lyman .44 250gr. HP drops heavy

[dryfire]

I bought a new lyman # 429640 HP. when i cast them they drop 268 gr./272 with gas checks is this normal??
cast from wheel weights

[smorin2]

Hello,i also noticed that mine puts out a casting of about 269 grs. w/gas check using wheel weights and a small amount of tin. I thgought it was odd as it's listed on the box @ 250 grs.

[btroj]

That is a nominal weight. Varying the alloy can make a 5 gr difference either way.
Ignore the variance, just go shoot them.

[dryfire]

I dont have a problem with 270gr bullets just didnt know if this was normal or if had somthing wrong
how much variance do you get when you are casting these
what is normal????

[Larry Gibson]

It is normal, mine weigh in at 270 gr fully dressed with a soft alloy. Lyman uses #2 alloy for their listed weight which is too hard for any decent expansion at handgun velocities. I use (WWs + 2% tin)+ 50% lead or 16-1 alloy for use at 1350 fps out of my Ruger revolver, 1486 fps out of my Contender and 1525 fps out of a 16" M94.

Larry Gibson

[missionary5155]

Good morning
You can always drill the HP deeper of wider to auger out any unwanted weight. A fatter HP will collapse faster and more violent. I am inclined to be happier with a heavy boolit for caliber when I need to pop more than a coydog or groundhog. Last thing I want hunting is no exit hole to help with leaks. In 41 mag I am very happy to be lobbing 265 and heavier grains at intended targets which so far have never failed to exit and become part again with the nautural place of origen.
Mike in Peru

[Larry Gibson]

Mike

Take a look at the 429640HP Devestator, a larger HP or deeper HP is really not needed.

Larry Gibson

[dryfire]

Ok so this mold is simply marked as something it is not. I have no problem at all with 270-280 gr. Bullet. Personally I think this is around the ideal range for me.
Question? Lets say you set down and cast some of these #429640 HP. Then you sort your bullets, remove all the flawed (less than perfect ones). Say you have two hundred left in front of you. Then you sort them to .5gr.groups
I have found mine will range from 262gr. To 268.
Is this normal from a single cavity mold?
My lyman#429244 double cavity mold will only run about 5gr.

[Larry Gibson]

The weight variation is probably stemming (pun intended[smilie=l:) from not keeping the HP stem hot enough while casting. That will also lead to a lot of rejects. I find when casting HPs that if I have the alloy a little hotter than normal and use a "hanger" on a propane torch to keep the HP stem/pin hot. The temp can be varied to "just right".

Also with such a large bullet, if using a bottom pour mould it helps to open the spout adjustment so the alloy stream gets into and fills the cavity very quickly. When using a Ladle I have drill open the spout to a larger diameter to get the alloy into the cavity as quickly as possible.

Larry Gibson