Cast bullet for 44 mag

[catkiller45]

whats your bullet of choice for the 44 special or mag to use
for deer hunting..only powder I have on hand is unique until
I get some red dot or 2400..

[fastdadio]

I like cast lead ones from 240 grs. to about 300grs. with a large meplat. I like them to fit my chamber mouths and be at least .001" over my bore size. After much shooting, I find I prefer them powder coated. And I tend to prefer 2400.

[725]

Lee 310

[mart]

MP 432256 which is copy of the H&G 503. They have a hollow point option which when cast a little soft and powder coated ought to make an excellent deer bullet.

[Yooper003]

Missouri bullet co has a great 240 gr. Hi-tek coated bullet that shoots great in my cva hunter 44 mag.

[Tracy]

429421 Keith bullet over 7.5 Unique in Special cases, or 10 Unique in Magnum cases.

[Old45Guy]

I, too, prefer a 240 grain Keith bullet. Unique is more than capable, but 2400 is pretty nice as well. Either powder will give you pleasant to shoot ammo that will get the job done without having to run maximum loads.

[white eagle]

another Keith fan 250-260 gr should get it done
get accuracy first unique is a good start
2400 is also good

[robinsroost]

One more Keith fan, gas checked and tumble lubed with liquid alox. My powder of choice is H110. Keep yer powder dry...……….robin

[hanleyfan]

the NOE copy of the ranch dog 265 with 18gr. of 2400 works for me. I have played around with 240 gr. and the 310gr. but liked the ranch dog 265gr. best. every rifle is different and you need to see what your rifle likes.

[winelover]

Any bullet with a decent meplat. I have taken deer with 240 grain SWC, 240 RNFP, as well as, NOE's 265 RNFP (ranch dogs version). None were ever recovered........complete pass through's.

Winelover

[Ramjet-SS]

270 grain WFN GC is an excellent boolit and Unique will get where you need to go. Pleasant but accurate load that can take game cleanly provided the placement is good.

[Larry Gibson]

I've been a fan of "Keith" style SWCs (429421, 44-250-K and 429244) cast bullets for hunting since '68. I cast them hard and soft, used them as solids or HPs. I found the 429244 GC'd cast of a soft binary alloy and HP'd gave the quickest kills. When Lyman came out with the 429640 "Devastator" I gave it a try. Also cast of a binary alloy (20-1 or 16-1) It proves considerably better in terminal performance than any of the SWCs in the 44 magnum from both rifle and handgun when pushed with H110 to 1350 - 1600 fps. It has become my standard hunting bullet for the 44 Magnum. I still use the afore mentioned SWCs along with a couple others for 44 SPL and midrange velocity loads but the Devestator is my preferred hunting bullet in the 44 Magnum.

248139

[Slugster]

What Larry Gibson said!!! Although I use Blue Dot and 296.

[hc18flyer]

I've been a fan of "Keith" style SWCs (429421, 44-250-K and 429244) cast bullets for hunting since '68. I cast them hard and soft, used them as solids or HPs. I found the 429244 GC'd cast of a soft binary alloy and HP'd gave the quickest kills. When Lyman came out with the 429640 "Devastator" I gave it a try. Also cast of a binary alloy (20-1 or 16-1) It proves considerably better in terminal performance than any of the SWCs in the 44 magnum from both rifle and handgun when pushed with H110 to 1350 - 1600 fps. It has become my standard hunting bullet for the 44 Magnum. I still use the afore mentioned SWCs along with a couple others for 44 SPL and midrange velocity loads but the Devestator is my preferred hunting bullet in the 44 Magnum.

248139

Larry- Why the 20-1 vs a similar hardness alloy of tin and antimony? Thanks, hc18flyer

[Conditor22]

haven't hunted with it but the RCBS 44-245-KT is a tack driver with a big meplat over 9+ grns of unique

[white eagle]

if not mistaken antimony ad's brittleness to the alloy
personally I use the same alloy's and have had good results with them

[Hickory]

I've been a fan of "Keith" style SWCs (429421, 44-250-K and 429244) cast bullets for hunting since '68. I cast them hard and soft, used them as solids or HPs. I found the 429244 GC'd cast of a soft binary alloy and HP'd gave the quickest kills. When Lyman came out with the 429640 "Devastator" I gave it a try. Also cast of a binary alloy (20-1 or 16-1) It proves considerably better in terminal performance than any of the SWCs in the 44 magnum from both rifle and handgun when pushed with H110 to 1350 - 1600 fps. It has become my standard hunting bullet for the 44 Magnum. I still use the afore mentioned SWCs along with a couple others for 44 SPL and midrange velocity loads but the Devestator is my preferred hunting bullet in the 44 Magnum.

