Alloy for 44 Mag

[reloader28]

My air cooled clip on WW measure 15-16 bhn and I'm sizing .433. Lube is 350 Alox/beeswax 50/50 then add 10% parafin wax.
Shoots awesome from special to Elmer loads with a 260-265gr Elmer bullet.

[725]

WW's & a touch of pewter.

[Markopolo]

I started casting for .44 magnum recently, and so far have only fired a few hundred rounds.
I've used straight COWW alloy and have run both specials and full throttle magnums with no leading issues.
My 2 molds are a Lyman 429421 and a Lee 310 grain RNFP GC.

If you can only have 2 molds, this is the way to go...

[Budzilla 19]

50/50 ww/ pure, with 2% sn, Lee 310 grain RNFP GC. Powder coated, sized to .430. SHoot accurately enough for me with no leading.

[Static line]

50/50 ww/ pure, with 2% sn, Lee 310 grain RNFP GC. Powder coated, sized to .430. SHoot accurately enough for me with no leading.

Are those air cooled or water quenched?

[tdoor4570]

50/50 ww/ pure, with 2% sn, Lee 310 grain RNFP GC. Powder coated, sized to .430. SHoot accurately enough for me with no leading.

The lee 310 grain RNFP gas checked might be interesting in the 444 Marlin. Is that the C430-310-RF GC 90858 ?

[mdi]

I have been casting for my 44 magnums since '90 r so. I started with straight wheel weights and was very successful. I have found, just like most hobbies, one can get as involved as wanted. I learned a bit about alloying and characteristics of different bullet alloys, but for me I "toned it down" in the last 6-8 years. I know what alloys cast best in my Lee molds and those that work well in my Lyman/Ideal molds, but beyond that, I just check BHN and size the bullets to fit the gun they will be used in. I have about 200-250 lbs of what I call my "mystery metal" that runs about 11 BHN,and it is a mixture of different alloys and scrap (started with an OOPS! and mixed some alloy with an unknown alloy by mistake) which works well in all my guns and casts well in most of my molds...

[44magLeo]

I've used the Lyman 429421 since about 1978. I've used it in my Marlin 1894, a Ruger SBH, a Ruger Redhawk.
I've experimented with alloys from dead soft to Lyno hard. Usually I just use what's in the pot. Mostly COWW Water dropped.
My mold drops boolits at about .432. I tried sizing to several sizes. To simplify my loading I don't size the boolits. I lube with Lee Liquid Alox. No leading as fast as they can shoot.
I standardized on two loads 8.5 grs Unique, 22.5 grs 2400. Shoots through all my guns very well. The two revolvers get less than 2 in groups at 25 yds. If I really bear down, less than an inch. In the marlin the groups aren't quite as small. Run about two inches.
I recently bought the Ranch Dog 265 gr mold. Haven't worked with it much yet so can't report on that one.
With the two loads in the revolvers the light load is pretty much right on at 50 yds, without readjusting the sights the heavy load is about right on at 100.
Leo

[murf205]

Going to start casting for the 44 Mag. Ordering a Keith mold, not planning to use max loads. Bore slugs .4295, throat is .4325. Figure I'll size .432.
What alloy are you all using that gives you good results with no leading? I've got plenty of lead & lino, but no WW. What proportion do you suggest? BHN?
Thanks for your suggestions.

You should do well staying with coww mixtures in that Redhawk. The .4325 throats and boolits sized to .432 will let you seal the .4295 barrel very well. My SRH has the same dimensions and I run .431 boolits with no problems and good accuracy with no leading ever and most of mine were 16-1. IMHO, that is one of the reasons that Redhawks shoot so accurately, cylinder throats are proper size for barrel diameter. Of course the way the cylinder locks up into the frame doesn't hurt either. You will love this gun.

[Alstep]

Thanks everyone for your advise. Much appreciated.

Did a little experimentation, and found that a mix of 5 Pb to 1 Lino gives me about 12.5 BHN, so I'll try that when I get my mold.
Looking forward to playing with this 44.

[Conditor22]

You may want to add .5 to 1 0z of tin/pewter

[Walks]

Back 40+yrs ago for silhouette, I used the Lyman #429244GC cast of 2lbs Linotype to 1lb lead. Lubed with NRA 50/50.

Gave me minimal leading, sized .431dia I got the larger Lube-Sizer die from an old guy at the range. Got a .359dia too. But it didn't give me the accuracy I needed. So I went back to .358dia for all .38/.357 loads. Never looked back. 35,000 rds of #358156GC cast of the 2/1 alloy or straight LINO. Got some gas cutting, between 10,000 to 20,000 rds. But that stopped

Happened to the .44 Super Blawkhawk too, 7 1/2". But I didn't get that in the Stainless 10 1/2" . But I gave up silhouette before I shot more then about 3,000 rds.

No hot loads these days. Arthritis in both hands, wrists and elbows.

Cut that 10 1/2" to 5 1/2". Got a full length ejector rod. Makes a great holster gun for light loads of 8.0grs of TiteGroup & a Keith SWC or RNFP for Cowboy Action Shooting. Cast of COWW/#2, 50/50 & that same NRA 50/50 Lube.
My Chiropractor loves it.

[Blammer]

96/2/2 air cooled works well for me.