Anyone using #429421 in a carbine?

[centershot]

I'm almost sure that I want a mold for this bullet w/ a plain, flat base, but I haven't ruled out the RF nose w/ the BB. I know the RF will feed better in my carbine, but I like the SWC profile better. If you use this bullet in a carbine please give me your thoughts/opinions. Is feeding a problem for you, and are you satisfied with the bullet's performance?

Thanks,

centershot

[Wally]

I use the RCBS 250 Grain .44 Caliber Keith (quite similiar to the 429421) in my Model 94. it is accurate and works just fine...have used a variety of loads: 8.0 W-231, 11.0 Unique, as well as Blue Dot & 2400...virtually all loads work well and are accurate in it. Even .44 Specials using this bullet work well through the carbine. I size to .431" as it has microgroove rifling.

I used to use full house loads, I now use reduced loads as I found that the maximum loads are just not necessary...unless one needs for hunting.

[Steelbanger]

Hello Centershot,

My 44 is a Marlin 1894 and I use the 429215 SWC. This bullet sometimes hangs up while feeding but since I only used it for silhouette it was never a problem. A slight jiggle would free up the hang-up every time. I bought a Lee RNFP in the spring but haven't done anything rifle related since June and probably won't for a while.

No advice from me but I believe the RNFP would feed with much more reliability than any SWC. But here's the rub . . Would it be as accurate as a SWC?

Good luck whatever you choose and have fun!

[1Shirt]

I have a 77-44 Ruger which is carbine class. Handles the 429 real well over a healthy dose of 2400. So for that matter it also handles the 310 lee, and Ranch Dogs 265 and 300.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[runfiverun]

if you are wanting to use these in a puma and for hunting.
i would/do trim about .005 off the cases and seat the boolit right to the case.
which means the back of the front driving band right to the case mouth.
i use the g/c version and crimp in a separate step.

[centershot]

Thanks for your responses guys! Hey Steelbanger, it's good to here from you, we missed you at the matches this summer! I know there have been some unfortunate circumstances, I hope things are looking up for you and yours!

Wally, Ive used that RCBS mold in the past and I'm here to tell you, it was the finest mold I have ever owned! I wish they made it in at least a 4-cavity, if they did I'd buy one in a heartbeat! I'm looking for volume production so a 4-holer is what I'd consider minimum. Although, maybe running two of those at the same time wouldn't work out too bad..........that really was a GREAT bullet! Dang! Now there's another choice on the table! Mostly I'll be shooting silhouette so if it hangs up it isn't a big deal. Decisions....................................

centershot

[longbow]

I am not a fan of the Keith style SWC in my Marlin 1894.

The things most people seem to like about it cause me problems.

I find it is too long to feed when seated to the crimp groove (no news there as reloading data lists it as overlength). However, even when seated to the front driving band to get OAL right the shoulder hangs up on my chamber mouth.

I find it gives mediocre accuracy at all ranges though it may be slightly undersize as my bore slugs at 0.431+" so I'll cut the design a little slack there. I haven't bothered to lap or Beagle because I don't like the boolit

With near max. loads and ACWW boolits I have had the grease groove collapse. Personally I think it is too deep so reducing the cross sectional area of the boolit.

I have had much better success with RNFP and TC designs for feeding, accuracy and no grease groove collapse.

I know the Marlin can be modified to handle the longer OAL but since I don't like the boolit anyway I likely will not do that.

My advice is to go RNFP, WFN or similar design. If I get another mould it will likely be a Ranch Dog 265 gr. mould.

Longbow

[looseprojectile]

I have that mould. In a fit of not having 44 gas checks I machined out the gas check part. Also it would not feed in the Marlin. Too long. All is good now.
I got rid of the gun.[smilie=w: Got a 92 Puma, it seems to feed anything. Wonderful clone of Winchester 92.
Life is good

[Larry Gibson]

I had no problems with it feeding in a M94 or a Ruger semi-auto carbine (the old tube fed one). The M94 had a 16" barrel and i found the classic Keith load to give over 1600 fps and accuracy was not good. I backed it down to 1550 fps and accuracy came back. That's atypical for PB bullets. Best load was with 23 gr h4227 at 1525 fps. I could generally shot 2" groups (magazine full) at 50 yards with the issue sights. I ended up trading it off because my eyes went south and I couldn't focus on the front sight anymore. I shot lots of cast bullets from the short stubby nosed 215 gr bullet up through Lymans 429244 and never never had a single feeding problem in either rifle. That 429244 (weighed in at 270 gr with GC and lube) over the same 23 gr H4227 ran 1478 fps and I shot several 6" groups at 200 yards. That was pretty good with that short barrel and my eyes.

Larry Gibson

[MT Gianni]

I have a Rossi/Puma 92 that I shoot this and the gas checked cousin 429244. Both give good accuracy but when I push the gun to carbine velocity I go with the gc 429244. The Lee 310RF gets some use also and shoots well. It goes in Elk thickets with me but has never been asked to perform.
From reading here it looks as though it depends on the make of your gun whether it is a good fit.

[NuJudge]

I can NOT get the 429421 or 429244 to feed out of a Winchester Model 94 magazine. You will have maybe 15 minutes of prying to get each round out of the magazine and into the chamber.

CDD

[Firebird]

The Keith bullets ussually feed much better if you use the appropriate Special case instead of the Magnum - i.e. 38 Special in a 357 Magnum rifle and 44 Special in a 44 Magnum rifle. It's usually the extra OAL of the cartridge that causes problems in the lever action rifles, and using the Special cases instead drops the OAL to where the cartridges will feed well.

[nicholst55]

I can NOT get the 429421 or 429244 to feed out of a Winchester Model 94 magazine. You will have maybe 15 minutes of prying to get each round out of the magazine and into the chamber.

CDD

I've got the same rifle; haven't gotten around to shooting it yet though. My bore slugs at .432", so I'm going to have to do some experimenting when I do get round to shooting it. Have you tried that boolit in a .44 Special case?

[Lloyd Smale]

my two marlins wont feed it a 100% but they do feed the rcbs 240swcgc and shoot that bullet better anyway. Im sure with a little work i could get them to feed it but with the way the rcbs bullet shoots i just never felt the need.

[mdi]

My .44 Puma does not like them either. As Firebird stated I am going to try .44 Special cases with the 429421. When I load them singularly they are fairly accurate.

[EDK]

MMA's Keith style 44 group buy is about to close. There's a long thread on the design and another for the group buy. It is a modification of the various Keith variations...top side is similar to the RCBS 82044 (250 KT; can't seem to find it listed with Grafs, etc.)...and dummy rounds fed through his rifle without problems. It sounded good enough for me to buy one!

I've used 429244 for years, but have shifted to 429667 and the RANCH DOG TLC 432 265 lately. I REALLY, REALLY LIKE the RD dip lubed with LLA or XLOX...especially since I got the six cavity mould! It appears to remove residual lead from my revolvers also.

Refer to a previous thread about Keith style versus round nose flat point boolits and their effect on game....to make things even more confusing. I play with a lot of boolit designs, but I'm real happy with the 429667 or RD in 44 magnum brass in assorted 1894 Marlins. AND they do well in an assortment of 44 revolvers also.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[Shuz]

My favorite boolit for the .44 mag is 429421. However it gives feeding problems with both my .44 mag carbines when seated to 1.710 OAL. 4 designs that do work in both guns are: 429667,Ranch Dog 265,429640HP, and Lee 200RNFP.