Help with Ruger Model 96

[FredBuddy]

This is a lever action rifle chambered for 44 Magnum.

I was recently given an old Lyman 429421 SWC 245 gr
Elmer Keith designed boolit. Altho slightly rust pitted,
it drops a nice boolit, which I powder coat and size to .430.

It shoots well, and is just under the max overall length
listed in the Lyman #4 of 1.710 in 44 mag brass.

Problem is it won't cycle thru the Ruger rotary magazine, so it's
a single load proposition. Today, I tried seating it to the front band of
the boolit, but that makes it hang up on the lip of the rotary magazine.

Yes, I can use the 44 Special brass I just got from StarLine,
but I always think about chamber fouling issues, plus I'm
trying to make a 1200 fps deer load. I generally figure that a rifle length
barrel will add 200 fps to pistol derived data, but looking at
Lyman #4, that may not get me where I want to be.

The 44 Special loads cycle fine.

Have I missed a trick ???

[pietro]

.



I would try to shorten the loaded cartridge via slicing a bit off the nose of the Keith slug, which should reduce the bullet weight to240-250gr, which should conveniently allow the velocity you're looking to achieve,

The exact amount to remove can be determined by seating a bullet into the mouth of an empty/de-primed .44 Mag case, a little at a time until it works through the magazine, to see what you're up against.





.

[murf205]

If you don't have a 240 gr Lee GC mold, spent a few $ on one and assemble 5 or 6 unloaded rounds to run through your magazine. This boolit makes a slightly shorter over all 44 mag round and it is very accurate in all the revolvers I have tried it in. If it works, you can buy the gas checks later, but...IMHO, gas checked boolits need the check to be accurate. BTW, I sold my 96 for the very same reason you are experiencing before I tried this and wish I had it back! Good luck

[starmac]

An excuse for a new mold just don't get any better. lol

[JimB..]

You could shorten the brass slightly until you get the bullet to feed through the magazine and then rework the load.

[murf205]

You could shorten the brass slightly until you get the bullet to feed through the magazine and then rework the load.

I tried that with mine and the rifle just doesn't like Elmers boolit. It wouldn't feed even in 44 spl brass. YMMV but that's my experience. There is a boolit that just might get you where you want to be and it is a Lyman 429667. Maybe someone with that mold can send you a few to try. I would but I don't have a mold. Don't give up, even if you have to use jacketed (ugh).

[FredBuddy]

Thanks to all for the replies and advice.

I checked out the Lee offering;
another mould is definitely an option.

Elmer's boolit cycles fine in 44 special brass
in this rifle. The several other jacketed and store
bought cast I have cycle fine in 44 Mag brass.
I just want to use boolits from a cranky old mould
a friend gave me - it's an old guy thing.

No, I won't give up.

[murf205]

Believe me, as a septuagenarian, I know old guy things. I also have beaten a few dead horses in my time.

[rond]

You could shorten the brass slightly until you get the bullet to feed through the magazine and then rework the load.

This should work, it's a simple solution a lot of people overlook.