248139

This is what I have found also.
This is in my opinion the greatest white tail hunting boolit ever.

[DougGuy]

+2 on the Lee C430-310-RF I like these cast soft, I am with Larry Gibson on the alloy, and soft lube as well. These are 50/50+2% soft enough to scratch with a thumbnail so what is that Larry 20:1 or thereabouts? I have never recovered one so I don't know if they expand much, I load them to 1200fps at the muzzle, the gun is a 7 1/2" SBH with the rear sight screwed all the way down and the sight blade filed flush with the body of the sight, and a new notch filed in the middle. The gun is regulated for this load and it's the only load I shoot with it.

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/e46898fd-0a70-4723-b96a-ca6aab9c1994_zpsbf58e491.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/e46898fd-0a70-4723-b96a-ca6aab9c1994_zpsbf58e491.jpg.html)

For my hunting preferences I like to get in the woods where it is really thick, get in a climbing stand above a point where several trails come together, whack down some saplings to open a few shooting lanes and sit with this old SBH in a cross draw holster, once settled I cock the hammer and just wait patiently with the web of my hand between the hammer and the back of the frame.

A good trick to use and I often use it, go to Hardees and get two sausage biscuits, smear them heavily with grape jelly. Wrap 'em back up and put them in your knapsack, lay that on the ground while you climb then pull it up with a rope. Deer cannot resist the smell of that jelly, they will walk in circles around your tree trying to find it. I have taken a BUNCH of deer shooting straight down like this. :bigsmyl2:

[Outpost75]

The sausage biscuit and jelly trick works on bears too, but if he climbs up the tree you will need to share 8-).

[Larry Gibson]

Larry- Why the 20-1 vs a similar hardness alloy of tin and antimony? Thanks, hc18flyer

As mentioned, the binary alloy of lead/tin is preferred because it expands more readily at lower impact velocity and retains weight during expansion regardless of a similar BHN. The "hardness" of a cast bullet is almost always measured by BHN but that is only half of the equation. The other half is malleability of the alloy. Any antimony (the element that creates most of the "hardness/higher BHN) results in a more brittle alloy that when it expands has a tendency to slough off the expansion petals or fragment/shatter.

At above 1700 fps muzzle velocity is do use a ternary alloy in my cast HPs (mostly rifle cartridges) of 97/1.5/1.5. That alloy will expand down to 1500 +/- fps impact velocity w/o fragmenting/shattering, if HP'd correctly. However, that is outside the velocity capability of the 44 Magnum in most handguns. Thus I use the binary alloy for use in my revolvers and Contender.

[Larry Gibson]

DougGuy

With the mass of that 310 gr bullet and the large meplat your 50/50 + 2% no doubt will expand somewhat (perhaps "rivet" might be a better term?) if it impacts any substantial part of a deer given the velocity. Sans the HP I doubt it would shatter. An excellent alternative to basically get the same results......:drinks:

[megasupermagnum]

I can't handle full power 44 magnum (yet), and I honestly think most people can not either. Many shooters on this site can, but you have to be honest with yourself. Sometimes I can shoot a decent group with 21.5 grains H110 and a Lee 310 grain, usually I start tensing up before I get to the 6th shot. I've become a big fan of 20-1 alloy, I understand why it used to be considerd the most universal alloy there was. Here is what I worked up for my dad to hunt with this year. Fed LP, 13 grains Bluedot, NOE H&G #503 clone with large hollow point cast of 20-1 alloy, 1.690" OAL. As I understand it, 2400 powder can be reduced as well. I ran 8-10.5 grains Unique, nothing shot all that spectacular. I'd guess my load must be running ballpark 1100 fps, and with the 255 grain HP, it's not too bad.

Shot at 50 yards in my 5.5" Redhawk. 2.5" CTC
248146

[bluejay75]

Larry sure casts some handsome boolets. And I concur with his assessment. If I only had one 44 magnum mold that would be it. Cycles in leverguns. Good ballistic coefficient. Design hits the forcing cone or leade well for maximum accuracy potential. And 20:1 GC,d is going to expand if impact velocity is 1300 or so.

PM Miha at MP Molds. He doesn’t have them on the website but last I checked he had 20x4 cavity HP molds in stock.

[Tripplebeards]

I’m using softer alloy at 7.5 BH this year with clear PC and GC’d devastators out of my Ruger 77/44 with a muzzle velocity of 1750fps. I’m expecting total devastation.

https://i.imgur.com/t8II5kb.jpg

I tried 15.4 BH last year with the same boolit and velocity and they never expanded when shot through three whitetails last season. All were complete pass throughs.



Here’s a 7.5 BH that left my barrel at 1750 FPS that I recovered from a dirt backstop at 25 yards. The 16:1 pewter and lead flooring mix held together nicely. My load shoots sub MOA at 100 yards.

https://i.imgur.com/peQgVov.jpg

[Fenring]

That load is fair cookin'.

