Big Wadcutters

[HotPb]

I have no idea how many .38 Special wadcutters I have launched down range, either as a dedicated Bullseye Pistol competitor, or just for my own amusement.

But what about the bigger calibers? I also shoot S&W target revolvers in .45 ACP and .44 Special. Can anyone recommend me moulds for a genuine wadcutter in .45 and .44, that will give target grade accuracy up to 50 yards?

And yes, I'm aware that there are excellent SWC bullets for .45 and .44. I have several. I'd just like some genuine **wadcutter** moulds for these two calibers, but something tested enough such that its possible to get 2 to 2.5" groups at 50 yards from a Ransom Rest out of a .44 or .45 revolver.

Any thoughts, tips, or suggestions welcome.

[John Allen]

NOE makes a 230 gr one for the 44 it has been out of stock for a while. I am going to email them and see when they are going to run them again. I want one myself.

[RJM52]

Accurate Molds has several. One or two even are reversible with a gas check option on one end.

Look under the 43-XXX

http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=all

[rintinglen]

126976 126979
I have and recommend the NOE 44-230 WC. I also have one of the 110 grain molds that they ran at the same time, but that is basically only useful for multiball loads. IIRC, Al made a 110 grain, a 155 grain and the 230 grain. If there had been a 200-210 grain option I think I'd have ordered that.
I also have a Lyman 454-309, a 240 grain Wadcutter for the 45 Long Colt. The NOE is on the left, the 454-309 is on the right. The second photo is the 110 grain WC in a multi-ball 44 magnum load.
The NOE 44-230 will likely meet your accuracy requirements--not so sure about the other boolits. I have only tried it (the454-309) in the Colt 45, not the ACP, and neither of my 45 Colts is all that accurate.

[Good Cheer]

About 1981 or '82 had a Lyman #450229 altered to wadcutter to use in a Model 1909. Had extra C-ring grooves in the base plug to adjust the weight.
That booger sure would roll an armadillo.

[Duster340]

You can occasionally find old Lee WC molds on Ebay. Over the years I have been able to find a variety of .44 WC's in 116, 162 & 208 gr. Currently thinking about popping for the heavier NOE 230 gr mold.

[Valley-Shooter]

I have a NOE 432-215-WC that I bought in December. It has the option of making 215 gr HBWC or 246 Solid Wadcutters.

I haven't shot them yet, still loading them. Will be using 5.0 gr of Bullseye and 5.0 gr of 231 in 44 special cases. Crimping on the top lube groove.

Anybody have a proven load for these boolits?

[rintinglen]

Valley-Shooter--If you are going to use them in a 44 Special, that Bullseye load is a might on the heavy side. I run 4.2 grains of Red Dot or 5.0 grains of Unique under the 230 grain NOE boolit.
The 231 load should be OK, especially if loaded with the HB version, but I'd not run the Bullseye loading higher than 4.0 with the solidbase or 4.4 with the hollow base. If you'll be shooting them from a 44 mag, no problem, but from a Charter Arms or a triple lock, that might be too much of a good thing.

Can you post a picture of that boolit? I didn't notice it or I think I'd have bought one.

[2shot]

Saeco has 44 and 45 wadcutters. These are from the Midway site.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/507087/saeco-2-cavity-bullet-mold-944-44-special-44-remington-magnum-430-diameter-200-grain-wadcutter?cm_vc=ProductFinding

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/648032/saeco-4-cavity-bullet-mold-453-45-caliber-452-diameter-225-grain-wadcutter?cm_vc=ProductFinding


2shot

[Valley-Shooter]

127073

noe 432-215-wc

[Valley-Shooter]

Valley-Shooter--If you are going to use them in a 44 Special, that Bullseye load is a might on the heavy side. I run 4.2 grains of Red Dot or 5.0 grains of Unique under the 230 grain NOE boolit.
The 231 load should be OK, especially if loaded with the HB version, but I'd not run the Bullseye loading higher than 4.0 with the solidbase or 4.4 with the hollow base. If you'll be shooting them from a 44 mag, no problem, but from a Charter Arms or a triple lock, that might be too much of a good thing.


