MP Molds 44 Hammer 50 yard Rifle Expansion Test

[bluejay75]

MP Molds 44 Hammer 50 yard Rifle Expansion Test

Greetings Gents,

Felt like doing some water jug tests today to see if the 44 Hammer (.434 265-275 Grain WFN). Results were inconclusive but promising. Average jug penetration 6. With the Cup point It shed the nose in jug two and the remaining shank penetrated 5 more jugs. The Solid expanded, penetrated and lodged in the 6th jug.

Load data:
MP Molds 44 Hammer .434 with cup point and solid. Powdercoated in Smokes clear.
23.5 300 MP (MOA load)
Alloy 50:50 COWW: SOWW
Velocity 1672 FPS

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[onelight]

Interesting thanks for posting your results.
I like your rifle and the looks of that bullet.

[Markopolo]

Hey Bluejay, what sort of weapon did you shoot that in??? single NEF style? and what sort of twist?

[bluejay75]

Hey Bluejay, what sort of weapon did you shoot that in??? single NEF style? and what sort of twist?

It’s a Handi Rifle with XS irons and a 30mm 4x scope cut to 17 inches.

[Beagle333]

Pretty neat. Thanks for posting!

[Markopolo]

is it a 1-20 twist? or the standard 44 mag twist?

[bluejay75]

is it a 1-20 twist? or the standard 44 mag twist?

1:20.

The biggest lesson that I learned from this is that HP at rifle velocities ARE NOT a must. WFN want to expand.

[Markopolo]

yep.... I am a fan... WFN is the alaskan way

[dkf]

Did you do any tests with the shallow dished shape HP?

[bluejay75]

Did you do any tests with the shallow dished shape HP?

I’m not sure that this one came with a cup point.

[Markopolo]

I am just curious Bluejay.. Why the 300MP for powder? the kinda go to powders are H110, 2400, Enforcer, and so forth.. i dont normally see 300MP in the mix when folks are talking 44Mag.. i just wanna make sure I aint missing anything in my 44 efforts.. it obviously works for you... is that powder less pressure or something? its a newer powder in comparison to the old standby's.. i am just very interested in anything 44 mag... its my goto gun for fishing and hunting.

also, I really like that handi rifle.. especially the shorter barrel... what do you suppose the weight of the weapon is? how is the recoil with full house loads??? I am always in the market for a good brush gun, and being cut down like that means less tangling in real alaskan brush.

thanks Bluejay

[bluejay75]

Less flash even in winter. No need for magnum primers. More cast friendly pressure curve.

If I could do it all over... I would start with a TC frame and add 3 barrels (357 Max, 44 Magnum and 308. Maybe a turkey shotgun barrel too.

But I do love my Handi rifles. The 8 that I have now will never go on sale. This one probably weighs 6 pounds with 50 rounds in that pouch on the buttstock. Half HP. Half WFN. That’s darn near a lifetime supply.

[dkf]

I’m not sure that this one came with a cup point.

You are right. I was thinking of the 44-250, I have both molds and got them mixed up. I think the cup point would probably allow more expansion without shedding a lot of weight. I have to try and make a set of cup pins.