[smithnframe]

Elmer's bullet and a heavy charge of 2400 of course!

[Lonegun1894]

I can't handle full power 44 magnum (yet), and I honestly think most people can not either. Many shooters on this site can, but you have to be honest with yourself. Sometimes I can shoot a decent group with 21.5 grains H110 and a Lee 310 grain, usually I start tensing up before I get to the 6th shot. I've become a big fan of 20-1 alloy, I understand why it used to be considerd the most universal alloy there was. Here is what I worked up for my dad to hunt with this year. Fed LP, 13 grains Bluedot, NOE H&G #503 clone with large hollow point cast of 20-1 alloy, 1.690" OAL. As I understand it, 2400 powder can be reduced as well. I ran 8-10.5 grains Unique, nothing shot all that spectacular. I'd guess my load must be running ballpark 1100 fps, and with the 255 grain HP, it's not too bad.

Shot at 50 yards in my 5.5" Redhawk. 2.5" CTC
248146

I completely agree. I can handle full power .44 Mag, but I had to slowly work my way up to it. Now having said that, I mostly use the Lyman 429421, and mine casts at 268grs, and I honestly haven't noticed much difference at all between driving it at 1,100 from my 5.5" SBH and 1500fps from my Contender, other than trajectory. So while I don't regret putting in the work to learn to handle it, I also don't think that a hunter is handicapped by using less than max loads. At least the few deer and many hogs I have put in the freezer didn't complain, or show much difference during autopsy.

[StrawHat]

... I tried 15.4 BH last year with the same boolit and velocity and they never expanded when shot through three whitetails last season. All were complete pass throughs... ]

If you had complete penetration, how do you know you had no expansion?

Personally, I want complete pass through. If I get some expansion while that happens, great. But I want holes at both ends of the bullet line.

Kevin

[derek45]

ARSENAL KEITH H&G #503 Mold

Clear Coated with smokes powder coat

https://i.imgur.com/z1oEwmp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nQGypmJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yg8C95d.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zuzwgAP.jpg

[Walks]

I favor the Lyman #429421 and #429244GC
But we haven't been able to legally hunt with Cast Bullets in a lot of years in CA. Long before the prohibition again Lead based jacketed bullets.

But I'll tell you the old Lee #429-208-WC over a good charge of Unique in .44Spl or .44Mag cases would tumble the big Mohave Jacks toukas over teakettle.

[Tripplebeards]

If you had complete penetration, how do you know you had no expansion?

Personally, I want complete pass through. If I get some expansion while that happens, great. But I want holes at both ends of the bullet line.

Kevin

I have exit pics posted on this forum of it...From two different deer. I measured the exit holes in the hides. They were the exact same diameter as the boolits. Perfect round boolit sized diameter exit holes.

Here I found the post, enjoy...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?373867-First-deer(s)-with-cast-boolits!-Used-my-devastators!!!

[rking22]

If the petals all sheared off, what is left is “bullet dia”.

[Tripplebeards]

If the petals all sheared off, what is left is “bullet dia”.

I water tested the boolits...there is no pedal shear off just mushroom action. The alloy is extremely malleable with 16% pewter so it doesn’t shatter, fragment, or shear off pedals.

Here’s the same alloy at 1875 FPS after a water test in water filled totes. It’s 16% pewter added to an 80/20 mix of ccoww and pure. I never had any shearing in any of the books tests with this alloy. It just flows backwards. It is way to hard of an alloy for thin skinned game to expand. It would be a great Cape buffalo boolit.

https://i.imgur.com/jJ8f3cF.jpg

[Three44s]

I can't handle full power 44 magnum (yet), and I honestly think most people can not either. Many shooters on this site can, but you have to be honest with yourself. Sometimes I can shoot a decent group with 21.5 grains H110 and a Lee 310 grain, usually I start tensing up before I get to the 6th shot. I've become a big fan of 20-1 alloy, I understand why it used to be considerd the most universal alloy there was. Here is what I worked up for my dad to hunt with this year. Fed LP, 13 grains Bluedot, NOE H&G #503 clone with large hollow point cast of 20-1 alloy, 1.690" OAL. As I understand it, 2400 powder can be reduced as well. I ran 8-10.5 grains Unique, nothing shot all that spectacular. I'd guess my load must be running ballpark 1100 fps, and with the 255 grain HP, it's not too bad.

Shot at 50 yards in my 5.5" Redhawk. 2.5" CTC
248146

Hey, there are a lot of us that either had to transition towards full power or simply did not make it there. But we are all individuals and our bodies are not built the same nor is our mental state identical. Our life experiences are different as well.

