Deep Six
11-03-2013, 09:03 AM
I've been working on finding a cast bullet load for my .44 7.5" Blue Redhawk that delivers the kind of accuracy I know the gun is capable of. This past spring I finally got a 250 Keith mold (the Accurate version), and as I expected, that bullet showed early promise at the 20 yard range compared to other designs. I tried several powders - Unique, Blue Dot, HS-6, AA #7, 2400 (I have a 4 lb keg of the old Hercules variety), and H110. 2400 and H110 delivered the best groups, but I decided I liked the way 2400 felt better. H110 just seemed too over the top.
At that point I started trying different charge weights and primers, finally settling on 18.5 gr with a CCI 350 primer. I know this is quite a bit less than the current max book charge per Alliant, but my old can of the Hercules stuff starts showing pressure signs at 19.5 gr with the mag primer. 18.5 showed just a little bit better accuracy than other charge weights, so that's what I settled on.
At this point it all it could do at 50 yards was about 12", and I was getting some (not terrible) leading, so I knew I still had some work to do. I switched lubes from paraffin+vasoline to a concoction I made with moly grease and paraffin. This helped only a little with accuracy (now it was maybe 10" at 50 yards). It still leaded, but the lead was easier to remove (must have been the moly...?)
Next I figured it must be a boolit fit issue. The gun has .432 chambers and .4305 bore. My mold casts at .432-.433 so I figured I would run some unsized. This made no difference, which had me scratching my head until I realized that I was still using the Lee FCD to crimp. Next I made a batch using unsized boolits and crimped with the RCBS seater die. At this point I started to get some better results - it would put maybe 6 out of 10 in a 5" circle at 50 yards and then the other 4 would be flyers.
I still wasn't satisfied as I was still getting a little leading and the flyers. This lead me on a search for better lube. I finally made a batch of Ben's Red a couple weeks ago and loaded some up. I shot them yesterday. Wow it's incredible the difference a lube can make! This time the Redhawk put 9 out of 10 in a 3" circle. The other shot was way high and to the left - I must have pulled it (easy to do with irons at 50 yards). Now I've finally got a load that I can feel confident deer hunting with and that will allow to me bust milk jugs at 100 yards consistently.
To summarize, the final load is an Accurate 43-250K, as-cast at .432-.433, lubed with Ben's Red, over 18.5 Gr Hercules 2400 with a CCI 350 primer, crimped with an RCBS seater die. Also, the same bullet was showing tremendous promise over 15 gr of 2400 in .44 special cases out of my 4-5/8" flattop Blackhawk. It turned in a golf ball sized group for 10 shots at 20 yards.
At that point I started trying different charge weights and primers, finally settling on 18.5 gr with a CCI 350 primer. I know this is quite a bit less than the current max book charge per Alliant, but my old can of the Hercules stuff starts showing pressure signs at 19.5 gr with the mag primer. 18.5 showed just a little bit better accuracy than other charge weights, so that's what I settled on.
At this point it all it could do at 50 yards was about 12", and I was getting some (not terrible) leading, so I knew I still had some work to do. I switched lubes from paraffin+vasoline to a concoction I made with moly grease and paraffin. This helped only a little with accuracy (now it was maybe 10" at 50 yards). It still leaded, but the lead was easier to remove (must have been the moly...?)
Next I figured it must be a boolit fit issue. The gun has .432 chambers and .4305 bore. My mold casts at .432-.433 so I figured I would run some unsized. This made no difference, which had me scratching my head until I realized that I was still using the Lee FCD to crimp. Next I made a batch using unsized boolits and crimped with the RCBS seater die. At this point I started to get some better results - it would put maybe 6 out of 10 in a 5" circle at 50 yards and then the other 4 would be flyers.
I still wasn't satisfied as I was still getting a little leading and the flyers. This lead me on a search for better lube. I finally made a batch of Ben's Red a couple weeks ago and loaded some up. I shot them yesterday. Wow it's incredible the difference a lube can make! This time the Redhawk put 9 out of 10 in a 3" circle. The other shot was way high and to the left - I must have pulled it (easy to do with irons at 50 yards). Now I've finally got a load that I can feel confident deer hunting with and that will allow to me bust milk jugs at 100 yards consistently.
To summarize, the final load is an Accurate 43-250K, as-cast at .432-.433, lubed with Ben's Red, over 18.5 Gr Hercules 2400 with a CCI 350 primer, crimped with an RCBS seater die. Also, the same bullet was showing tremendous promise over 15 gr of 2400 in .44 special cases out of my 4-5/8" flattop Blackhawk. It turned in a golf ball sized group for 10 shots at 20 yards.