Noob ? on 44 magnum lead to purchase

[Russ P]

I am fairly new to reloading/handloading. I have been loading my 44 mag with 240g Hornady XTP's at about 35 cents per rd with Win 296 and cci non mag primers. I would like to venture into the lead loadings for my 44 to save some bucks but I can't justify the time to do my own casting. I have a lot on my table.


I have been reading up on this forum and a couple of other forums and have come to the conclusion that I need a big 'ol fat meplat for consistent accuracy and bone smashing excellence for whitetails. I am more than willing to change powder to slow down the bullet and also realize that that may not be necessary.

Could y'all point me to a decent vendor that can fulfill my dreams?

[phonejack]

There are many excellent vendors. The first one I tried was Missouri Bullets. I was happy with the results so, I have stayed with them.

[BHill]

Montanan bullet works
Bear tooth Bullets

[BHill]

Also Matt's Bullets and Western Bullet co

[daloper]

I have never tried his bullets but you might check with The Casting Machine. He is a vendor sponsor here.

[BigMagShooter]

1200 fps will punch through a deer long wise, FYI

[Russ P]

Thanks for the tips folks. I appreciate it. I will be popping in from time to time. I looked for the intro forum but couldn't find it.

[Grmps]

Russ P - welcome to CB. If you decided to start casting to save money, forget it. You won't, you'll just shoot more.

If you really want to save money, Cast your own These .430-200-RF cost me $7.50 in lead and a little of my time.


I like to powder coat my boolits which is an easy lubricant (ps. I have not removed the "bad boolits" yet that I set aside for just plinking


.430-240


Casting boolits (lead bullets) properly is a science, once you know the basics, not a hard science.
There is a lot of good information on CB. The Google search (top right of every forum page) is a gateway to all the knowledge on this forum. IF you can’t find your answer there ask the question (Please be as detailed as possible, pictures help http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...g-screen-shots I would be very surprised if there wasn’t someone on this forum that could answer ANY question you might have)
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm
1. Boolits need to be cast .0005 to .003 over the slugged diameter of your barrel for accuracy and to avoid leading. If the fit is wrong nothing else will work right.
a. slugging a barrel (it is safer to use a brass rod or a steel rod with a couple of coats of tape to avoid damaging your barrel http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm
b. chamber casting https://www.brownells.com/guntech/ce....htm?lid=10614
or pound casting http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...rifle-chamber)
2. the right alloy needs to be used for the velocity and purpose of the boolit (don’t fall into the trap of going with to hard an alloy
Economical way to easily test lead hardness
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...rdness-testing

Some alloys harden over time
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chap...Metallurgy.htm
different alloy’s different end sizes

Lead alloy calculator
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/atta...4&d=1341560870
3. velocity the bullet needs to be pushed hard/fast enough to get the proper spin, have the proper velocity to accurately reach the target but not so hard as to be dangerous or strip the lead off in the grooves instead of spinning the boolit..
Powders range from fast to slow, you need to choose the right powder for your application.
Loading manuals list the best powders for certain calibers and boolit weights.
NEVER use any posted noncommercial load data without first checking to see if falls in the safe parameter for your firearm!! There are several firearms out there that can handle much higher pressures than others!!
Link to free online load data
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...online-sources

[Larry Gibson]

I know it's sacreligous here but to simplify things given your situation I suggest you keep your XTP load for hunting. Then, for practice, get 240 - 250 cast SWCs from any vendor and Load them over 8.5 - 10 gr Unique powder. You'll find that much more economical and pleasurable to shoot. It's what I do now having been shooting 44 magnums for 50+ years and having learned all that bone crushing power isn't needed for most of my revolver shooting.

[seetrout]

I know it's sacreligous here but to simplify things given your situation I suggest you keep your XTP load for hunting. Then, for practice, get 240 - 250 cast SWCs from any vendor and Load them over 8.5 - 10 gr Unique powder. You'll find that much more economical and pleasurable to shoot. It's what I do now having been shooting 44 magnums for 50+ years and having learned all that bone crushing power isn't needed for most of my revolver shooting.

What he said.
http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html

[megasupermagnum]

GT bullets is a good source, and uses a relatively soft alloy that is great for hunting. I'd stick with a SWC for a solid, it's been working great for many decades. If you want a hollow point, I've been getting very good accuracy with GT's 255 grain hollow point. I haven't done a lot of testing with them as far as expansion, but they seem to open up good in dirt. My dad will be using them this year on deer.

[Walks]

I have tried CASTING MACHINE'S 44-240 RNFP Powder Coated.

FANTASTIC,FANTASTIC, GREAT BULLETS. If I could afford it I'd give up casting my own and buy his exclusively.

They are fine quality at A VERY GOOD PRICE. But I live on a fixed income and such fantastic bullets are a beyond my every day shooting.
I'm shooting some this weekend in a COWBOY match. In a WINCHESTER 94(20") in .44mag Cowboy loads, They are ACCURATE as you could want in a .44MAG old VAQUERO.

[BigMagShooter]

what he forgot to mention about the $8 bucks or so in lead was the $40 mould (maybe more) $120 lee pot, gloves, handles sizer, luber size dies, etc.... so yea EVENTUALLY is will be cheaper... but hey it's a hobby too.

I'd keep your jackted for hunting buy some cast lead and unique as stated above for practice and shoot more! One box of jackted should last you about 5 yrs if only hunting with them.

[Russ P]

Thanks for all the replies folks. Y'all are awesome. Special thanks to Grmps. A lot of info to look over. I will be stuck inside this weekend due to the extreme heat and will be reading up on cast bullets etc.

I popped over to Missouri Bullets and got 500 pcs. 240g RNFP Hi-Tek coated bullets to shoot the heck out of. I did slug my bore and it came in at .429. My throat with decent calipers ended up right at .430 except one was more like .4305.


I will be filling up some brass with these over the long hot weekend as well as some other loads.

[skeettx]

Good luck and please report back
Mike

[jeffs4wheeler]

I have used Casting Machines bullets . He is a vendor he on the site.