Mold Choice for 44mag hunting

[heavyd]

Gentlemen, I need your thoughts and suggestions on mold choices for 44 mag. The primary purpose of these boolits will be for whitetail hunting in Georgia. But, I also like to run high end H110 loads to impress friends. Should I get a gas check or non gas check? 1 or 2 cavity?

I am thinking maybe a 240 or 245 grain Keith type single or double cavity over 18 grains of 2400 for deer hunting.

Thank you for your help

[Iron Mike Golf]

What gun are you going to shoot those from?

For the load you are talking, you shouldn't need checks if your bullet fits your gun well. I shoot plain base 256 gr Keiths over 19.6 gr 2400.

[heavyd]

What gun are you going to shoot those from?

For the load you are talking, you shouldn't need checks if your bullet fits your gun well. I shoot plain base 256 gr Keiths over 19.6 gr 2400.

My hunting gun is a Blackhawk. I would also like to run 25 grains or so of H110 in My Smith 629. Would that be okay without gas checks if I only shot 25 and watched for leading?

[Blammer]

I would recommend the 429667, plain base.

I would suggest a 2C, more boolits per minute production. :D

good accuracy, I push it at 1350 fps out of my 7.5" ruger SRH, it's real accurate and no leading when sized properly.

I've shot HUNDREDS of rounds with no leading, and these are my "hunting" loads, not light loaded plinkers.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/44SRH_250grPB_100yds.jpg

look for the 429667 :D
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44list-1.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2008%20Deer/DSCN7394.jpg

I would also suggest the 429215 as it should be more than adequate for the job also. This mould is a GC mould.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/File0088.jpg

Choosing GC or non GC is your choice, in my humble opinion, neither will have any extra advantage.

[725]

With all due respect, I hope you are researching your load development hand in hand with a proper reloading manual. You should find dozens of loads and boolit combos that will fit your requirements. Best of luck.

[heavyd]

With all due respect, I hope you are researching your load development hand in hand with a proper reloading manual. You should find dozens of loads and boolit combos that will fit your requirements. Best of luck.

Of course, I was merely asking for suggestions from more experienced casters. Thank you for your help. I think I will go with the Lyman #429421 in 4 cavity since Mr. Keith himself designed it.

[fredj338]

This is my choice, a modified Lyman Dev mold. It will do 3" groups @ 100yds form a bench in my 2x scoped RBHH. I doubt any deer, any wt stops this bullet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/44-272.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/270grLHP-deer.jpg

[stubshaft]

Of course, I was merely asking for suggestions from more experienced casters. Thank you for your help. I think I will go with the Lyman #429421 in 4 cavity since Mr. Keith himself designed it.

Good choice. I used it and the 44-245KT PB with equally good results. There are alot of other choices but they don't kill them any deader.:drinks:

[EDK]

Of course, I was merely asking for suggestions from more experienced casters. Thank you for your help. I think I will go with the Lyman #429421 in 4 cavity since Mr. Keith himself designed it.

Go to group buys and take a look at the MIHEC #503 craemer style hollow point 4 cavity mould. It is one of the best renditions of Saint Elmer's design...IF I didn't have both a six cavity aluminum and four cavity brass solid of it, I'd jump on it. You can get three sets of hollow point pins or reverse the pins and cast solids.

HOWEVER, I'd suggest you take a look at two other group buys, for 429640 in either a solid or hollow point 4 cavity brass...I ordered the hollow point in plain base, .434 diameter to use in my 44 MARLIN Cowboy rifles. This is a plain base version of the boolit that fredj338 posted. I've got a LYMAN for gas check use.

There ain't no flies on 429667...I've used it for years...and RANCH DOG'S TLC 432 265 is another excellent design; tumble lubing is a lot less expensive than my STAR.

The last few years have seen the introduction or maybe re-introduction! of a lot of excellent designs and well made moulds. 40 years ago, you were limited to just a few production designs or expensive customs...no middle ground. Take a look at the group buys and you are like a kid in a candy store...or SWMBO with a new credit card! Take a look at the collection that Blammer shows....it's just the tip of the iceberg.

:Fire::castmine::redneck:

[Larry Gibson]

I'll second the Lyman Devastator 429640HP mould. Mine is not modified. it is a GC Mould also which means softer alloys can be used at true magnum velocities. I cast mine of WW+ 2% tin and then mix 50/50 with lead. or I cast them of 16-1 lead -tin alloy (preferred). With either alloy fully dressed they weight 275 gr. I load them, in the 44 Magnum over 23 gr of H110 in WW cases with CCI 350 primers. That load runs 1486 fps out of my 8.4" barreled Contender at 30,200 psi(M43) and 1365 fps out of my 6.5" barreled Ruger BHFT. Accuracy is superb out of both.

I was using the 429244 cast the same and HP'd with a 1/8" Forster HP tool. The Lyman Devastator mould is much better.

There is a very good thread on the hunting forum where an Aussie uses this bullet on hogs in revolver and rifle. Excellent thread with good pictures.

Larry Gibson

[Lloyd Smale]

two of my favorite all around 44 bullets are the rcbs 240 swcgc and the lyman 429244. both are very accuarte and do well on game.

[NHlever]

I have several .44 caliber molds, but it seems that the Lyman 429244 over H-110 loads that are listed in most manuals has become my "go to" load for all my .44's so far. I am hoping that it will feed, and shoot well in the Ruger 77/44 that I have on the way too.

