bullet suggestion for 44-40

[eljefe]

I bought a Great Western by Armi San Marco, secondhand. It slugs at .4285, and the throats are a little bigger and mostly uniform.

I was thinking about Lyman 427666, but don't have any experience with this particular mold. Does it cast big enough with fairly soft alloy to allow it to be sized at .429? Do I need to go to a .429 or .430 mold?

I am open to any other molds, but do want to keep the weight under 250 grains.
I am concerned about the length of the nose to the crimping groove.

Any input is appreciated!:-D

[missionary5155]

I would definately go at least .429... but Me I would WANT a 4.30. You can always size down and you may discover a cylinder which desires just a hair larger.... That is if you have to BUY a mold. If you have a mold then you can always adjust. There are several GREAT threads about "Increasing diameter" of boolits and again you can always Down Size a to big Boolit. For some years now I have been SIZING my boolits through my Colt New Service cylinder (removed from frame) for that revolver. I do a months batch at a time watching the "Snews".

[9.3X62AL]

I have a SAECO #446 that has done good work for me in a Win '73 with wider-than-spec throat and grooves (a fat .429"). They fall out about .430"/204 grains in 92/6/2, and I run them through a .431" sizer to lube their grooves. This design has an actual crimp groove (unlike Lyman #427098).

Another design that has done good work for me in the 44-40 WCF is the Lee 200 grain round flat nose. It has a vestigial crimp groove, but it is there and will hold the bullet under magazine shunting down the tube. I suspect the groove would hang onto a boolit under recoil in the revolver, too.

[Jon K]

eljefe,

To answer your question:
1.Does it cast big enough with fairly soft alloy to allow it to be sized at .429? No..........depending on your alloy .427-.428
2.Do I need to go to a .429 or .430 mold? Depends......on your gun, how you load it, and how close you are in size- the boolit to bore, and is it soft enough to bump up.

I have several moulds I am working with now for a 44-40. The 427666 is one I'm now working with, although I have removed the Bevel Base and lapped the driving band areas. 1:25 lead/tin(.4285-.430) and WW-BHN 10 my alloy(.4295-.4305).

I am not done with all testing with the #427666 and the Saeco #420. The Saeco #446 shot good in my Uberti '73 44-40(.431 groove dia), but is a bit touchy on OAL, because of the location of the crimp groove. I recently sold the #446 and when done testing I will keep the one that shoots best, and sell the other.

I guess the bottom line is "What kind of accuracy are you looking for?" and "What OAL Boolit will your gun shoot and cycle?"

Just my $.02, the gun will tell you what it likes,

Jon

[August]

How much loooob you gotta carry??? (iow, you shooting gunpowder or propellant?)

[missionary5155]

Looooob Well that is gonna depend again on some factors... Powder selection. Barrel length (although in a revolver you have no problem) . Speed of Boolit . Hardness of Boolit.
But to get started.. if are not using BLACK POWDER most any lube will work unless you are going to be pushing your boolit real fast. My home brew lube here is 50-50 bees wax and axle grease. I use it in all my reloading (38 special, 41 Colt, 357 mag, 44-40 pistol / rifle )... but I only reload pistol calibers here down SOUTH. Just fill the grooves and worry not.
If using Black then there are threads for all sorts of GREAT lubes.

[eljefe]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to be loading Unique, and lubing with White Lable 50/50 beeswax alox. I am going to be using this revolver for cowboy action and other plinking uses.

I think I will give the Lee 200 round flat nose a try. What would be a top punch that will fit that bullet in my RCBS lube-a-matic? I was thinking Lyman #649.

While waiting for the mold to arrive, I am going to try some .429 swc 240 grainers.
I am really anxious to shoot this thing!

Thanks again, folks!

[Lloyd Smale]

the rcbs 200 round flat is an excellent 4440 bullet. It comes out of the mold at about .429

[lathesmith]

eljefe, I use that Lee 200gr RF in my 44 mags, and for plinking loads it is tops. Mine only cast out in the .429-.430 range, so it should be perfect for your 44-40.
lathesmith