Lyman .44 data needed

[35isit]

I have a older Lyman .44 mold number 429xxx. The reason for the xs is because I can't remember the last 3 numbers. Anyway, it drops a boolit with lube at 260 grains instead of 245 with my 50/50 alloy. It makes a beautiful bullet. I found load data for a 265 jacketed bullet. Can I start with the starting load for this bullet and be safe?

[GRUMPA]

That's what I typically do when I run across odd weights, just remember that the velocity will be higher because of it being a cast boolit.

[Larry Gibson]

GC'd or PB'd 429xxx?

What powder are you wanting to use?

Revolver, SS or rifle?

Larry Gibson

[35isit]

Plain based, Ruger Super Blackhawk and a TC Contender, and Unique, AA#7, AA#9 or WW231 those are the powders I hav on hand.

[Larry Gibson]

I’ve been loading the 44 magnum for years in revolvers, Contenders and rifles. What I found is that most invariably the higher psi and velocity from the Contenders and rifles with a top end load (any powder) developed in the revolver for accuracy will most likely not shoot as well as we would expect in the Contender or rifle. This is why I most often recommend developing the load (staying within handgun data) for the Contender/rifle and then it will most likely shoot very well in the revolver. This is because PB’d cast bullets, especially soft cast ones, will take only so much pressure and so much velocity and remain accurate.

Thus I suggest you develop the load(s) for the Contender and it will likely shoot well in the revolver if you want a single load for both.

From Hodgdon’s manual;

A maximum of 11 gr 231 is listed as maximum with a 240 LSWC. With your bullet I would drop that to a suggested 9 gr max and I would use 6 gr as a starting load as that was/is my 44 Special factory duplication load in 44 Mag cases with the RCBS 44-250-K at 255 gr.

From Accurate Arms web site;

No.7 240 MCB SWC 14.7 1,180 16.3 1,341 34,539 1.560....You'll have to interpolate from the 240 gr bullet data. With a 260 gr cast I'd be looking at 15.3 gr to be about max.

No.9 240 LC SWC 18.1 1,255 20.2 1,426 34,452 1.560
No.9 275 CP WFNPB 15.9 1,106 17.7 1,242 34,800 1.695...again, "interpolating" I'd look at 18.5 - 19 gr as being max with your 260 gr bullet.

For Unique I'm suggesting 8.5 - 10 gr under your bullet based on what shoots very well in both my Contender and Ruger 6 1/2" barreled FTBH.

Also please take my "interpolations" above with the usual grain of salt and work up your loads as per the normal way.

Larry Gibson

[475BH]

Keep these 2 web sites in your favorites list for reference.
If you can't find it there you wont find it anywhere......................

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

[35isit]

Thanks for the responses. As stated I had found data for the 265 jacketed bullet. Max for it was 9.3grs of Unique. I have always liked Unique in the .44. I was going to star 10% below max and see how it worked. If it doesn't lead it up I will be fine. I will then work towards an accurate load at 100 and 200 yards. It is mainly a plinker and for deer at close range.

[MaineJim]

I have used the Lyman 429421 mold for many years and my favorite load is 9 grains Unique for everyday use with the occasional use with 21 grains 2400 in Elmer Keiths memory.

[35isit]

I got to shoot this load yesterday. With the help of this board I may have found a winner. Larry Gibson turned me on to about 8.5 grains of Unique. With his advice and interpolating data from a 265 grain jacketed bullet I settled on 8.3 grains as a starting point. I went to 9.1 with out pressure problems. The 8.3 load would shoot groups where 3 out of 5 would touch each other at 50 yards and was clay pigeon accurate at that distance. It seemed the more rounds I fired the better it shot. This barrel was new to me and perhaps it needed "seasonong." (If that is a proper term.) Since this T C barrel is for plinking and perhaps woods hunting deer at 50 yards or less, the accuracy and velocity I'm getting should be adequate.

[35isit]

Oh I forgot. I lubed the first boolits with lube that came in a lubrsizer I got from a friend. That lube is now gone and I will never know what kind was in it. I intend to lube the next batch I cast with LBT Blue hard lube. Will this positivly have a dramatic effect on accuracy or leading?

[Larry Gibson]

I prefer a softer lube and have excellent results with BAC, Javelina and most other NRA 50/50 formula lubes. Many times the harder lubes work well at top end but not at bottom end. Only way to know about the LBT Blue hard is to try it.....I did and still use Javelina.

Larry Gibson

[35isit]

Well I love this boolit. I tried it with the LBT hard blue last weekend. At 50, 100 and 200 it is plenty accurate. Recoil is managable. I feel the lube is good to go. After adjusting terrible 2x scope and figuring hold I could hit what I was aiming at. I have settled on a load of 9.1 grains of Unique. I have its cousin in a Lyman 2 cavity gc mold. It looks identical and I have cast up some. I can't wait to try some of them.