CUSTOM 44 Mag Molds, HELP!!!!!!!!!!

[Honeybadger]

Hey guys, I'm new here.......and new to molding my own bullets. You may have seen my question over in the Alloy section about how to achieve a high BHN alloy 22-25 that won't be brittle. Any help with that would be much appreciated. However, my question here is how I go about designing a few molds for my Ruger Super Redhawk chambered in 44 mag. I know for sure that I want to design a mold that will make me SSK style bullets that can take full advantage of my guns longer cylinder so that I can achieve maximum FPS. I'll stay around the 320-330 grain mark here. The second mold I'd like is a true Wadcutter for maximum meplat! I'd like to go somewhere around the 360 grain mark here................can anyone help me out with how I need to go about this?? I'd appreciate any help I can get, I'm new and don't know anything yet, lol. I've been handloading since I was a child........just not casting.

[paul h]

I'd suggest going to the mountain molds website and use their online bullet design software to design the bullet molds you want. Dan makes great molds and they are reasonably priced and he has a pretty fast turn around.

Having cast and shot about 1000#'s of lead through various magnum revolvers, I'd question your choice of BHN 22-25. I find bullets don't need to be nearly that hard in a revolver and would suggest a maximum hardness of bhn 18 (water quenched wheel weights) and would suggest adding some tin if you want a slightly more ductile bullet. That said I've found cast from straight wheel weights water quenched bullets launched 1200-1300 fps hold up just fine to anything softer than a steel plate ;)

[kenyerian]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/index.php I would call Accurate molds and talk to Tom. He may already have what you need . http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-325D-D.png
Glen E. Fryxell has a good article on JD Jones bullet designs. http://www.lasc.us/FryxellBulletsOfSSK.htm

[gwpercle]

NOE has some 44 wadcutter designs already worked out and listed at the store.
They have a type III wadcutter mould in .38 cal. ,#360-160-WC, this design is my favorite in 38/357.
An active group buy is going on right now for the type III wadcutter in .41 cal. , I'm on that list because .41 WC's are few and far between.

There has been a lot of talk of having this type III wadcutter design done up for .44 cal and .45 cal.
All of these : 38 , 41 , 44 and 45 cast with a cup or hollow point would be a heck of a defensive boolit.
A lot of interest has been shown and if you put in a request for a group buy , only 9 others have to sign on to get the group discount.

Check out their site. www.noebulletmoulds.com (http://www.noebulletmoulds.com)
Gary

[Moonie]

I would agree about Tom over at accurate molds, he will make anything you want within reason and he is very fast on turn around.

[MT Chambers]

Lbt is prolly you're best bet for those designs, give them a call.

[Honeybadger]

Thanks guys......any more suggestions, send them my way!!!!!

[longbow]

You already likely have the best advice above in going to Tom at Accurate Molds or Mountain Molds but before you start designing, you might take a, look at what is available already at Accurate Molds:

http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=10
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=11

Tom already has a wide variety of heavyweights for .44... not SSK style but up to 330 grs. anyway. If he doesn't have what you want he'll make it.

If you really want to create your own design Tom will turn it into a reality or you can use the design tool at Mountain Molds and design exactly what you want.

And for that matter, I just found out that NEI lists SSK designs in their catalogue. Page 10 shows their heavyweights. I have read mixed reviews about NEI in recent years but no personal experience.

Longbow

[LUCKYDAWG13]

+ 3 or is it 4 for Accurate Molds

[Hickory]

I'm with Paul h on why the bhn needs to be so high.
And also wondering about such a heavy boolit? Unless you are trying to kill 2-3 cape buffalo with one shot when they standings side by side.
After 40 years of casting and hunting with cast boolits I have concluded that 99% of my hunting needs with the 44 magnum can be done with 250-280 gr. boolits at BHN 9-12.
I'm truly curious.

[Iowa Fox]

I'm with Paul h on why the bhn needs to be so high.
And also wondering about such a heavy boolit? Unless you are trying to kill 2-3 cape buffalo with one shot when they standings side by side.
After 40 years of casting and hunting with cast boolits I have concluded that 99% of my hunting needs with the 44 magnum can be done with 250-280 gr. boolits at BHN 9-12.
I'm truly curious.

After a lot of years with the 44 mag I can't agree more with Hickory. If you want something over 300 grn its really hard to beat the Lee 310 which can be had for less than $25 for a double cavity. I own more 44 cal molds than anything else followed by the 22 cal. For a custom 44 mag mold I have one of Verals LBT molds. For the 44 I started with an old, used 429421, then a old used 429244, then spiraled out of control trying every mold I could find. Actually it's pretty hard to beat those first two which I paid $25 each for.