There are no bragging rights, it’s just the way things are!

I shoot a lot of different power levels in my 44’s but one stands out as a truly great one that is a published load in Hodgdon’s #26.

I like the RCBS 250K so much I bought a NOE mold of similar construction. With that boolit I use a Federal magnum primer and 11.8 gr of HS6 powder. My Mountain Gun generates 1066 FPS with it’s 4” barrel with a SD of just 7 FPS and 1176 FPS (15 fps SD) from my 7.5” Redhawk.

The pressure for a 250 gr lead boolit is listed at 24,000 psi with a 12 gr charge and that is right in the “wheel house” according to Richard Lee in his load manual with regards to general lead alloy strength.

My evidence is antidotal, but I believe that there is a difference in dwell time as well. I base this on my work with 800x and HS6 concurrently. After working up both powders I then loaded 3 of each load and alternated chambers ie. a 800x then a HS6 and then back to 800x until the cylinder was full. The difference in felt recoil was quite evident in my Mountain Gun with the impulse from HS6 winning hands down.

Three44s

[rking22]

Out of curiosity, what is the remaking weight of that bullet after expansion in water? I am considering getting that bullet for a possible “new” 629 hunter.

[fcvan]

I favor the Lyman #429421 and #429244GC
But we haven't been able to legally hunt with Cast Bullets in a lot of years in CA. Long before the prohibition again Lead based jacketed bullets.

But I'll tell you the old Lee #429-208-WC over a good charge of Unique in .44Spl or .44Mag cases would tumble the big Mohave Jacks toukas over teakettle.

Sadly, lead based jacketed already became illegal 07/01/19. I am waiting for home company to introduce bismuth copper jacketed but it seems lathe turned copper is leading the pack. The whole thing is stupid in my opinion as lead comes from the earth and there doesn’t seem to be issues from areas where it is mined. The problem of course is junk science to support an agenda of limiting sportsmen/women and we all know why

[Norske]

If you spend any time reading about Elmer Keith's favorite load, you will find a lot about a 240-250 grain cast bullet of his design and 22gr of 2400 powder. Since Elmer died, 2400 has been changed to make it burn cleaner with less ash. The new max powder charge is 20gr of 2400. The velocity matches the 22gr charge of "old 2400".

[beltfed]

Back in the day of IHMSA Silhouette,
I had been using the old Keith 429421 bullet and 22gr Old 2400Load to good effect.
Very accurate, and always took down the rams.
Later went down to the 20.5 2400 with the newer powder.
BUT, I did find that on a HOT day, got increased pressure from the 2400.
Recall the 2400 is a Double Base powder.
Went to 24 gr of Single Base IMR 4227 under the 429421 Keith bullet, got same or higher velocity, and No more
pressure issues on a Hot day. And still exlt accuracy and knockdown
That is also my deer hunt load
beltfed/arnie

[beltfed]

Oh, The velocity for the 24 gr 4227 under the 429421 Keith bullet in
my Smith 29 is 1330fps.
beltfed/arnie

[StrawHat]

Oh, The velocity for the 24 gr 4227 under the 429421 Keith bullet in
my Smith 29 is 1330fps.
beltfed/arnie

So, 4227 gives 1300 fps and excellent accuracy. That is good to know. I no longer use the 44 Magnum preferring first the 45 long Colt and now the 45 ACP. But my brother like the magnum round so I will mention it to him.

Kevin

[fcvan]

A few years back, my wife saw a Ruger 3.75 BlackHawk at the gun show. She is a Ruger Freak! Okay, I might have encouraged that. Anyway, she was eyeballing this gun and I reminded her that every new caliber requires dies, molds, sizers, etc. She was a might disappointed. Then I told her I already had dies and a 240gr SWC GC mold I had bought for a friends gun. "Get that gun!" I told her I also bought some ammo from a dealer at the show.

She enjoyed shooting her new gun. I looked up the gun on Ruger's website, it wasn't even listed. The test brass was only 10 days old. The gun was listed the following day as a small run for Lipsey's (I think) and well, Momma loves her Rugers. I later scored a 208gr WadCutter mold from a member here. At 1000fps, that boolit is a tack driver. I think it will be a pig thumper for sure

[Thumbcocker]

Put several deer in the freezer with a Keith boolit and 22 grains of 4227.

[ABJ]

I also prefer 4227 for the simple fact I think the recoil is a little less than 2400, and accuracy is the same for me. For plinking loads I like HS-6 at around 1000 fps. Those plinking loads are just fun and no recoil. My hunting bullet is an NOE round flat 240ish gas check in 20:1.

Tony

[Beerd]

If you don't mind a gas check, the Lyman 429244 SWC has worked out well in my Ruger and Dan Wesson revolvers.