I've used 3-1 lead to wheel weights with a dash of 50-50 bar solder for my Special loads across the board, 38, 44, even 45 Colt all seem to do well with minimal to no leading as long as I keep my loads on the light side. I have had excellent results with 5.0 grains of Red Dot and a 429-421 cast soft and lubed with Ben's Red in my Ruger Flattop. That is a very accurate combination, albeit not exactly super sonic.

[Forrest r]

Bullets for the 38spl, 44spl, 45acp & a 2 to 1 alloy (lead/ww) & either ben's red or 45/45/10 lube for speeds around 800/850fps. And a 50/50 mix (lead/ww) & either ben's red or 45/45/10 for p+ loads in those calibers for speeds around 900/950fps.

Larry nailed it as usual with his lube recommendation, I just happen to like to use the 45/45/10 for a tumble lube & ben's red which is a soft lube.

[Lloyd Smale]

Im a firm believer in harder is better but i too have a ton of pure lead. What i do with alot of it is mix it with 2percent tin and 10 to 20 percent ww and water drop it. Youll end up with an alloy that is about as hard as air cooled ww and it will work at any level a 44 special is used at.

[lukewmtdew]

What does the 45/45/10 lube get you over regular lee alox?

[btroj]

45/45/10 dries far faster. It also seems to work better as a lube. Goes on thinner too, that is a good thing.

[dmize]

45/45/10 dries far faster. It also seems to work better as a lube. Goes on thinner too, that is a good thing.

HUGE +1
And it just flat out works.

[oscarflytyer]

Would you trade some WW lead for some soft lead? I need a small amount of soft/pure lead for a cap and ball black powder revolver. Would trade pound for pound WW for soft lead - we each pay shipping. Pls Pm if interested. Thanx

[lukewmtdew]

So I cast what I figured was 3 partz soft lead to one part coww I lubed and loaded them going into the case I spose they averaged .430 (right where I would have liked them) I pulled a few a week later some were coming out .426 I expand with a dillon 550 b expander plug? That measures. 426 any ideas on if I should just bump the alloy back up to 50/50 soft lead and coww or if I should keep trying to work the softer allow?

[Old School Big Bore]

Luke - You might want to measure some as-cast and after sizing - to determine if the tight brass is having a sizing effect on them, so you know for sure what's going on. Don't presume the diameter without measuring.
Oscar - PM sent.

[lukewmtdew]

I phrased it wrong I still had some of that batch they definitely were sized from the brass what now

[gray wolf]

So I cast what I figured was 3 partz soft lead to one part coww I lubed and loaded them going into the case I spose they averaged .430 (right where I would have liked them) I pulled a few a week later some were coming out .426 I expand with a dillon 550 b expander plug? That measures. 426 any ideas on if I should just bump the alloy back up to 50/50 soft lead and coww or if I should keep trying to work the softer allow?

You need a bigger expander plug
or bullets hard enough to move the brass instead of the brass moving the lead.
.426 is about standard size for jacketed bullets, I use .4295 for my .432 44 mag bullets that are about WW hardness.

[lukewmtdew]

Does dillon make a bigger expander plug?

[WALLNUTT]

I just ordered a oversized expander for 44spl from Buckshot on this forum. He will make them to you specs.