I'm going to shoot them out my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter to start. If the works out I'll try them in my 629.
I have 1 pound of Bullseye, but only a 1/4 pound of 231. Pistol powder is still pretty scarce around Oregon.

[rintinglen]

Those look pretty interesting--I just spent my allowance on a 315=115 NOE 4 cavity brass, or I'd have to look into buying one. I have the 358-148 but have not managed to get any loaded yet.

I have been using my 230 WC's in a Redhawk, and a couple of 44 Specials. I have not tried it in my Hunter--too many guns too little time. Powder is still spotty around here, but it has started to improve. I was able to get 7 lbs of pistol powders at the last gun show, 2 lbs of HP-38, 4 lbs of titegroup and one of 296. I'm good to go for another couple of years.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Full wadcutters have been around for use in 45 and 44 for many years. They can be deepseated with proper adjustment of the powder charge and do very well at ranges out to 50 yards. Various moldmakers have offered different versions mainly in weight; popular ones have been made by Lyman, Lee, Saeco, etc. They usually do better at moderate velocities in revolvers with a varied number of popular powders. LLS

[GLL]

As RJM indicated Tom at Accurate Molds makes a wide variety of interesting wadcutter molds.

http://www.fototime.com/8F95495D13D5995/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/9C41CB68988B17F/standard.jpg

Jerry

[StrawHat]

The SAECO 453 casts a 235 grain wadcutter. My S&Ws are happy with the boolit.

Kevin

[stu1ritter]

From Tom at Accurate, you might like this. I use it in .44, .38 and .32.
Stu
http://imageshack.com/a/img834/2776/z9ytr.jpg

[bobthenailer]

For the 44 I had the Lee 208 WC and currently have the Saeco #944- 200gr WC , both are very accurate at 25 yards but at 50 yards accuracy falls off ! ( I now just use this boolet for bowling pins matches @25 yards or less.

[RJM52]

From Tom at Accurate, you might like this. I use it in .44, .38 and .32.
Stu
http://imageshack.com/a/img834/2776/z9ytr.jpg

I have been very tempted to get that mold in .41 but I already have one of the Mihec WCs with the solid and HP pins and I also just bought a Accurate 215V that throws a 205 grain wide flat point and the meplat is .39...just short of a full wadcutter...and it shoot nice round holes at 100 yards...but this is tempting...

Thanks for posting the pic...Bob

[RJM52]

As RJM indicated Tom at Accurate Molds makes a wide variety of interesting wadcutter molds.

http://www.fototime.com/8F95495D13D5995/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/9C41CB68988B17F/standard.jpg

Jerry

That is a NICE mold...but I already have a Mihic with the solid and HP pins. Also just bought an Accurate 41-215V that throws a wide flatpoint that has a .39 Meplat..almost a wadcutter. And it is accurate to 100+ yards...

But this is tempting...thanks...Bob

[EDK]

GLL had an extra LEE 44 wadcutter mould on a group buy years ago. I still remember with gratitude.
BLAMMER did an OLD WEST BULLET MOLDS group buy of LYMAN 429352 in brass. Thank you.
MIHEC did a hollow base mould in brass.
NOE's contribution is aluminum for my 625s and a recently acquired Schofield clone.

A full wadcutter in a big caliber sure freaks out the gun shop/shooting range commandos.

[Duster340]

I too have a thing for big bore wadcutters. .44 Special & Mag in my case... :p Need to add a few of those sexy heavy weight 230-240 grain molds to the collection!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f105/emandm/Hunting/IMG_0392_zps0322cad1.jpg (http://s46.photobucket.com/user/emandm/media/Hunting/IMG_0392_zps0322cad1.jpg.html)

[Good Cheer]

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/entry_zps5840ce3e.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/entry_zps5840ce3e.jpg.html)

That's the two designs fired into soaked paper at black powder velocities from a 1858. The WC has lotsa splat.