[pistolman44]

From my experience using cast boolits for deer hunting (44mag) is when I used a 255 gr swc gc out to 60 yrds is that the heavy slug would pass thru the deer. But with the 429215 which is a lighter boolit stayed in longer and did more damage. But if I plan on shooting at longer distances I use my Encore with a 12" brl and 180 gr jhp .44.

[ColColt]

I'm not a handgun hunter but if I were, this would be my choice.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/43-260B-D.png

[Ole]

Ranch Dog molds!

[tuckerdog]

lymans 429421 - 20grn 2400 is real hard to beat for just about any hunting you might want to do
mihecs 433-300 is another using h-110 or 2400
both are very accurate from my 5.5" sbh don't know vel but boolit thru boiler = venison steaks every time

[Grandpas50AE]

Like several of the folks in this thread, I have used the Lyman 429244 Kieth style in 4 cavity since back in the 70's, and mine cast out like Larry's at 275 gr. I load for several friends and family members using H110 and have extremely good accuracy with them. They are gas checked, so the softer boolits they cast do not have a leading problem in any of my guns. They will exit a good-sized whitetail deer on anything close to a broadside shot, but what little distance any of our deer have gone the blood trail has been both sides of the deer and could be followed by a blind man.

It is always a matter of choice, and my goodness there are a lot of great choices available these days. Properly cast and loaded, I doubt any of the suggestions on this thread would fail to produce the desired results.

Good luck, and you will be hooked on taking deer with cast boolits as soon as you take one with them. Happy hunting, be safe.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Blammer: I love your collection!!! You are definately NOT a .44 dilettante !

Randy

[L1A1Rocker]

How about this 300 gr hollow point from Miha? It is what I use and available on his web site.
http://www.mp-molds.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=3&=SID

http://www.mp-molds.com/images/444_44.jpg

http://www.mp-molds.com/images/test_mag44_44marlin_5.jpg

Not sure what the solids would drop at though.

[MtGun44]

Lyman 429421 or RCBS 44-250-K are wonderful.

Bill

[Shaky]

Just keep in mind, GA requires expanding boolits for deer hunting, just like here in AL. I asked one of the old crusty conservation officers about using cast, and he told me that 10 years ago nothing would probably be said about it, but now with all the hard cast loads out there (and everyone knows that if any boolit is too hard to mushroom, they all are), there might be some that would give me trouble with them. I found a used hp mold on ebay (an old Lee design) and have carried those during deer season since, as I'd rather be on my way than attempt to explain the "fingernail test" to a judge.

[Fishman]

Check out the Lee 310 gr RFP. I have used it with satisfaction in my marlin and super redhawk. I'm not sure how much animal it would take to stop it as it has gone through every hog I've shot with it. $20 for the 2 cavity is tough to beat. No more than you will need for hunting purposes, a 2 cavity would work fine.

[Blammer]

just tell the "Game officer" they are "expanding flat point" boolits. :D

[fredj338]

just tell the "Game officer" they are "expanding flat point" boolits. :D

Well by definition a lead bullet is an expanding bullet. It will expand, it just needs a tough enough target or high enough vel. Addign a shallow cup point would solve any discussion about it though.

[Iowa Fox]

In the 44 mag all do a good job.

The Lyman devastator is a favorite of mine. Anything heavier and recoil starts coming up.

[heavyd]

Just keep in mind, GA requires expanding boolits for deer hunting, just like here in AL. I asked one of the old crusty conservation officers about using cast, and he told me that 10 years ago nothing would probably be said about it, but now with all the hard cast loads out there (and everyone knows that if any boolit is too hard to mushroom, they all are), there might be some that would give me trouble with them. I found a used hp mold on ebay (an old Lee design) and have carried those during deer season since, as I'd rather be on my way than attempt to explain the "fingernail test" to a judge.

Good point about hollow point bullets. I already ordered the Keith style Flat point and I will just use that and take my chances. I highly doubt a game officer will question my ammunition in a 44 magnum and if he does I feel comfortable in front of a judge. Great point though Shaky!

[Char-Gar]

It would be hard to find a mold in the 240-250 grain range with a good flat nose, that would not be a good Whitetail bullet. When the range gets out to 100 yards I think the gas check design holds a slight edge on accuracy, but not enough to matter much.

The above is predicated on you placing the bullet in the right spot. If you don't, which bullet you choose won't be a serious issue.

[fredj338]

It would be hard to find a mold in the 240-250 grain range with a good flat nose, that would not be a good Whitetail bullet. When the range gets out to 100 yards I think the gas check design holds a slight edge on accuracy, but not enough to matter much.

The above is predicated on you placing the bullet in the right spot. If you don't, which bullet you choose won't be a serious issue.
Why I like some deformation that a cup point gives.

[Char-Gar]

Fred... a cup point bullet in the wrong place won't be any better that any other bullet. It just make the animal suffer worse, as it crawls off and dies.

There is nothing, nothing that will replace proper bullet placement!!

[fredj338]

Fred... a cup point bullet in the wrong place won't be any better that any other bullet. It just make the animal suffer worse, as it crawls off and dies.

There is nothing, nothing that will replace proper bullet placement!!
Obviously, but poke a smaller hole or bigger hole in the same place & the bigger hole always wins.:mrgreen: