44 magnum mold help

[jack19512]

I just purchased a new Ruger 44 Magnum revolver and would appreciate some suggestions for a Lee two cavity mold. The bullet will probably see some deer hunting and also for some limited target shooting. Thanks :)

[454PB]

My favorite is the 310 RF, but it's more than needed for Deer. The 240 SWC GC would be more suited for game that light.

[jack19512]

My favorite is the 310 RF, but it's more than needed for Deer. The 240 SWC GC would be more suited for game that light.







Thanks for the reply. I noticed Midway offers the 240 SWC in both GC and non GC. How important would the GC be for the 44 Magnum if used for hunting deer?

[Blammer]

for lee 2 cavity I'd go with the 310 RF it works great out of my SRH in 44 mag.

the rest of the lee 2c's i'm looking at have too much of a rounded nose for my taste.

the Lyman 429421 would be my next choice but that's not a lee.

I am in the same boat as you, I have a SRH in 44 mag and i wanted a good boolit to shoot.

I acquired a Lyman 429640 NOT a HP and really like that bullet.

[Blammer]

not too important with that wt bullet and deer hunting

I'd go with the plain base one.

[Larry Gibson]

If you have a 4 /58ths barrel get the PB bullet. Cast of WWs + 2-3% tin and loaded to 1250+ fps they will kill deer ok. If you've a 6 1/2"+ barrel on that Ruger then the GC is benificial as you can drive a soft alloyed bullet to 1400+ fps and get some decent expansion in deer (the larger than german shepard ones anyways). Even a good Keith SWC type bullet kills deer quicker with expansion. Penetration will not be a problem. For Plinking/small game/ general purpose loads the 240 TL bullet (available in 6 cavity moulds) at 850-1000 fps works nicely.

Larry Gibson

[exile]

Just curious, why do you guys like the Lee 310 RF so much? Looking at it in the Midway catalogue it looks like a formidable bullet. I have a S & W Mountain Gun, which I shoot mostly with .44 specials, but I have always been curious about that bullet, its performance, uses, etc.,. Thanks.

[44man]

The Lee 310 is EXTREMELY accurate and is super for deer too, that is why it is liked so much.
You don't need a GC at all in a most revolvers, might in the .460 but the rest do not benefit from them. Long ago I had an issue with Lee over the 400 gr .475 boolit. I wondered why it didn't take one but it shoots so good with a PB as fast it goes, I no longer make my molds for GC boolits.
I wish they made the 310 without one, it would save us money.
I don't like any Keith boolit, never get the accuracy I want out of any caliber. I have a ton of semi-wadcutter molds that sit in the drawer unless I want to can shoot at close range. I call them noise makers.
By the way, the Ranch Dog .44 boolit shoots very good out of the revolver too. Gas check too though.
Here are 3 shots at 200 yd's with my version of the LBT, 330 gr's with 21 gr's of 296 and the Fed 150 primer.

[MT Gianni]

44 Man said it best. Performance is the reason on game and on paper. I think a good 429421 could be found on an auction site for around 2 lees, and it will certainly out last them. If you really like the lee, I would get a good lathesmith to mill off the check areaand the resulting PB should be just right for the BH. Gianni

[Blammer]

the big meplat on the Lee 310 is what's good about it.

I got a custom 44 cal plain base on the way from a GB (still open) that ought to do well.
It's a heavy one too.

[725]

Ranch Dog makes a dandy 2 cavity and even though it comes with a GC (which is a good thing if you push 'em) the GC feature can be machined away very easily with a drill press and some 600 wet sand paper. If you end up wanting both, just modify one cavity and you'll have a mould for all seasons.

[exile]

Probably a stupid question, but what happens if you shoot this boolit (or any other gas check boolit for that matter) without a gas check when it was designed for one? Leading ? Loss of accuracy ?

[Bass Ackward]

Probably a stupid question, but what happens if you shoot this boolit (or any other gas check boolit for that matter) without a gas check when it was designed for one? Leading ? Loss of accuracy ?



The answer to both questions is sometimes, soemtimes not.
You just have to try it.

[IcerUSA]

I have the Lee 310 , a Lyman 300 SWC , just got the RD 265 and so far I would have to say that it might be a toss up as to which one will be best for hunting as all 3 shoot good for me on paper but I'm not using these for long range as I hunt in the woods here in lower Michigan and I might get a shot out as far as 50 yds and they all do good in the 444 also.

Keith

[jack19512]

If you end up wanting both, just modify one cavity and you'll have a mould for all seasons.







I never thought about that, that is a very interesting idea. I appreciate all of the opinions. I wanted to get my order in so I could start loading cast for this revolver so I ended up ordering the 240 gr. SWC with GC.

If this mold doesn't suit me I will order another. I will alter one cavity on this one and that way I will have bullets with/without GC. At least this will get me going for now. Thanks again. :-D